In Pics | Assad regime completes 50 years of its grip on Syria
Hafez Al-Assad
On November 13, 1970, Bashar Al-Assad's father Hafez Al-Assad (pictured above) seized power in Syria in a bloodless coup. He quickly consolidate his power by appointing members of his Alwaite Sect to government positions. He soon styled into a single-party police state. His power was absolute.
Position in global conflicts
He supported US-led coalition to liberate Kuwait in Gulf war, thus gaining credit with the US. He supported Iran against Saddam Hussein in 1981 Iran-Iraq war.
Bashar Al-Assad
On May 7, 2023, the 22-member regional group, the Arab League, formally re-admitted Syria and its President Bashar al-Assad
Syrian civil war
After Arab Spring in 2011, situation in Syria spiralled into a civil war.
Civil war takes toll in Syria
The decade-long civil war destroyed the country. This increased the anti-Assad sentiment. People can be seen gathering for a demonstration in support of Syria's President Bashar al-Assad and against US sanctions on the country, at the Umayyad Square in the centre of the capital Damascus on June 11, 2020.|
Assad Khamanei
Iran has also sided with Assad regime in the civil war.
Support for Assad
However, Bashar Al-Assad is still in power and still enjoys support from a section of Syrian population.
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