Hafez al-Assad

Hafez al-Assad was a Syrian military officer who became President of Syria in 1971 after a coup d’état, establishing a strong, centralized government. He led Syria for over three decades, known for consolidating power through political stability and military strength, while suppressing opposition. Assad maintained close ties with the Soviet Union during the Cold War and focused on modernizing Syria’s infrastructure. His rule was marked by efforts to strengthen the government's control, but also by internal and regional conflicts. He is the father of Bashar al-Assad, who succeeded him as president in 2000.