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 ...

Maher al-Assad is wanted for war crimes and reportedly fled to Russia by way of Iraq as rebel forces took over Syria.

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.

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 ...

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 ...

Basil al-Assad, the “hero” and Hafez al-Assad’s eldest son, died in a car wreck. He was replaced as heir apparent by the “eye doctor,” Bashar, al-Assad (the seemingly) Westernized son.

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.