Bashar Al-Assad is the President of Syria, having taken office in July 2000 after the death of his father, Hafez Al-Assad, who ruled the country for 29 years. Born on September 11, 1965, he initially trained as an ophthalmologist before entering politics. His leadership has been marked by significant political and social unrest. Since 2011, Syria has been embroiled in a civil war, which began as part of the wider Arab Spring protests. The conflict has led to widespread devastation, humanitarian crises, and international involvement, with various factions fighting for control and numerous countries taking sides.