When Bashar al-Assad first came to power, he promised reforms to modernize Syria’s largely state-controlled economy. The outbreak of the civil war in 2011 devastated the economy, leading to a collapse in GDP, mass unemployment, and reliance on foreign aid from allies such as Iran and Russia. Assad’s government has long been criticized for authoritarianism, with limited political freedoms, tight restrictions on the press, and widespread surveillance.
During the civil war, human rights organizations and the UN accused the government of war crimes, including targeting civilian areas and using chemical weapons — allegations that Assad has consistently denied. Assad relies heavily on the Syrian Arab Army and loyalist militias, as well as powerful intelligence agencies. Russia’s military intervention in 2015 dramatically shifted the war in his favor, helping the government regain major cities like Aleppo.
