Rifaat al-Assad 1937 – 2026

Biography

Rifaat al-Assad was born on August 22, 1937, in Qardaha, Syria, where he spent his formative years before pursuing a career in military service and public life. Over the course of several decades, he held significant roles as both a military officer and politician, contributing to Syrian affairs during a transformative period in the nation’s modern history. His long life spanned nearly nine decades, witnessing tremendous changes across the Middle East and the world.

On January 20, 2026, al-Assad passed away in Dubai at an advanced age, bringing to a close a life that had intersected with major historical events. Though his later years were spent away from Syria, his legacy remained connected to the country of his birth and the institutions he had served. He left behind a complex historical record that continues to be studied and discussed by those interested in twentieth-century Syrian history and politics.