Assad, Bashar al- , << ah SAHD, bah SHAHR uhl >> (1965-…), became president of Syria in July 2000. His name is also spelled Bashar al-Asad. He took over the presidency following the death of his father, Hafez al-Assad (also spelled Hafiz al-Asad), who had served as Syria’s leader since 1970. Hafez al-Assad began preparing Bashar to be his successor after the death in 1994 of Bashar’s older brother, Basil. Basil had been expected to assume the presidency. For information on Syria during Bashar’s presidency, see Syria (The early 2000’s).
Bashar al-Assad was born on Sept. 11, 1965, in Damascus. He received a medical degree from the University of Damascus in 1988. Al-Assad trained in ophthalmology (the study of diseases of the eye) at the Tishrin military hospital in Damascus from 1988 until 1992. He moved to England in 1992 to complete a medical residency program.
In 1994, Bashar’s brother Basil was killed in a car accident. Bashar was called back to Syria to train to take over the presidency. He attended the military academy at Homs, north of Damascus, earning the rank of colonel. After his father’s death, al-Assad was promoted to lieutenant general and made commander in chief of the armed forces. He also became head of the ruling Baath Party.
