Syrian Rebels Burn Tomb of Bashar al-Assad's Father, Hafez al-Assad

Dec 11, 2024, 06:20 PM

In a significant act of defiance, Syrian rebels have set fire to the tomb of Hafez al-Assad, the former president of Syria and father of Bashar al-Assad, in his hometown of Qardaha, located in the Latakia province. Hafez al-Assad, who ruled Syria with an iron fist from 1970 until his death in 2000, was succeeded by his son Bashar. The incident, captured in videos circulating on social media, shows rebels in military fatigues and young onlookers as the mausoleum burns. The rebels also burned the coffin and trampled graves, with plans to remove Hafez's remains mentioned but unconfirmed. This act symbolizes a profound rejection of the Assad family's legacy, which has been marked by decades of authoritarian rule.