Hafez al-Assad | |
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حافظ الأسد | |
Assad in 1987
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18th President of Syria | |
In office 12 March 1971 – 10 June 2000 |
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Prime Minister | Himself (1971) Abdul Rahman Khleifawi (1971–72) Mahmoud al-Ayyubi (1972–76) Abdul Rahman Khleifawi (1976–78) Muhammad Ali al-Halabi (1978–80) Abdul Rauf al-Kasm (1980–87) Mahmoud Zuabi (1987–2000) Muhammad Mustafa Mero (2000) |
Vice President |
Mahmoud al-Ayyubi (1971–74) Rifaat al-Assad (1984–98) Abdul Halim Khaddam (1984–2000) |
Preceded by | Ahmad al-Khatib |
Succeeded by | Abdul Halim Khaddam (acting) |
Prime Minister of Syria | |
In office 21 November 1970 – 3 April 1971 |
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President |
Ahmad al-Khatib (1970–71) Himself (1971) |
Preceded by | Nureddin al-Atassi |
Succeeded by | Abdul Rahman Khleifawi |
Regional Secretary of the Regional Command of the Syrian Regional Branch | |
In office 18 November 1970 – 10 June 2000 |
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Deputy |
Mohamad Jaber Bajbouj (1975–80) Zuhair Masharqa (1980–85) Sulayman Qaddah (1985–2005) |
Preceded by | Nureddin al-Atassi |
Succeeded by | Bashar al-Assad |
Secretary General of the National Command of the Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party | |
In office 12 September 1971 – 10 June 2000 |
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Deputy | Abdullah al-Ahmar |
Preceded by | Nureddin al-Atassi |
Succeeded by | Abdullah al-Ahmar (de facto; al-Assad is still de jure Secretary General, even though he is dead.) |
Minister of Defense | |
In office 23 February 1966 – 1972 |
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President |
Nureddin al-Atassi (1966–70) Ahmad al-Khatib (1970–71) Himself (1971–72) |
Prime Minister |
Yusuf Zuaiyin (1966–68) Nureddin al-Atassi (1968–70) Himself (1970–71) Abdul Rahman Kleifawi |
Preceded by | Muhammad Umran |
Succeeded by | Mustafa Tlass |
Member of the Regional Command of the Syrian Regional Branch | |
In office 27 March 1966 – 10 June 2000 |
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In office 5 September 1963 – 4 April 1965 |
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Personal details | |
Born |
Qardaha, Alawite State, Syria |
6 October 1930
Died | 10 June 2000 Damascus, Syria |
(aged 69)
Resting place | Qardaha, Syria |
Political party | Ba'ath Party (Syrian faction) (since 1966) |
Other political affiliations |
Arab Ba'ath Party (1946–47) Ba'ath Party (1947–66) |
Spouse(s) | Anisa Makhlouf (1957–2000) |
Relations | Jamil, Rifaat (brothers) |
Children | Bushra, Bassel, Bashar, Majd, Maher |
Parents |
Ali Sulayman al-Assad Na'sa al-Assad |
Alma mater | Homs Military Academy |
Military service | |
Allegiance | Syria |
Service/branch | Syrian Air Force |
Years of service | 1952–72 |
Rank | General |
Commands | Syrian Air Force Syrian Armed Forces |
Battles/wars | Six Day War (1967) War of Attrition (1967–70) Black September (1970–71) |
Hafez al-Assad (Arabic: حافظ الأسد Ḥāfiẓ al-ʾAsad, Levantine pronunciation: [ˈħaːfezˤ elˈʔasad] Modern Standard Arabic: [ħaːfɪðˤ al'ʔasad]; 6 October 1930 – 10 June 2000) was a Syrian statesman, politician, and general who was President of Syria from 1971 to 2000. He was also Prime Minister from 1970 to 1971, as well as Regional Secretary of the Regional Command of the Syrian Regional Branch of the Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party and Secretary General of the National Command of the Ba'ath Party from 1970 to 2000.
Assad participated in the 1963 Syrian coup d'état which brought the Syrian Regional Branch of the Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party to power, and was appointed Commander of the Syrian Air Force by the new leadership. In 1966, Assad participated in a second coup, which toppled the traditional leaders of the Ba'ath Party and brought a radical military faction headed by Salah Jadid to power. Assad was appointed defense minister by the new government. Four years later, Assad initiated the Corrective Revolution which ousted Jadid, and appointed himself as the undisputed leader of Syria.