The Assad family ruled
Syria
Syria, officially the Syrian Arab Republic, is a country in West Asia located in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Levant. It borders the Mediterranean Sea to the west, Turkey to Syria–Turkey border, the north, Iraq to Iraq–Syria border, t ...
from 1971, when
Hafez al-Assad
Hafez al-Assad (6 October 193010 June 2000) was a Syrian politician and military officer who was the president of Syria from 1971 until Death and state funeral of Hafez al-Assad, his death in 2000. He was previously the Prime Minister of Syria ...
became
president
President most commonly refers to:
*President (corporate title)
* President (education), a leader of a college or university
*President (government title)
President may also refer to:
Arts and entertainment Film and television
*'' Præsident ...
under the
Ba'ath Party
The Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party ( ' ), also known simply as Bath Party (), was a political party founded in Syria by Michel Aflaq, Salah al-Din al-Bitar, and associates of Zaki al-Arsuzi. The party espoused Ba'athism, which is an ideology ...
following the
1970 coup, until
Bashar al-Assad
Bashar al-Assad (born 11September 1965) is a Syrian politician, military officer and former dictator
Sources characterising Assad as a dictator:
who served as the president of Syria from 2000 until fall of the Assad regime, his government ...
was
ousted on 8 December 2024. Bashar succeeded his father,
Hafez al-Assad
Hafez al-Assad (6 October 193010 June 2000) was a Syrian politician and military officer who was the president of Syria from 1971 until Death and state funeral of Hafez al-Assad, his death in 2000. He was previously the Prime Minister of Syria ...
, after
Hafez's death in 2000.
The Assads are from
Qardaha,
Latakia Governorate
Latakia Governorate ( / ALA-LC: ''Muḥāfaẓat al-Lādhiqīyah''), also transliterated as Ladhakia, is one of the 14 Governorates of Syria, governorates of Syria. It is situated in northwestern Syria, bordering Turkey's Hatay Province to the no ...
. They attributed themselves to the
Kalbiyya tribe.
In 1927,
Ali Sulayman arrived as an immigrant originally Kaka'i (
Yarsanism
Yarsanism (), Ahl-e Haqq (; ), or Kaka'i, is an Ethnoreligious group, inherited, syncretism, syncretic religion founded by Sultan Sahak in the late 14th century in western Iran. The total number of followers of Yarsanism is estimated to be over ...
) from Iran and changed his last name from ''al-Wahsh'', Arabic for 'the savage', to ''al-Assad'', 'the lion', possibly in connection with his social standing as a local mediator and his political activities. All members of the extended Assad family stem from Ali Sulayman and his second wife, Naissa, who came from a village in the
Syrian Coastal Mountains.
[Martin Stäheli: ''Die syrische Außenpolitik unter Hafez Assad'', Franz Steiner Verlag, Stuttgart 2001, ; p. 40]
During his early reign in the
1970s
File:1970s decade montage.jpg, Clockwise from top left: U.S. President Richard Nixon doing the V for Victory sign after his resignation from office following the Watergate scandal in 1974; The United States was still involved in the Vietnam War ...
, Hafez al-Assad created patronage networks of
Ba'ath party
The Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party ( ' ), also known simply as Bath Party (), was a political party founded in Syria by Michel Aflaq, Salah al-Din al-Bitar, and associates of Zaki al-Arsuzi. The party espoused Ba'athism, which is an ideology ...
elites loyal to his family. Members of the Assad family established control over vast swathes of the Syrian economy, and
corruption
Corruption is a form of dishonesty or a criminal offense that is undertaken by a person or an organization that is entrusted in a position of authority to acquire illicit benefits or abuse power for one's gain. Corruption may involve activities ...
became endemic in the public and private sectors. After Hafez's death, family connections continued to be important in Syrian politics. Several close family members of Hafez also held vital positions in the government since his rise to power, an arrangement which existed until the fall of the Assad regime.
The Syrian
bureaucracy
Bureaucracy ( ) is a system of organization where laws or regulatory authority are implemented by civil servants or non-elected officials (most of the time). Historically, a bureaucracy was a government administration managed by departments ...
and business community were also dominated by members of the Assad family and individuals affiliated with them.
Hafez al-Assad built his regime into a bureaucracy that was marked by a
cult of personality
A cult of personality, or a cult of the leader,Cas Mudde, Mudde, Cas and Kaltwasser, Cristóbal Rovira (2017) ''Populism: A Very Short Introduction''. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 63. is the result of an effort which is made to create ...
. Images, portraits, quotes and praises of Assad are displayed everywhere from schools to public markets and government offices. Hafez was referred to as the "Immortal Leader" and the ''al-Muqaddas'' ("Sanctified One") in official
Assadist ideology. Hafez re-organised Syrian society in militaristic lines and persistently invoked conspiratorial rhetoric on the dangers of foreign-backed plots abetted by
fifth columnists and promoted the
armed forces
A military, also known collectively as armed forces, is a heavily armed, highly organized force primarily intended for warfare. Militaries are typically authorized and maintained by a sovereign state, with their members identifiable by a ...
as a central aspect of public life. After Hafez al-Assad's death, his son and successor Bashar al-Assad inherited the existing personality cult, with the party hailing him as the "Young Leader" and "Hope of the People". Drawing influence from the
veneration of the Kim dynasty in
North Korea
North Korea, officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), is a country in East Asia. It constitutes the northern half of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and borders China and Russia to the north at the Yalu River, Yalu (Amnok) an ...
's
hereditary leadership model led by
Kim Il Sung
Kim Il Sung (born Kim Song Ju; 15 April 1912 – 8 July 1994) was a North Korean politician and the founder of North Korea, which he led as its first Supreme Leader (North Korean title), supreme leader from North Korea#Founding, its establishm ...
, official propaganda in Syria ascribed divine features to the Assad family and reveres the Assad patriarchs as the founding fathers of modern Syria.
Opposition to the Assad family's rule coalesced into the
Syrian Civil War, which began on 15 March 2011. On 8 December 2024, Bashar al-Assad was reported to have fled
Damascus
Damascus ( , ; ) is the capital and List of largest cities in the Levant region by population, largest city of Syria. It is the oldest capital in the world and, according to some, the fourth Holiest sites in Islam, holiest city in Islam. Kno ...
, signalling the
end of the Assad family's rule in Syria. After the
fall of Damascus, Assad and his family including his wife
Asma al-Assad had fled to
Moscow
Moscow is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Russia by population, largest city of Russia, standing on the Moskva (river), Moskva River in Central Russia. It has a population estimated at over 13 million residents with ...
,
Russia
Russia, or the Russian Federation, is a country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia. It is the list of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the world, and extends across Time in Russia, eleven time zones, sharing Borders ...
.
Origin
The Assad family originates from Ali Sulayman al-Wahsh, Hafez al-Assad's father, who was born in 1875 and lived in the village of
Qardaha in the coastal Syrian mountains. The locals reportedly nicknamed him "Wahsh", Arabic for "wild beast", because he was physically strong and a good fighter. Al-Wahsh remained the family name until the 1920s, when it was changed to al-
Assad, Arabic for "
lion
The lion (''Panthera leo'') is a large Felidae, cat of the genus ''Panthera'', native to Sub-Saharan Africa and India. It has a muscular, broad-chested body (biology), body; a short, rounded head; round ears; and a dark, hairy tuft at the ...
". Because of Sulayman's reported strength and marksmanship, he was respected in his village. At the outbreak of
World War I
World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
, the Ottoman governor of the
Aleppo Vilayet sent troops to the area to collect taxes and round up recruits. The troops were reportedly fought off by Sulayman and his friends who were armed only with sabres and old muskets. Because Sulayman was respected, he was a local mediator between quarreling families. He was also one of the local chieftains who were the de facto rulers of the area. The chieftains from the powerful families would provide protection to their neighbours and in return they gained loyalty and respect. He lived until 1963, long enough to see his son's rise to power. He married twice and over three decades had eleven children. His first wife Sa'ada was from the district of Haffeh. They had three sons and two daughters. His second wife was Na'isa, twenty years younger than him. She was the daughter of Uthman Abbud from the village of
Al-Qutailibiyah, a dozen kilometres further up the mountain. They had a daughter and five sons. Hafez was born on 6 October 1930 and was the fourth child.
Al-Assad family is affiliated with the
Alawite
Alawites () are an Arabs, Arab ethnoreligious group who live primarily in the Levant region in West Asia and follow Alawism, a sect of Islam that splintered from early Shia as a ''ghulat'' branch during the ninth century. Alawites venerate A ...
sect, a syncretic sect with links to early
Shi'ism
Shia Islam is the second-largest Islamic schools and branches, branch of Islam. It holds that Muhammad in Islam, Muhammad designated Ali ibn Abi Talib () as both his political Succession to Muhammad, successor (caliph) and as the spiritual le ...
. Since coming to power in 1970, the Assad family traditionally used sectarian loyalty from the Alawite sect as a vital component to legitimize their dynastic rule. Many Sunni loyalists have been assigned to crucial posts in the bureaucracy, security forces,
military
A military, also known collectively as armed forces, is a heavily armed, highly organized force primarily intended for warfare. Militaries are typically authorized and maintained by a sovereign state, with their members identifiable by a d ...
, judiciary, etc., in-order to consolidate Assad family's grip on power.
Cult of personality

During the 1950s, Syrian
Alawites
Alawites () are an Arab ethnoreligious group who live primarily in the Levant region in West Asia and follow Alawism, a sect of Islam that splintered from early Shia as a ''ghulat'' branch during the ninth century. Alawites venerate Ali ...
started becoming influential in the
Syrian Armed Forces
The Syrian Armed Forces () are the military forces of Syria.
Up until the fall of Bashar al-Assad's Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party – Syria Region, Ba'ath Party Ba'athist Syria, regime in December 2024, the Syrian Arab Armed Forces were the sta ...
and
Ba'ath party
The Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party ( ' ), also known simply as Bath Party (), was a political party founded in Syria by Michel Aflaq, Salah al-Din al-Bitar, and associates of Zaki al-Arsuzi. The party espoused Ba'athism, which is an ideology ...
. Led by Alawite military officers, like Salah Jadid, Ba'athist factions staged a series of coups during the 1960s and built up a
one-party state
A one-party state, single-party state, one-party system or single-party system is a governance structure in which only a single political party controls the ruling system. In a one-party state, all opposition parties are either outlawed or en ...
. The party cemented its total control over the state and society by purging civilian elites, pursued an aggressive
propaganda
Propaganda is communication that is primarily used to influence or persuade an audience to further an agenda, which may not be objective and may be selectively presenting facts to encourage a particular synthesis or perception, or using loaded l ...
policy of "state-nationalist indoctrination" and established patronage networks based on sectarian lines to mobilise support. Following the
1970 coup d'etat that ousted his rival
Salah Jadid;
Hafez al-Assad
Hafez al-Assad (6 October 193010 June 2000) was a Syrian politician and military officer who was the president of Syria from 1971 until Death and state funeral of Hafez al-Assad, his death in 2000. He was previously the Prime Minister of Syria ...
developed a
Stalinist
Stalinism (, ) is the totalitarian means of governing and Marxist–Leninist policies implemented in the Soviet Union (USSR) from 1927 to 1953 by dictator Joseph Stalin and in Soviet satellite states between 1944 and 1953. Stalinism in ...
-style
personality cult
A cult of personality, or a cult of the leader, Mudde, Cas and Kaltwasser, Cristóbal Rovira (2017) ''Populism: A Very Short Introduction''. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 63. is the result of an effort which is made to create an ideali ...
around him; which depicted him as the
father figure
A father figure is usually an older man, normally one with power, authority, or strength, with whom one can identify on a deeply psychology, psychological level and who generates emotions generally felt towards one's father. Despite the literal t ...
of Syrian nation. After Hafez's death, the personality cult was extended to his son,
Bashar al-Assad
Bashar al-Assad (born 11September 1965) is a Syrian politician, military officer and former dictator
Sources characterising Assad as a dictator:
who served as the president of Syria from 2000 until fall of the Assad regime, his government ...
. Monuments, pictures, statues, symbols and billboards of both the leaders extensively pervade Syrian society, designed to consolidate the notion of "Assad's Syria". Observers view the state propaganda efforts as a strategy for securing the compliance of the masses and identifying
Syrian nationhood with the Assad dynasty.
On the other hand, exaggerations of the propaganda and ever-deepening importance attached to upholding the personality cult around the Assad patriarchs have resulted in the simultaneous de-emphasis on the Syrian identity itself; due to the duplication of reality. In addition to criminalising any and all critiques of the regime; the modes of conveying messages between the state and civil society are restricted strictly within bounds of what is officially acceptable. The state further banned private political opinions critical of the regime and encourages citizens to report relatives and friends who exhibit undesirable attitudes. The policies of
economic liberalization
Economic liberalization, or economic liberalisation, is the lessening of government regulations and restrictions in an economy in exchange for greater participation by private entities. In politics, the doctrine is associated with classical liber ...
implemented during the 2000s worsened the corruption; since the chief grantees of the outcomes were businessmen and relatives close to the Assad family; such as
Rami Makhlouf.
Unlike other Arab dictatorships, this feature of the
Ba'ath regime and total centralisation of power in the hands of the Assad patriarchs had enabled it to instill
apoliticism amongst its citizens; where the ritualisation of state slogans and symbolism had led to de facto compliance. As a result, there are far fewer avenues of free political activism for ordinary
Syrians
Syrians () are the majority inhabitants of Syria, indigenous to the Levant, most of whom have Arabic, especially its Levantine Arabic, Levantine and Mesopotamian Arabic, Mesopotamian dialects, as a mother tongue. The culture of Syria, cultural ...
as compared to other Arab states. Until recently, political activism was shunned by many people; instead preferring the stability offered by the regime. The rise of
internet
The Internet (or internet) is the Global network, global system of interconnected computer networks that uses the Internet protocol suite (TCP/IP) to communicate between networks and devices. It is a internetworking, network of networks ...
and
satellite channels and proliferation of civil society groups and independent political activists during the 2000s increasingly began to challenge state monopoly on information, which have led to rising political dissidence amongst the younger generations.
Describing the hardships to raise the political consciousness of Syrian citizens by contrasting their situation with other Arab protestors, Caroline, a Syrian Christian and civic activist imprisoned by regime during the 2011–12
Arab Spring protests, states:
"Before the revolution in Egypt, people were allowed to gather, had political parties; people were exposed to political life. In Syria, we were away from politics. We were raised in Syria and our parents used to tell us that we shouldn't talk with anyone about our religion or about politics"
Since Hafiz al-Assad's
seizure of power in 1970; state propaganda has promoted a new national discourse based on unifying
Syrians
Syrians () are the majority inhabitants of Syria, indigenous to the Levant, most of whom have Arabic, especially its Levantine Arabic, Levantine and Mesopotamian Arabic, Mesopotamian dialects, as a mother tongue. The culture of Syria, cultural ...
under "a single imagined
Ba'athist
Ba'athism, also spelled Baathism, is an Arab nationalist ideology which advocates the establishment of a unified Arab state through the rule of a Ba'athist vanguard party operating under a revolutionary socialist framework. The ideology ...
identity" and
Assadism
Assadism is a Far-left politics, far-left variant of the Neo-Ba'athism, neo-Ba'athist ideology based on the policies and thinking of the Assad family, which governed Ba'athist Syria, Syria as a Totalitarianism, totalitarian Dynasty, hereditary d ...
. Fervently loyalist paramilitaries known as the ''
Shabiha'' (tr. ghosts) deify the Assad dynasty through slogans such as ''There is no God except Bashar!'' (
Arabic
Arabic (, , or , ) is a Central Semitic languages, Central Semitic language of the Afroasiatic languages, Afroasiatic language family spoken primarily in the Arab world. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) assigns lang ...
: لا إله الا بشار) and pursue
psychological warfare
Psychological warfare (PSYWAR), or the basic aspects of modern psychological operations (PsyOp), has been known by many other names or terms, including Military Information Support Operations ( MISO), Psy Ops, political warfare, "Hearts and Mi ...
against non-conformist populations.
In December 2024, the Assad family's regime collapsed when the rebels entered and captured
Damascus
Damascus ( , ; ) is the capital and List of largest cities in the Levant region by population, largest city of Syria. It is the oldest capital in the world and, according to some, the fourth Holiest sites in Islam, holiest city in Islam. Kno ...
, the Syrian capital, during the
2024 Syrian opposition offensives. Assad and his family left Syria for the
Russian
Russian(s) may refer to:
*Russians (), an ethnic group of the East Slavic peoples, primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries
*A citizen of Russia
*Russian language, the most widely spoken of the Slavic languages
*''The Russians'', a b ...
capital,
Moscow
Moscow is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Russia by population, largest city of Russia, standing on the Moskva (river), Moskva River in Central Russia. It has a population estimated at over 13 million residents with ...
, to seek asylum.
Hafez's family
Hafez al-Assad
*
Hafez al-Assad
Hafez al-Assad (6 October 193010 June 2000) was a Syrian politician and military officer who was the president of Syria from 1971 until Death and state funeral of Hafez al-Assad, his death in 2000. He was previously the Prime Minister of Syria ...
(1930–2000). President of Syria 1971–2000.
*
Anisa Makhlouf (1930–2016), wife of Hafez and First Lady of Syria.
** Bushra al-Assad, died as an infant before 1960.
**
Bushra al-Assad (born 1960) is a pharmacist and a mother of five children, and was married to General
Assef Shawkat (1950–2012), who was deputy-chief of staff of the
Syrian army and the former head of
military intelligence
Military intelligence is a military discipline that uses information collection and analysis List of intelligence gathering disciplines, approaches to provide guidance and direction to assist Commanding officer, commanders in decision making pr ...
. He was killed on 18 July 2012 in a
bombing
A bomb is an explosive weapon that uses the exothermic reaction of an explosive material to provide an extremely sudden and violent release of energy. Detonations inflict damage principally through ground- and atmosphere-transmitted mechan ...
in Damascus, during the
Syrian Civil War.
**
Bassel al-Assad (1962–1994), was the original candidate for presidential succession but died in a car accident.
**
Bashar al-Assad
Bashar al-Assad (born 11September 1965) is a Syrian politician, military officer and former dictator
Sources characterising Assad as a dictator:
who served as the president of Syria from 2000 until fall of the Assad regime, his government ...
(born 1965), was the
President of Syria
The president of Syria (), officially the president of the Syrian Arab Republic, is the head of state and head of government of Syria. The president directs the executive branch and serves as the commander-in-chief of the Syrian Army and Syrian ...
until 8 December 2024. Before Bassel's death he was an
ophthalmologist
Ophthalmology (, ) is the branch of medicine that deals with the diagnosis, treatment, and surgery of eye diseases and disorders.
An ophthalmologist is a physician who undergoes subspecialty training in medical and surgical eye care. Following a ...
. He is married to
Asma al-Assad (born 1975). She was the First Lady of Syria and took a prominent public role until 8 December 2024. Before being married, she was an investment banker. They have three children.
The couple were also regarded as the "main economic players" in Syria and controlled large parts of Syrian
business sector
In economics, the business sector or corporate sector - sometimes popularly called simply "business" - is "the part of the economy made up by companies". It is a subset of the domestic economy, excluding the economic activities of general gover ...
s, banking,
telecommunications
Telecommunication, often used in its plural form or abbreviated as telecom, is the transmission of information over a distance using electronic means, typically through cables, radio waves, or other communication technologies. These means of ...
,
real estate, and
maritime industries.
** (1966–2009), was an electrical engineer with a reported history of severe mental problems. He was married to Ru'a Ayyoub (born 1976) and had no children. Majd died in
Damascus
Damascus ( , ; ) is the capital and List of largest cities in the Levant region by population, largest city of Syria. It is the oldest capital in the world and, according to some, the fourth Holiest sites in Islam, holiest city in Islam. Kno ...
on 12 December 2009 after a long unspecified chronic illness.
**
Maher al-Assad (born 1967), is the former commander of the
Republican Guard
A republican guard, sometimes called a national guard, is a state organization of a country (often a republic, hence the name ''Republican'') which typically serves to protect the head of state and the government, and thus is often synonymous wit ...
, which are also known as the Presidential Guard, and the army's elite Fourth Armored Division, which together with Syria's secret police form the core of the country's security forces. He is also a member of the
Ba'ath Party
The Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party ( ' ), also known simply as Bath Party (), was a political party founded in Syria by Michel Aflaq, Salah al-Din al-Bitar, and associates of Zaki al-Arsuzi. The party espoused Ba'athism, which is an ideology ...
central command and is said to have an aggressive and uncontrollable personality. He is married and has two daughters.
He is reported to have been severely disabled in a
2012 bombing in Damascus during the Syrian civil war.
He reportedly shot
Assef Shawkat in the stomach in October 1999, during an argument. Maher is also known by many to be the most ruthless in the Al-Assad family. He has been linked to "overseeing a captagon factory in al-Basa" and production centres in the
Qalamoun Mountains
The Qalamoun Mountains () are the northeastern portion of the Anti-Lebanon Mountains, and they are northeast of the Syrian capital Damascus. They run from Barada River Valley in the southwest to the city of Hisyah in the northeast.
Western Q ...
.
He is sanctioned by the US government.
Hafez's siblings
Jamil al-Assad
*
Jamil al-Assad (1932–2004), parliamentarian and commander of a minor militia. Politically marginalized years before his death.
Children:
** Mundhir al-Assad (born 1961), was arrested in 2005 at the
Beirut Airport
Beirut ( ; ) is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Lebanon. , Greater Beirut has a population of 2.5 million, just under half of Lebanon's population, which makes it the List of largest cities in the Levant region by populatio ...
while entering Lebanon.
He was reported to have been involved in arms smuggling to the
Iraqi insurgents.
In 2011, the EU placed sanctions on him for being involved with the
Shabbiha militia in the repression of protestors during the Syrian Civil War.
** Fawwaz al-Assad (1962–2015), was the first real ''
Shabiha'' and gave the meaning known today to the word Shabiha and the concept of Tashbeeh that is to act like a thug. He had sanctions placed on him in 2011 by the EU for being involved with the Shabbiha militia in the repression of protestors during the Syrian Civil War.
** One daughter is married to Yarob Kanaan, whose father is
Ghazi Kanaan
Ghazi Kanaan (; 1942 – 12 October 2005; also known by his nickname Abu Yo'roub) was a Syrian Officer (armed forces), military officer and intelligence chief who served as Syria's interior minister from 2004 to 2005. He was also the long-tim ...
(1942–2005), who in 2005 during his term as interior minister presumably killed himself. The Kanaans come from the Kalabiyya tribe.
Rifaat al-Assad

*
Rifaat al-Assad
Rifaat Ali al-Assad (; born 22 August 1937) is a Syrian former military officer and politician. He is the younger brother of the late President of Syria, Hafez al-Assad, and Jamil al-Assad, and the uncle of the former President Bashar al-Assad. ...
(born 1937). Formerly a powerful security chief and commander of the
Defense Companies, who was responsible for the
1982 Hama massacre. After attempting a coup d'état in 1987, he went into exile in
France
France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...
and also lived in
London
London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...
.
He is married with four wives:
Amira 'Aziz al-Assad (died 2019), a cousin.
Sana' Ismail Makhluf (died 2021), from the family of Hafez's wife.
Rajaa Bakrat, from a wealthy Sunni Damascene family.
Lina al-Khayer, sister of Hessa bint Tarad al-Shaalan, wife of the late Saudi King
Abdullah bin Abdulaziz (1924–2015).
Rifaat has a number of children from these marriages, including:
**
Ribal al-Assad (born 1975), has lived abroad since he was nine years old; currently he lives in the
United States
The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
. In an interview in 2010, he denied that his father was involved in the massacre of Hama or that his family's branch was connected to
Abdul Halim Khaddam (1932–2020) or
Ghazi Kanaan
Ghazi Kanaan (; 1942 – 12 October 2005; also known by his nickname Abu Yo'roub) was a Syrian Officer (armed forces), military officer and intelligence chief who served as Syria's interior minister from 2004 to 2005. He was also the long-tim ...
.
** Somar al-Assad, supports his father actively in his opposition to Bashar.
** Lamia, is married to 'Ala al-Fayad, the son of
Shafiq Fayadh (former Syrian General).
** Mudar al-Assad, is married to May Haydar, daughter of the Syrian multimillionaire Muhammad Haydar.
[Shmuel Bar: ''Bashar's Syria: The Regime and its Strategic Worldview'' In: Comparative Strategy, 25, 2006, Special Issue, p. 382]
** Tumadhir, is married to Mu'ein Nasif Kheirbek also from the Kalabiyya tribe and related to
Mohammed Nasif Kheirbek (1937–2015), who is indirectly related by marriage and blood to Abd al-Halim Khaddam,
Rafic Hariri
Rafic Bahaa El Deen al-Hariri (; 1 November 1944 – 14 February 2005) was a Lebanese businessman and politician who served as Prime Minister of Lebanon, prime minister of Lebanon from 1992 to 1998 and again from 2000 to 2004.
Hariri headed fi ...
(1944–2005) and the influential Homs
al-Atassi family.
** Firas al-Assad, accused his cousin, President Bashar, of killing more than 100,000 Alawites and more than half a million Syrians in order to stay in power.
Shalish family
* Sister of Hafez al-Assad married into the Shalish family. The family through paternal cousin General Dhu al Himma al-Shalish maintains a significant level of influence in the Bashar al-Assad government. The Shalishes are mainly active in the automobile and construction sectors.
** General
Dhu al-Himma Shalish (1951–2022), a cousin of Bashar al-Assad, was the head of presidential security and was part of the inner circle of leadership of the Bashar al-Assad government.
He had sanctions placed on him by the US government for supplying weapons to Saddam Hussein and his government.
On 24 June 2011, the EU sanctioned him for being involved in violence against demonstrators during the Syrian Civil War.
*** Asef Isa Shalish, nephew of Dhu al-Himma, is the manager of SES, a company that was involved in the weapons trade with Iraq and Iran.
** Riyad Shalish, a cousin of Bashar Assad and the former director of the governmental construction organization the Military Housing Establishment, which during the 1990s he managed to transform into his own company. He made a fortune on construction and contracting deals in Syria involving large scale projects financed by other Arab states. On 24 June 2011, the EU sanctioned him for providing funding to the regime to repress protesters of the Syrian Civil War.
[
]
Ahmed al-Assad
* Ahmed al-Assad (1910–1975), was an older half-brother of Hafez from Ali's first wife Sa'ada.
** Anwar al-Assad,
*** Hilal al-Assad (died 2014), was the president of the Syrian Arabian Horse Association. Hilal was killed on 22 March 2014, in the battle for a border crossing with Turkey in the north of Latakia.
**** Suleiman al-Assad, Hilal's son, was arrested in August 2015 after allegedly murdering an off-duty colonel in a 'road rage' incident in Latakia. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison but in late 2020 was released after four years. In December 2024, video of a man being lynched and hung from a crane after the fall of the Assad regime
On 8 December 2024, the Assad regime collapsed during a 2024 Syrian opposition offensives, major offensive by Syrian opposition, opposition forces. The offensive was spearheaded by Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and supported mainly by the Turk ...
went viral with the claim that it depicted Suleiman, but this was false.
*** Hael al-Assad, was the head of the Military Police of the army's 4th Armoured Division, whose official commander is Maher al-Assad. He is also the director of the prison in which Maher al-Assad keeps his personal prisoners outside of state jurisdiction.[
*** Haroun al-Assad, is an elected municipal official of the village of Qardaha.][
*** Daad al-Assad, is married to General Zouheir al-Assad, who was born in 1958 and is a distant cousin. Zouheir al-Assad commanded the 90th Regiment, a unit of some 10,000 men, charged with protecting the capital.][
**** Karam Al Assad, led a group of Shabiha. He and his group of shabiha led an assault against the peaceful protests during the "night of destiny". The assault ended in two deaths and dozens injured.][
]
Isma'il al-Assad
* Isma'il al-Assad (1913–?) was an older half-brother of Hafez from Ali's first wife Sa'ada.
** Tawfiq al-Assad,
*** Muhammad al-Assad (died 2015), another leader of the "Struggle companies". He was killed in a dispute with a powerful person over control in the al-Qerdaha area of Latakia province, on 14 March 2015.
**** Hussein al-Assad, son of Muhammad. He took over the criminal network of his father and reorganized it into a paramilitary unit, the Lions of Hussein.
Ibrahim al-Assad
* Ibrahim al-Assad, was an older half-brother of Hafez al-Assad from Ali Sulayman's first wife Sa'ada. He was married to Umm Anwar who took over the smuggling business of her son Malek.
** Malek al-Assad was the first known smuggler in the Assad family.
About Hafez's siblings who died early—Bayat, Bahijat and an unknown sister—almost nothing is publicly known.
Anisa's siblings
Makhlouf family
The Makhloufs belong to the Alawi Haddad tribe, both Hafez and Rifaat are related through marriage to the Makhloufs. The Makhlouf family rose from humble beginnings to become the financial advisor
A financial adviser or financial advisor is a professional who provides financial services to clients based on their financial situation. In many countries, financial advisors must complete specific training and be registered with a regulatory ...
to Hafez al-Assad after the former President married Makhlouf's sister. The family headed by Mohammad Makhlouf has established a vast financial empire in the telecommunication, retail, banking, power generation, and oil and gas sectors. The net worth of the family was estimated in 2010 to be at least five billion dollars.
* Mohammed Makhlouf (1932–2020), made a fortune, both through management of state companies and in the private sector.
** Rami Makhlouf (born 1969), is a wealthy businessman and the main owner of SyriaTel. According to the ''Financial Times
The ''Financial Times'' (''FT'') is a British daily newspaper printed in broadsheet and also published digitally that focuses on business and economic Current affairs (news format), current affairs. Based in London, the paper is owned by a Jap ...
'' he is thought to control as much as 60% of the economy through his web of business interests that include telecommunications, oil and gas, construction, banking, airlines and retail, and he is widely seen as the business arm of the Assad government.[ He is regarded as Syria's wealthiest man – worth approximately 5 billion dollars. In 2020, intense dispute arose between Makhlouf and ]Bashar al-Assad
Bashar al-Assad (born 11September 1965) is a Syrian politician, military officer and former dictator
Sources characterising Assad as a dictator:
who served as the president of Syria from 2000 until fall of the Assad regime, his government ...
over the issue of backtaxes; which severely damaged Assad's reputation amongst Alawite loyalists.
** Hafez Makhlouf (born 1971), was the deputy director of the General Security Directorate and intelligence chief of the Damascus branch.
** Iyad Makhlouf (born 1973), twin of Ihab Makhlouf, is a General Security Directorate officer. The EU, US, and UK sanctioned him for being involved in violence against the civilian population during the Syrian Civil War.
** Ihab Makhlouf (1973–2024), twin of Iyad Makhlouf, is former Vice-Chairman of SyriaTel and caretaker for Rami Makhlouf's US company. The EU sanctioned him for providing funding to the Assad government and allowing violence against demonstrators in the Syrian Civil War. He is believed to be in charge of the sniper units that are being used to shoot at protestors in the uprising. He was killed in his car on 8 December 2024, after the Fall of the Assad regime
On 8 December 2024, the Assad regime collapsed during a 2024 Syrian opposition offensives, major offensive by Syrian opposition, opposition forces. The offensive was spearheaded by Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and supported mainly by the Turk ...
.
* Fatima Makhlouf, sister of Anisa Makhlouf.
** Atef Najib (born 1964/1965), is the former head of Political Security Directorate in Deraa. The EU sanctioned him for being involved in violence against demonstrators in the Syrian civil war.
* General Adnan Makhlouf, first cousin of Anisa, former commander of the Republican Guard
A republican guard, sometimes called a national guard, is a state organization of a country (often a republic, hence the name ''Republican'') which typically serves to protect the head of state and the government, and thus is often synonymous wit ...
.
* General Talal Makhlouf, cousin of Anisa, former commander of the Republican Guard
A republican guard, sometimes called a national guard, is a state organization of a country (often a republic, hence the name ''Republican'') which typically serves to protect the head of state and the government, and thus is often synonymous wit ...
.
Hafez's cousins
* Numeir al-Assad, reportedly established the Shabiha with Rifaat al-Assad in the 1980s and controlled the organized smuggling networks, anchored in Latakia's port.
* Adnan al-Assad, leader of " Struggle Companies" militia in Damascus
Damascus ( , ; ) is the capital and List of largest cities in the Levant region by population, largest city of Syria. It is the oldest capital in the world and, according to some, the fourth Holiest sites in Islam, holiest city in Islam. Kno ...
.
* Shafiq Fayadh (1937–2015), cousin of Hafez from his aunt in the village of Ayn al-Arus in Jableh
Jableh (; ', also spelt ''Jebleh'', ''Jabala'', ''Jablah, Gabala'' or ''Gibellum'') is a Mediterranean coastal city in Syria, north of Baniyas and south of Latakia, with c. 80,000 inhabitants (2004 census). As Ancient ''Gabala'', it was a By ...
. Commander of the 7th Mechanized Infantry Division 1973–78. Commander of the 3rd Armored Division since 1978. Reportedly incapacitated in 1991/92 due to a heart attack.[ Batatu describes him as an army corps general.
]
Other relatives
* Numeir al-Assad, second degree cousin of Hafez's children, led the Shabiha in Latakia
Latakia (; ; Syrian Arabic, Syrian pronunciation: ) is the principal port city of Syria and capital city of the Latakia Governorate located on the Mediterranean coast. Historically, it has also been known as Laodicea in Syria or Laodicea ad Mar ...
.
* Nizar al-Assad, is a cousin of Bashar Al-Assad. He was the head of the Nizar Oilfield Supplies company. He was sanctioned by the EU for being very close to key government officials and for financing Shabiha in the region of Latakia.[
* Fawaz al-Assad, nephew of Hafez, leader of Shabiha
* Mundhir al-Assad, nephew of Hafez, leader of Shabiha
* Samer al-Assad, son of Kamal and grandson of Ismael who was a half-brother of Hafez al-Assad, runs one of several Captagon factories in Al-Bassah.
* Duraid Assad, husband of Rasha Khazem and the father of Shams Assad. Rasha and Shams Assad were smuggled into Lebanon after the fall of the Assad Regime and were arrested in the Beirut international airport because of owning a fake passport.]
See also
* List of political families
This is an incomplete list of prominent political families. Monarchical dynasties are not included, unless certain descendants have played political roles in a republican structure (e.g. Arslan family of Lebanon and Cakobau family of Fiji).
...
* Tulfah family
References
; Citations
; Bibliography
*
*
*
*
External links
Syria's First Family
Slate Magazine
''Slate'' is an online magazine that covers current affairs, politics, and culture in the United States. It was created in 1996 by former ''The New Republic, New Republic'' editor Michael Kinsley, initially under the ownership of Microsoft as ...
, 10 February 2012
Bashar al-Assad's inner circle
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is a British public service broadcaster headquartered at Broadcasting House in London, England. Originally established in 1922 as the British Broadcasting Company, it evolved into its current sta ...
, 10 May 2011
Syria's Leaders
Esther Pan, Council on Foreign Relations
The Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) is an American think tank focused on Foreign policy of the United States, U.S. foreign policy and international relations. Founded in 1921, it is an independent and nonpartisan 501(c)(3) nonprofit organi ...
, 10 March 2006
{{Authority control
Ba'athism
Syrian families
Political families of Syria
Syrian Alawites