Bashar al-Assad was never expected to rule Syria. That job was meant for his older brother, Basil, who trained as a military commander while Bashar studied to be an ophthalmologist. He wasn’t ...

Dashing Basil al-Assad was earmarked as leader – until fate intervened. Picture: Archive PL/Alamy Stock Photo. Bashar was rushed through officer training and appointed to the rank of colonel.

Bashar al-Assad was never expected to rule Syria. That job was meant for his older brother, Basil, who trained as a military commander while Bashar studied to be an ophthalmologist.

Basil al-Assad, the older brother of deposed President Bashar al-Assad, died in a car crash in 1994. Before that, he had widely been seen as the heir to their father, ...

On January 21, 1994, Basil al-Assad was killed in what the Syrian government described as a car accident. According to official dispatches, he had been driving too fast on the way to the airport ...

Hafez al-Assad planned for his eldest son, Basil, to eventually take over as Syria's leader. But Basil was killed when he crashed his car while driving at high speed in Damascus in 1994.

This brief is republished from the Council on Foreign Relations. Read the original article here.. On Jan. 21, 1994, Basil al-Assad was killed in what the Syrian government described as a car accident.

Al-Assad reportedly fled the country on an aeroplane, ... Basil. In order for Bashar to assume the presidency, the parliament had to lower the minimum age for candidates from 40 to 34.

FILE – President-elect Lt. Gen. Bashar al Assad, right, attends military training games with Ali Aslan, ... Basil, as his successor, but in 1994, Basil was killed in a car crash in Damascus.

Bashar al-Assad was never expected to rule Syria. That job was meant for his older brother, Basil, who trained as a military commander while Bashar studied to be an ophthalmologist.