Bashar al-Assad

Bashar al-Assad: An ophthalmologist by training, he unexpectedly became President of Syria in 2000, succeeding his father, Hafez al-Assad. Initially perceived as a potential reformer, he oversaw the introduction of the internet and led anti-corruption efforts. However, his rule became increasingly authoritarian, marked by a brutal crackdown on the 2011 protests, which escalated into the devastating Syrian Civil War.