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A poster of Syrian president Bashar Assad is torn down in Aleppo, Syria
Image: Mohammed Al-Rifai/AFP/Getty ImagesImage: Mohammed Al-Rifai/AFP/Getty Images

Bashar Assad

Bashar Assad was Syria's president from 2000-2024 before rebel groups removed him from power. Assad's regime conducted a violent crackdown of protests in 2011 that led to the Syrian Civil War.

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All Content on this topic

Michael Knigge Kommentarbild App *PROVISORISCH*

Trump's dangerous Syrian U-turn

Michael Knigge
Trump's military move in Syria goes against his earlier stance and inserts the US into a conflict with no end in sight.
PoliticsApril 7, 2017
Syrien USA Luftangriff auf Militärbasis

+++ US fires cruise missiles on Syria - live updates +++

DW brings you the latest reactions from around the world.
ConflictsApril 7, 2017
Syrien Idlib Giftgasangriff

Is the Assad regime to blame?

Experts say jihadi rebels could be behind the chemical weapons attack in northern Syria. It wouldn't be the first time.
ConflictsApril 6, 2017
Syrien Idlib Giftgas Angriff

More EU money for Syrians under fire

The EU and its governments have boosted Syrian humanitarian aid, but that won't deter the Assad regime from more attacks
PoliticsApril 5, 2017
Türkei Hatay

Suspected Syria gas attack elicits outrage

A chemical attack in Syria, which killed dozens of civilians, has prompted an emergency UN Security Council meeting.
ConflictsApril 5, 2017
Syrien Bürgerkrieg Aleppo Wandbild Assad

EU foreign ministers: Assad has no role in Syria's future

EU foreign ministers have said that Syria’s president should play no role in the country's post-conflict future.
ConflictsApril 3, 2017
Kersten Knipp

Opinion: No peace under Assad

Kersten Knipp
The US is no longer insisting that Syrian President Assad has to step aside. This is disastrous, writes Kersten Knipp.
ConflictsApril 3, 2017
Syrien Provinz Rakka US Spezialeinheiten

Trump team switches gears in Syrian war

The US aims to deploy more American troops and set up safe zones in its new approach to Syria, experts told DW.
PoliticsApril 1, 2017
Mevlut Cavusoglu Rex Tillerson Treffen in Ankara

US: Assad's removal 'not our priority'

Two top US officials confirmed that Washington no longer wants to prioritize the ouster of President Assad in Syria.
ConflictsMarch 30, 2017
Syrien-Krieg Streitkräfte des Regimes führen Luftangriffe in Hamuriye, Ost-Ghouta

More than 5 million Syrian refugees: UN

The UN refugee agency UNHCR has said that more than 5 million people have fled Syria during its six-year conflict.
ConflictsMarch 30, 2017
Syrien Zivilisten und verletzte Rebellen werden aus Zabadani evakuiert

Evacuation deal reached for four Syrian towns

Critics described the move as purposeful displacement aimed at weakening regime opponents.
PoliticsMarch 29, 2017
Syrien Aleppo Männer in Trümmern mit Säuglingen

Syrian Archive finds 'overwhelming' Russian atrocities

A Berlin project has concluded that Russia and the Syrian regime are behind most attacks on civilians in Aleppo.
ConflictsMarch 28, 2017
Syrien Gefolterter Mann in Aleppo

Syrian officials face torture probe in Spain

A Spanish court has opened the first criminal case abroad over torture allegedly carried out by Syrian officials.
ConflictsMarch 28, 2017
Luftangriffe der USA gegen IS

Deadly airstrike on Syria refugee shelter: monitor

At least 33 people have been killed in an airstrike on a school sheltering refugees near Raqqa, a monitoring group says.
ConflictsMarch 22, 2017
Syrien Kämpfe im Osten von Damaskus ausgebrochen

Syrian forces beat back surprise rebel assault in Damascus

Government troops have resisted an attempt by rebels and Islamists to take hold of the Jobar district.
ConflictsMarch 20, 2017
Syrien Stadt Homs Evakuierung

Hundreds flee Homs' last rebel-held area

Fighters and civilians have begun leaving the final rebel bastion in the Syrian city of Homs.
ConflictsMarch 18, 2017
Syrien Zerstörung

'Inclusive dialogue needed in Syria'

The head of a European Parliament delegation to Syria, Javier Couso Permuy, says an inclusive dialogue is needed.
ConflictsMarch 17, 2017
external

Aleppo: Getting better, but a long way to normal

Aleppo is returning to normal, but extremely slowly. Shortages of all kinds remain an everyday reality.
March 16, 201701:41 min
Syrien Zerstörung

Six years into Syrian war, false expectations

The protests that led to the Syrian civil war began six years ago. DW asks an expert how it's gone on so long.
ConflictsMarch 14, 2017
Syrien - Kinder im Krieg

Fifth round of Syria peace talks set for Geneva

Syrian UN Envoy de Mistura has announced the Geneva meeting between the long-battling government and rebel groups.
PoliticsMarch 9, 2017
Russland Wladimir Putin & Benjamin Netanjahu

Netanyahu, Putin and radical Shiites

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu is meeting Russian President Putin. On the agenda: Syria and Iran.
PoliticsMarch 8, 2017
Syrien Kinder Folter Mißbrauch Fesselspuren Fesselung Haft

Syrians sue their old torturers from Germany

A group of former prisoners from Syria has filed a suit in Germany against officials of the Assad regime.
Human RightsMarch 2, 2017
Syrien Region Rakka SDF Kämpfer

Arab and Kurdish fighters close in on 'IS' stronghold Raqqa

An alliance of Arab and Kurdish fighters has seized over a dozen villages in eastern Syria.
ConflictsFebruary 22, 2017
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad

Syrian artists call for Assad's prosecution for war crimes

Syria's artists and intellectuals have joined the calls to prosecute Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for war crimes.
CultureFebruary 21, 2017
Syrien Damaskus Stadtansicht

Syria talks falter, Assad backs US travel ban

A member of the Iranian delegation to Syrian peace talks in Kazakhstan blamed rebels for the delay in reaching a deal.
ConflictsFebruary 16, 2017
Syrien Bürgerkrieg Aleppo Wandbild Assad

AI reports 13,000 civilians executed in Syria

Amnesty has estimated that 50 civilians per week were unlawfully executed at a military prison over four years.
ConflictsFebruary 7, 2017
Syrien Al-Bab Regierungskräfte

Key 'IS' stronghold under siege

Syrian government forces have cut off the "Islamic State" stronghold of al-Bab, according to a monitoring group.
ConflictsFebruary 6, 2017
Mohammad Alloush (C), the head of the Syrian opposition delegation

No breakthrough on first day of Syria talks

The Syrian government and opposition have gathered in Kazakhstan's capital in a new push to end the six-year conflict.
ConflictsJanuary 23, 2017
Syrien Präsident Bashar al-Assad

Turkey softens stance towards Bashar al-Assad in Syria

Turkey has softened its stance towards Syrian President Bashar al-Assad over reaching a settlement to end the conflict.
ConflictsJanuary 20, 2017
Syrien Interview Bashar al-Assad mit französischen Journalisten in Damaskus

Assad: 'Everything' can be discussed in Astana

Syrian President Assad said that his government was willing to negotiate on "everything" during proposed peace talks.
ConflictsJanuary 9, 2017
Admiral Kusnezow Russland Flugzeugträger

Russia begins military drawdown in Syria

The Kremlin first deployed its troops to Syria in September 2015, and already began a withdrawal in March 2016.
ConflictsJanuary 6, 2017
external

Damascus residents cut off from water source

The Syrian capital has been cut off from the city’s main water source for nearly two weeks.
PoliticsJanuary 4, 201701:17 min
Syrian soldiers in Aleppo

Strategies against IS

German parliamentarian Omid Nouripour anticipates that Russia will distance itself from Assad in the long term.
SocietyJanuary 2, 2017
Syrien Krieg - Straßenszene in Aleppo, Verkehrspolizist

Gaping wounds in the Middle East

2016 has shown at least one thing: The road to peace leads through Moscow.
ConflictsDecember 31, 2016
Abdulbaset Sieda

The right ceasefire for Syria?

A ceasefire in Syria began late Thursday evening. DW spoke with former opposition leader Abdulbaset Sieda for his view.
ConflictsDecember 30, 2016
Russland Sotschi Flugzeugabsturz - Rettungsoperation

Recovery teams search for Russian plane crash bodies

More than 3,000 people are involved in the search of the crash site, after a military plane plunged into the Black Sea.
CatastropheDecember 25, 2016
Aleppo Syrien Rauchwolke

Rebels shell government controlled Aleppo

Casualties have been reported in Aleppo a day after the Syrian army reclaimed the city
ConflictsDecember 23, 2016
Syrien Aleppo Evakuierung

Syrian army 'reclaims' Aleppo

The evacuation of eastern Aleppo has been completed, according to state media.
ConflictsDecember 22, 2016
Russland Treffen zwischen Russland, Iran und Türkei in Moskau

"If Assad wins the war, he will lose the peace afterwards"

Russia, Iran and Turkey have agreed to broker peace talks between Syrian rebels and the Assad regime.
ConflictsDecember 21, 2016
Mudhoon Loay Kommentarbild App

Syrian war: No end in sight

Loay Mudhoon
International diplomacy must do everything in its power to protect civilians and create peace.
ConflictsDecember 20, 2016
Syrien Hama

'Those who don't want to kill leave Syria'

Aleppo has fallen, but the fighting continues. It's particularly intense in the province of Hama
ConflictsDecember 19, 2016
Syrien Aleppo Ruine Carlton Hotel

Thousands wait to leave besieged Aleppo

Rebels have said the Assad government is purposefully stalling a plan to evacuate civilians from eastern Aleppo.
ConflictsDecember 18, 2016
external

@dwnews - Anger on social media over Aleppo's fate

ConflictsDecember 16, 201603:29 min
Syrien Konflikt Krieg Bürgerkrieg Zerstörung

The battle for Aleppo

Timeline: The battle for Aleppo
ConflictsDecember 16, 201611 images
DW My picture of the week Falah Elias

Only Assad supporters can live in Syria

People are still dying in Aleppo, and there are not enough doctors in the Syrian city. DW's Falah Elias has described what is happening as ethnic cleansing and has asked what the international community is doing about it.
PoliticsDecember 16, 201601:42 min
Samir Matar Kommentarbild App PROVISORISCH

Syria: I cannot remain neutral!

Samir Matar
In the face of the horror of Aleppo, DW's Samir Matar is outraged.
ConflictsDecember 16, 2016
external

President Assad regains control of Aleppo

The first rebel troops have left eastern Aleppo. They, together with civilians, were transported by bus out of the city.
PoliticsDecember 15, 201601:32 min
Aleppo evacuations

Wounded civilians evacuated from Aleppo

The evacuation of tens of thousands of civilians from the war-ravaged city of Aleppo has begun.
ConflictsDecember 15, 2016
external

@dwnews - Social media gives grueling details of the continued Aleppo assault

ConflictsDecember 14, 201603:06 min
Sollich Rainer Kommentarbild App

War crimes rewarded

Rainer Sollich
Scandalous as it is, the world is standing by as civilians are murdered in Aleppo.
ConflictsDecember 14, 2016