Bashar al-Assad

Date of Birth: September 11, 1965

Zodiac Sign: Virgo

Biography

Bashar al-Assad is the President of Syria, holding office since July 17, 2000, following the death of his father, Hafez al-Assad, who ruled Syria for 30 years. Born into the prominent al-Assad family, Bashar initially trained as an ophthalmologist in London. However, his elder brother Bassel’s untimely death in a car accident in 1994 led to Bashar’s return to Syria and induction into politics. He quickly rose through the ranks, assuming various military and political roles to prepare for leadership. Under his regime, Syria has faced significant internal strife, most notably the Syrian Civil War, which began in 2011 during the Arab Spring. Bashar al-Assad’s government has been accused of numerous human rights violations, including the use of chemical weapons against civilians, which has drawn widespread international condemnation. Despite these allegations and the ongoing conflict, he has maintained power, largely with support from allies such as Russia and Iran.

5 Interesting Facts about Bashar al-Assad

1. Bashar al-Assad studied ophthalmology in London before entering politics.

2. He succeeded his father Hafez al-Assad as President of Syria in 2000.

3. His regime has been accused of using chemical weapons during the Syrian Civil War.

4. Bashar al-Assad’s wife, Asma al-Assad, is a British-Syrian national and former investment banker.

5. He has been described as a reluctant leader who was initially uninterested in politics.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Bashar al-Assad

1. “We are a civilized nation. We don’t kill our people. No government in the world kills its people, unless it’s led by a crazy person.”

2. “The role of the president is to implement the constitution.”

3. “Syria is not isolated. Syria is engaged in relations with the rest of the world.”

4. “The future of Syria must be determined by Syrians alone.”

5. “Any intervention in our internal affairs is a breach of our sovereignty.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

The highest net worth achieved by Bashar al-Assad is estimated to be around $1.5 billion.

Children

Bashar al-Assad and his wife Asma al-Assad have three children: 1. Hafez al-Assad (born 2001) 2. Zein al-Assad (born 2003) 3. Karim al-Assad (born 2004)