Assad, Bashar

Bashar al-Assad is the President of Syria, a country in the Middle East. He took power in 2000 after his father, Hafez al-Assad, who ruled for decades. Bashar has been a controversial leader, with his government accused of human rights abuses, especially during the Syrian civil war that began in 2011. His leadership is characterized by maintaining control through the military and alliances with other countries. The conflict has caused widespread suffering and displacement, making Assad a significant and contentious figure in regional and global politics.