Hafez al-Assad

6 October 1930 – 10 June 2000

Hafez al-Assad was a Syrian military officer and politician who served as President of Syria from 1971 until his death in 2000. He rose through the air force and the Ba'ath Party, took power in the 1970 Corrective Movement, and led Syria through the 1973 October War, the intervention in Lebanon and three decades of one-party rule.

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Well-documented people whose lives overlapped with Hafez al-Assad.

Life events

Born in Qardaha, Syria
6 October 1930

Born in the village of Qardaha in the coastal mountains of Syria.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Joined the Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party
1946

Became a party member while a student in Latakia.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Entered the Homs Military Academy
1950 – 1955

Trained as an air force pilot and graduated as an officer.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Married Anisa Makhlouf
1957

Married Anisa Makhlouf; their children included Bassel and Bashar al-Assad.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Appointed commander of the Syrian Air Force
1964

Took command of the air force after the Ba'athist seizure of power in 1963.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Became Minister of Defence
1966

Appointed defence minister following the February 1966 coup.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Took power in the Corrective Movement
13 November 1970

Removed the existing Ba'athist leadership and became prime minister.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Became President of Syria
12 March 1971 – 10 June 2000

Confirmed as president in a referendum and held the office until his death.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Syria fought Israel in the October War
6 October 1973 – 25 October 1973

Syrian forces attacked Israeli positions on the Golan Heights alongside Egypt's offensive in Sinai.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Died in Damascus
10 June 2000

Died of a heart attack at the age of 69 and was succeeded by his son Bashar.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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