Cliche has it that behind every great man stands a woman—and as it happens, the same also applies to murderous dictators.

Assad, Asma al-Assad, is said to be battling leukemia, with doctors giving her a '50/50' chance of survival. The 49-year-old ...

Asma and Bashar al-Assad met during her childhood holidays ... shortly after Bashar assumed the presidency following his father's death. They have three children together: Hafez, Zein, and Karim.

Following Hafez’s death, Syria’s parliament swiftly amended ... This optimistic image was bolstered by his wife, Asma al-Assad, a former London-based investment banker. However, hopes for ...

Once the "freshest and most magnetic of First Ladies", Asma Assad is now the wife of a war ... became First Lady as her father-in-law’s death at 69 saw her husband rise to power.

Bassel's death left him scrambling for a new successor ... But despite appearances, Bashar and Asma al-Assad have always harboured the capacity for brutality and bloodthirsty ambition.

Bashar al-Assad has been overthrown after 13 years ... appointed president in a sham election in 2000 following Hafez's death, Asma disappeared for three weeks without notice.

His marriage to British-born former investment banker Asma Akhras ... Hezbollah, an Assad ally, denied any role. Sign up here. Middle Eastcategory Displaced Gaza newborn freezes to death and ...

Vogue's surprising profile of the former First Lady of Syria is likely to resurface in the minds of many following the collapse of the al-Assad family's iron rule after five decades.

Bashar al-Assad has been overthrown after 13 years of brutal civil ... Shortly after Bashar was appointed president in a sham election in 2000 following Hafez's death, Asma disappeared for three weeks ...

but his older brother's death in 1994 saw him recalled to Syria and prepared to be his father's heir. Assad met his future wife, Asma Akhras, whilst he was in London. Asma was born in South Kensington ...