The Assad family has ruled Syria for over five decades, marked by authoritarianism, regional ambitions, and a mix of stability and brutality. Their tenure began in 1970 when Hafez al-Assad, a military officer and member of the Ba’ath Party, seized power through a bloodless coup. His rise was emblematic of Syria’s post-independence era, marked by political instability and frequent coups.

Hafez al-Assad’s rule (1970–2000) established a centralized, authoritarian regime centered on the Ba’ath Party and his Alawite minority sect. He cultivated loyalty through an extensive patronage network, controlled the military and intelligence agencies, and stifled dissent. His rule saw the consolidation of a powerful security apparatus, creating a pervasive culture of surveillance and fear.

Domestically, Hafez sought to maintain a semblance of stability by co-opting diverse ethnic and religious groups while suppressing opposition. One of the most infamous episodes of his rule was the Hama massacre in 1982, where the military crushed an Islamist uprising led by the Muslim Brotherhood, killing tens of thousands and cementing his reputation for ruthless governance.

On the international stage, Hafez positioned Syria as a key player in the Middle East. He allied with the Soviet Union during the Cold War, opposed Israel through support for Palestinian and Lebanese militias, and maintained influence in Lebanon, particularly during its civil war (1975–1990). His pragmatic foreign policy included occasional overtures to the West, especially during the Gulf War in 1991 when Syria joined the U.S.-led coalition against Iraq.

Bashar al-Assad’s rule (2000–Present) came with Hafez’s death in 2000 which ushered in the rule of his son, Bashar al-Assad, a London-trained ophthalmologist with little political experience. Initially perceived as a potential reformer, Bashar introduced modest economic liberalization and promoted a “Damascus Spring,” encouraging intellectual debate. However, these reforms were short-lived, and by 2001, the regime reverted to its authoritarian roots.

The defining moment of Bashar’s rule came in 2011, during the Arab Spring. Peaceful protests demanding political reform quickly escalated into a full-scale civil war after the regime responded with brutal crackdowns. The conflict devolved into a complex and devastating proxy war involving numerous factions, including Islamist groups, Kurdish militias, and foreign powers like the United States, Russia, Iran, and Turkey.

The Assad regime’s survival hinged on its alliances with Russia and Iran, which provided military and financial support. Russian airstrikes and Iranian-backed militias helped Assad reclaim key territories, solidifying his position despite international condemnation and allegations of war crimes, including the use of chemical weapons.

The Assad family’s rule has transformed Syria from a turbulent post-colonial state into a deeply fractured society. Hafez’s legacy lies in his creation of a strong, centralized state, but his authoritarian methods sowed seeds of long-term instability. Bashar’s tenure has been defined by the devastation of the civil war, which has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives, displaced millions, and left the country’s infrastructure in ruins.

In April 2017, President Donald Trump ordered a missile strike on Syria’s Shayrat Airbase in response to a chemical weapons attack in Khan Shaykhun, which killed dozens of civilians, including children. The attack, widely attributed to the Assad regime, involved the use of sarin gas, a banned chemical weapon. Trump characterized the attack as a “heinous” act that crossed international red lines, prompting swift U.S. military action.

The strike involved 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles launched from U.S. Navy ships stationed in the Mediterranean. The operation targeted aircraft, hangars, fuel storage, and logistical infrastructure at the airbase. According to U.S. military officials, the strike disabled approximately 20% of Syria’s operational aircraft, significantly impacting Assad’s air force.

This marked a significant shift in U.S. policy toward Syria under Trump, contrasting with his predecessor Barack Obama’s reluctance to use force after Assad’s earlier chemical attacks in 2013. Trump framed the strike as a moral imperative to uphold international norms against chemical weapons use and to protect innocent civilians.

The strike carried broader geopolitical implications. It sent a strong message to Assad and his allies, particularly Russia and Iran, about the limits of acceptable conduct. However, it was also a calculated move to avoid deeper military entanglement. Trump avoided targeting Russian personnel stationed in Syria, signaling that the strike was a punitive measure rather than an escalation toward regime change.

The iron grip of the Assad Family’s rule over fifty years had left Syria isolated, economically crippled, and reliant on external powers, raising questions comparing father and son’s grip over the country. In the end, the son lost the country and fled leaving behind a collapsed government and a chaotic scene. Trump will most likely apply “America First” standards with Syria and let the chips fall where they may, Americans are tired of Neocon’s war pig thirst for endless wars and power.

C. Rich

CRich@AmericaSpeaksInk.com

C. Rich

C. Rich is the voice behind America Speaks Ink, home to the America First Movement. As an author, poet, freelance ghostwriter, and blogger, C. Rich brings a “baked-in” perspective shaped by growing up on the streets and beaches of South Florida in the 1970s-1980s and brings a quintessential Generation-X point of view.

Rich’s writing journey began in 2008 with coverage of the Casey Anthony trial and has since evolved into a wide-ranging exploration of politics, culture, and the issues that define our times. Follow C. Rich’s writing odyssey here at America Speaks Ink and on Amazon with a four-book series on Donald Trump called “Trump Era: The MAGA Files” and many other books and subjects C. Rich is known to cover.

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