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'''Bashar al-Assad''' (11 September, 1965) is the current president and dictator of [[Syria]]. As a member of the [[Ba'ath Party]] of Syria though in his reign some limited [[free market]] reforms were implemented. In 2011, the [[Arab Spring]] led to widespread protests in his country, which turned into the [[Syrian Civil War]], in which more than 220,000 deaths have taken place.<ref>http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=50326#.VaPYQrWlctU</ref>
'''Bashar al-Assad''' (11 September, 1965) is the current president and [[Socialism|Socialist]] dictator of [[Syria]]. As a member of the [[Ba'ath Party]] of Syria though in his reign some limited [[free market]] reforms were implemented. In 2011, the [[Arab Spring]] led to widespread protests in his country, which turned into the [[Syrian Civil War]], in which more than 220,000 deaths have taken place.<ref>http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=50326#.VaPYQrWlctU</ref>
==Politics==
==Politics==
After Assad used chemical weapons on his people, [[President Trump]] ordered a one-time airstrike against a Syrian air base, firing 60 cruise missiles at it on April 6, 2017.<ref>Griffin, Jennifer; Tomlinson, Lucas (April 7, 2017). [http://www.foxnews.com/world/2017/04/07/us-missiles-target-syria-airfield-in-response-to-chemical-weapons-attack.html US missiles target Syria airfield in response to chemical weapons attack]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved April 7, 2017.</ref> This was the first direct military action the U.S. took against the Assad regime.<ref>Ackerman, Spencer; Pilkington, Ed; Jacobs, Ben; Borger, Julian (April 7, 2017). [https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/06/trump-syria-missiles-assad-chemical-weapons Syria missile strikes: US launches first direct military action against Assad]. ''The Guardian''. Retrieved April 7, 2017.</ref> Trump stood by the decision, calling Bashar Assad a “butcher” and saying: “I have absolutely no doubt we did the right thing.”<ref>http://nation.foxnews.com/2017/04/12/trump-flips-four-policies-nato-being-one-i-said-it-was-obsolete-its-no-longer-obsolete</ref>
After Assad used chemical weapons on his people, [[President Trump]] ordered a one-time airstrike against a Syrian air base, firing 60 cruise missiles at it on April 6, 2017.<ref>Griffin, Jennifer; Tomlinson, Lucas (April 7, 2017). [http://www.foxnews.com/world/2017/04/07/us-missiles-target-syria-airfield-in-response-to-chemical-weapons-attack.html US missiles target Syria airfield in response to chemical weapons attack]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved April 7, 2017.</ref> This was the first direct military action the U.S. took against the Assad regime.<ref>Ackerman, Spencer; Pilkington, Ed; Jacobs, Ben; Borger, Julian (April 7, 2017). [https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/06/trump-syria-missiles-assad-chemical-weapons Syria missile strikes: US launches first direct military action against Assad]. ''The Guardian''. Retrieved April 7, 2017.</ref> Trump stood by the decision, calling Bashar Assad a “butcher” and saying: “I have absolutely no doubt we did the right thing.”<ref>http://nation.foxnews.com/2017/04/12/trump-flips-four-policies-nato-being-one-i-said-it-was-obsolete-its-no-longer-obsolete</ref>
After the Syrian government again used chemical weapons on its people, President Trump ordered precision missile strikes on certain military installations in the country, in coordination with the French and UK governments on April 13, 2018.<ref>Multiple references:
*Joyce, Kathleen (April 14, 2018). [http://www.foxnews.com/world/2018/04/14/us-strikes-syria-after-suspected-chemical-attack-by-assad-regime.html US strikes Syria after suspected chemical attack by Assad regime]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved April 18, 2018.
*Spiering, Charlie (April 13, 2018). [http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/04/13/donald-trump-orders-missile-strikes-on-syria-in-response-to-crimes-of-a-monster/ Donald Trump Orders Missile Strikes on Syria in Response to ‘Crimes of a Monster’]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved April 18, 2018.
*Boyer, Dave; Boylan, Dan (April 13, 2018). [https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/apr/13/us-allies-launch-missile-attack-syria/ U.S., allies launch missile attack on Syria in retaliation for using chemical weapons on civilians]. ''The Washington Times''. Retrieved April 18, 2018.</ref> According to the Pentagon the following day, the U.S. and its allies launched 105 missiles that successfully hit all three targets and crippled the Syrian chemical weapons program.<ref>Multiple references:
*Weber, Joseph (April 14, 2018). [http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018/04/14/pentagon-us-allies-launched-105-missiles-in-syria-successfully-hit-all-three-targets.html Pentagon: US, allies launched 105 missiles in Syria, 'successfully' hit all three targets]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved April 18, 2018.
*Stewart, Phil; Perry, Tom (April 14, 2018). [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria/u-s-says-air-strikes-cripple-syria-chemical-weapons-program-idUSKBN1HJ0ZS U.S. says air strikes cripple Syria chemical weapons program]. ''Reuters''. Retrieved April 18, 2018.
*Boylan, Dan (April 14, 2018). [https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/apr/14/pentagon-us-airstrikes-hit-heart-syrias-chemical-w/ Airstrikes ‘hit the heart’ of Syria’s chemical-weapons program, set it back ‘for years’: Pentagon]. ''The Washington Times''. Retrieved April 18, 2018.
*Mitchell, Ellen (April 14, 2018). [http://thehill.com/policy/defense/383168-pentagon-claims-successful-strike-on-all-targets-in-syria Pentagon claims successful strike on all targets in Syria]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved April 18, 2018.
See also:
*Gamio, Lazaro (April 14, 2018). [https://www.axios.com/map-syria-air-strikes-74783b64-f874-43f7-b699-8a9bb1f33adf.html Map: Where the airstrikes hit in Syria]. ''Axios''. Retrieved April 18, 2018.</ref>
===Foreign Relations===
===Foreign Relations===
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>
==Personal life==
==Personal life==