Hafez al- Assad Biography

Appointed Commander in Chief

Appointed Minister of Defence

Comes to power after a military coup

Comes to power after a military coup

Appointed Prime Minister of Syria, 2nd term. Appointed Prime Minister of Syria

Appointed President of Syria, 1st term

Appointed President of Syria

Referenda in Egypt, Libya & Syria approve Federation of Arab Republics

Comes to power following a bloodless coup

1st Syrian President to be elected by popular vote

Sadat & al-Assad make an alliance to win back land lost to Israel

Meets Ahmed Ismail Ali and Anwar Sadat in Egypt to discuss joint plans for war.

Meets Egyptian leaders to coordinate the timing of the joint attack.

Syria and Egypt publicly describe troop concentrations as routine maneuvers while preparing for war.

Receives Iraqi military support as the Syrian front comes under Israeli counterattack.

Requests Soviet military resupply after heavy Syrian losses on the Golan Heights.

Syrian commandos capture the Israeli observation post on Mount Hermon.

Syria launches air, artillery, and armored attacks on the Golan Heights.

Directs the Syrian war effort from Damascus during the opening offensive.

Syrian forces on the Golan front are checked by Israeli armored units during the opening battles.

Faces an Israeli counteroffensive pushing Syrian forces back toward Damascus.

Responds cautiously to the United Nations ceasefire call as fighting continues on the Syrian front.

Loses the Mount Hermon outpost after Israeli forces recapture it late in the war.

Refuses full participation in the Geneva peace process after the war.

Accepts the Syrian-Israeli disengagement agreement after prolonged postwar diplomacy.

Syria invades Lebanon, attacking the Muslim-PLO forces

Syria invades Lebanon, attacking the Muslim-PLO forces

Assad sends peace-keeping troops in Lebanon

Appointed President of Syria, 2nd term

President Asad of Syria visits Saddam Hussein to discuss Iraqi & Syrian unification

Under the terms of a joint Syriani declaration Bakr would lead a joint federation. Bakr & Asad announce Government against, "the Zionist-imperialist-Sadat onslaught"

Syria installs Russian made surface-to-air missiles in Lebanon

Syria tells Israel it will not withdraw missiles in Lebanon

Puts down a militant Islamic uprising with 5,000 dead

Puts down a militant Islamic uprising with 5,000 dead

The Muslim Brotherhood launch a rebellion in Hama. Assad has leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood executed

The Muslim Brotherhood launch a rebellion in Hama. Assad has leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood executed

Syria closes Iraqs 400,000 barrels per day oil export line

Syria closes Iraqs 400,000 barrels per day oil export line

Israel accepts the US proposal for mutual withdrawal from Lebanon of Israel & Syria

Israel accepts the US proposal for mutual withdrawal from Lebanon of Israel & Syria

Secures the release of 39 US hostages from an aircraft hijacked by the Hezbollah

Appointed President of Syria, 3rd term

Secures the release of 39 US hostages from an aircraft hijacked by the Hezbollah

Restores diplomatic relations with Morocco. Restores diplomatic relations with Britain

Appointed President of Syria, 4th term

Death of Hafez Al Assad