About our Bashar al-Assad news
Latest news on former Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad, tracking his exile in Moscow, international arrest warrants, frozen assets, and war crimes allegations after his 24-year rule ended in December 2024.
Bashar al-Assad, who fled Syria on 8 December 2024 as opposition forces entered Damascus, has been granted political asylum in Moscow. The former president, who ruled Syria from 2000 until his government's collapse, faces multiple international arrest warrants, including one issued by France for chemical weapons attacks, and stands accused of numerous war crimes and crimes against humanity.
International prosecutors and human rights organisations continue building cases against Assad, with evidence suggesting his direct role in ordering systematic torture, civilian massacres, and chemical weapons deployments during Syria's civil war. Western nations maintain sanctions against Assad and his inner circle, while investigations proceed into billions in assets allegedly hidden abroad through complex networks of shell companies and proxies.
The personal journey of Assad from London-trained eye doctor to ruthless dictator remains a subject of intense scrutiny. After inheriting power from his father Hafez in 2000, his initial promises of reform gave way to brutal repression that sparked the 2011 uprising. His decision to violently crush peaceful protests led to a devastating civil war that killed over 580,000 people and created the world's largest refugee crisis.
Assad's fall marked the end of his family's 54-year rule over Syria. His father Hafez had seized power in 1971, establishing an authoritarian system centred on the minority Alawite community and Ba'ath Party that Bashar would later inherit and maintain through systematic violence and exploitation of sectarian divisions. His wife Asma, once dubbed a "rose in the desert" by Vogue magazine, faces her own international sanctions for profiting from the conflict.
Regular coverage tracks Assad's activities in exile, legal proceedings against him and his associates, and efforts to recover Syrian assets under his control. Follow developments about the former dictator's fate, accountability efforts, and the ongoing impact of his legacy through comprehensive news updates from reliable sources on NewsNow.