Syrian President Bashar al-Assad fled to Russia over the weekend. Ending a nearly 14 year long struggle to maintain power in his country. In the midst of a civil war that has become a battlefield for international and regional powers.
But Assad has learned that news of the war in Syria was not the person they expected when he came to power.
rise to power
Assad’s father, Hafez Assad, indoctrinated Basil. Bashar’s eldest brother was chosen as his successor. In 1994, Basil died in a car accident in Damascus. Bashar was then brought home from practicing ophthalmology in London. and receive military training He was promoted to colonel, granting him the credentials to one day rule Syria.
Hafez ruled Syria for nearly 30 years, during which time he established a centralized, Soviet-style economy. He also formed an alliance with the Shiite clerical leaders in Iran. Seal Syria’s power over Lebanon. and established a network of Palestinian and Lebanese armed groups.
Netanyahu praises collapse of The “History” of Bashar Assad in Syria Credit Israel’s attack on Hezbollah, Iran.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad (center) and his wife Asma al-Assad (left) attend the opening ceremony of the 2022 Asian Games at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Center Stadium. in hangzhou city Zhejiang Province, east China, on September 23, 2023. (Philip Fong/AFP via Getty Images)
When Hafez died in 2000, the country’s parliament lowered the age limit for becoming president from 40 to 34 and passed a nationwide referendum. Bashar became president. By being the only applicant
At first Bashar seemed the opposite of his father. When Bashar came to power He speaks with a slight lisp. He is tall, thin, quiet, and has a gentle demeanor. His only official position before becoming president was head of the Syrian Computer Association. Therefore, people believe that he is a fan of computer technology and has a gentle demeanor.
Bashar also released political prisoners and opened the door for more open dialogue.
Syrian dictator BASHAR ASSAD flees into exile as Islamic rebels take control of the country.
FILE – Photo taken on April 13, 2016, published on the official Facebook page of the Syrian president. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is shown voting in parliamentary elections, with his wife Asma (from left) standing beside him. in Damascus, Syria (Syrian President via AP, File)
Princess Diana of Syria?
Several months after taking office Bashar married Asma al-Akhras, an English-born woman. which is known for being charming and stylish The two eventually had three children.
The couple lived in an apartment in the upscale Abu Rummaneh neighborhood in Damascus. This was different from the mansions of other Arab leaders.
Asma, who was born in Acton; west london Son of a Sunni Muslims from Homs, SyriaShe became known as Princess Diana of Syria.
Assad arrives in Moscow Received asylum from Russia
Asma al-Assad, First Lady of Syria Attend the Damascena (Damascus) Rose Harvesting Event in Al-Marah Village in rural Damascus on May 25, 2023. (Louye Bechara/AFP via Getty Images)
She holds degrees in Computer Science and French Literature from Queen’s College London and works in banking. Working as a hedge fund analyst.
She married Bashar in a “secret” wedding in 2000 when he was 35 and she was just 25.
As Bashar continued to rule, things began to change.
change of direction
In 2005, Bashar suffered the loss of Syria’s decades-long control over Lebanon. After the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, many in Lebanon accused Bashar of being behind the murder. Syria forced to withdraw troops from Lebanon and a pro-American government came to power.
during the same time The Arab world is divided into two factions. On the one hand, it is an ally with the United States. and includes Sunni-led countries such as Egypt and Saudi Arabia. while the other side consists of Syria and Iran. along with links to Hezbollah and Palestinian armed groups.
Trump urges us to stay away from civil war in Syria They blamed Obama for the failure as Islamists seized the capital.
President Bashar Syria’s al-Assad arrived in Jeddah to attend the Arab League summit the next day. Saudi Arabia, May 18, 2023
Bashar appointed family members to important roles. At the same time, a trusted role was given to Asma.
In 2011, rulers in Tunisia and Egypt were overthrown by protesters. Bashar, though, is dismissive of the fact that it could happen in Syria as well.
His security forces perpetrated a brutal crackdown. Bashar, meanwhile, denies that he faces a popular revolt. But he blamed “foreign-backed terrorists” seeking to destabilize his regime
The uprising has spiraled into civil war with millions of Syrians fleeing to Jordan, Turkey, Iraq, Lebanon and Europe.
In March 2011, Vogue magazine published a profile on Asma. By calling her “A rose in the desert” and “the freshest and most attractive first lady,” said the article, which described the Assad group as ” They are described as “extreme democrats” and portray them as progressive and intelligent. Based on an interview conducted in late 2010, the article was pulled from the internet several weeks after publication. Because Assad’s bloody crackdown on Syrian dissidents is well on its way.
“After our interview Meanwhile, the worst events of the past half year have taken place in Syria. It is clear that its priorities and values are completely at odds with Vogue’s,” Wintour’s editor-in-chief Anna said at the time.
extravagant spending
In 2012, WikiLeaks released private emails from the 42-year-old Briton that showed she had spent $350,000 on it. with 130 pieces of furniture during the country’s civil war that had been raging for a year.
Islamic rebels in Syria are holding Assad, Putin, Iran unprotected, giving us a new Middle East headache.
Syria’s First Lady Asma al-Assad attended the graduation ceremony of future teachers of the Syrian Organization for Persons with Disabilities. in Damascus on December 3, 2018 (Louye Bechara/AFP via Getty Images)
The released emails also show that she also purchased a pair of shoes with crystal-encrusted heels valued at $7,000 and had the items shipped to Dubai to avoid the boycott.
The couple’s state-of-the-art presidential mansion Built in 1979 and designed by Japanese architect Kenzo Tange, it is estimated to be worth $1 billion.
In the year 1989 washington post A single room is reported to be covered with 125,000 Italian marble tiles, priced at $85 per tile. The total cost of a single room was approximately $10.6 million.
On the same day that her husband is believed to have sprayed sarin gas on civilians in Khan Sheikhoun, Asma posted a photo of herself wearing a chic polka dot dress. He looked thoughtful and smiled deeply.
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Asma’s social media posts describe her as a humanitarian. It is decorated with photos of the first lady reading to children and embracing the families of Syrians killed in the country’s civil war. All of which are accompanied by hashtags showing love. #WeLoveYouAsma
The photos stand in stark contrast to images on news channels showing a Syrian child lying dead in the streets after choking on poison gas that the United States and its allies say was released by her authoritarian husband.
in May Syrian officials announced that Asma was diagnosed with leukemia. This caused her to temporarily withdraw from public life.
Bashar’s office issued a statement at the time saying Asma had been diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia and would “follow specialized treatment guidelines.” This includes strict infection prevention measures.”
Acute myeloid leukemia is a serious cancer of the bone marrow and blood.
Asma had previously been treated for breast cancer.
Timothy HJ Nerozzi at Fox News Digital and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
