A little history of the Assads from the BBC.
Syria: The rise of the Assads
By Neil QuilliamChatham House
Image copyrightAP
Image captionBashar al-Assad came to power after the death of his father, Hafez, in 2000
Syria's war
The conflict in Syria has drawn in major global powers, some supporting and some opposing President Bashar al-Assad. The Assad family has ruled Syria for more than four decades, but how did they rise to power?
Hafez al-Assad was the architect of modern Syria. Following decades of coups and counter-coups in Syria, Hafez used the network he had built in the posts of Commander of the Syrian air force and Minister of Defence to seize power in 1970.
To maintain his position, Hafez created a system of divide and rule and personalised his power to such an extent that it was he alone who held the state together. His successor would inherit a weak government and state institutions.
It was Hafez's eldest son, Bassel, that was groomed for power. But Bassel's death in a car accident in 1994 thrust his brother Bashar to the fore. When Bashar al-Assad assumed the presidency in 2000 following Hafez's death, many expected him to be a chip off the old block, but this has not proved to be the case.
Continue reading at:
Syria: The rise of the Assads - BBC News
Syria: The rise of the Assads
By Neil QuilliamChatham House
- 1 hour ago
- From the sectionMiddle East
Image captionBashar al-Assad came to power after the death of his father, Hafez, in 2000
Syria's war
Iran's growing role in Syria's war
Washington struggles for clear line on Syria
What is Russia's endgame in Syria?
Syria crisis: Where key countries stand
The conflict in Syria has drawn in major global powers, some supporting and some opposing President Bashar al-Assad. The Assad family has ruled Syria for more than four decades, but how did they rise to power?
Hafez al-Assad was the architect of modern Syria. Following decades of coups and counter-coups in Syria, Hafez used the network he had built in the posts of Commander of the Syrian air force and Minister of Defence to seize power in 1970.
To maintain his position, Hafez created a system of divide and rule and personalised his power to such an extent that it was he alone who held the state together. His successor would inherit a weak government and state institutions.
It was Hafez's eldest son, Bassel, that was groomed for power. But Bassel's death in a car accident in 1994 thrust his brother Bashar to the fore. When Bashar al-Assad assumed the presidency in 2000 following Hafez's death, many expected him to be a chip off the old block, but this has not proved to be the case.
Continue reading at:
Syria: The rise of the Assads - BBC News
