Changes

Under al-Assad, Syria maintains a close alliance with theocratic [[Iran]], despite his more secular form of governance. Like his father [[Hafez al-Assad]], his relation with [[Saddam Hussein]]'s [[Iraq]] was sour and tense, and after [[Operation Iraqi Freedom]] he established good relations with the new Iraqi government.

Under al-Assad, Syria maintains a close alliance with theocratic [[Iran]], despite his more secular form of governance. Like his father [[Hafez al-Assad]], his relation with [[Saddam Hussein]]'s [[Iraq]] was sour and tense, and after [[Operation Iraqi Freedom]] he established good relations with the new Iraqi government.

Al-Assad is very [[anti-American]]. Neither [[George W. Bush]] nor [[Barack Hussein Obama]] have met with him and both administrations have accused him, rightfully, of harboring [[terrorist]] organizations such as [[Hamas]] (which had its headquarters in [[Damascus]]) and [[Hezbollah]].<ref>https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/08/assad-defends-presence-hezbollah-fighters-syria-150825203254106.html</ref> He is also hostile to [[Israel]] and [[Zionism]] and refuses to recognize the country's right to exist. In 2016 Assad accused Israel of being ‘[[al-Qaeda]]’s air force’.<ref>https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/syria-civil-war-assad-regime-accuses-israel-of-being-al-qaeda-s-air-force-as-conflict-edges-closer-a6826306.html</ref>

Al-Assad is very [[anti-American]]. Neither [[George W. Bush]] nor [[Barack Hussein Obama]] have met with him and both administrations have accused him, rightfully, of harboring [[terrorist]] organizations such as [[Hamas]] (which had its headquarters in [[Damascus]]) and [[Hezbollah]].<ref>https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/08/assad-defends-presence-hezbollah-fighters-syria-150825203254106.html</ref> Assad was accused by many of playing a role in the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister [[Rafik Hariri]] in 2005. Syria is also responsible for allowing foreign terrorist fighters to enter Iraq through their border and attack American troops. He invited terrorists of the [[Hezbollah]] to stay in Syria.<ref>https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/08/assad-defends-presence-hezbollah-fighters-syria-150825203254106.html</ref> Assad is also hostile to [[Israel]] and [[Zionism]] and refuses to recognize the country's right to exist. In 2016 Assad accused Israel of being ‘[[al-Qaeda]]’s air force’.<ref>https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/syria-civil-war-assad-regime-accuses-israel-of-being-al-qaeda-s-air-force-as-conflict-edges-closer-a6826306.html</ref>

==Personal life==

==Personal life==