Part 4/8:
Bashar al-Assad’s presidency has been associated with extensive war crimes, ranging from the use of chemical weapons to mass killings and the institutional displacement of millions of Syrians. With severe humanitarian crises arising during his rule, many Syrians are left to reflect on the devastation wrought by his administration. He is often remembered as a leader who not only lost an entire homeland but systematically destroyed it.
Despite his contentious victories in the elections — curtailed attempts to legitimize his regime — by 2023, Assad was readmitted into the Arab League, a development reflecting complex regional dynamics. Yet, the situation remained grim for ordinary Syrians, enduring economic collapse and a humanitarian crisis amid international disengagement.