Assad, Bashar al- , ah SAHD, bah SHAHR uhl (1965-...), became president of Syria in July 2000. His name is also spelled Bashar al-Asad. He took over the presidency following the death of his father, Hafez al-Assad (also spelled Hafiz al-Asad), who had served as Syria's leader since 1970. Hafez al-Assad began preparing Bashar to be his successor after the death in 1994 of Bashar's older brother, Basil. Basil had been expected to assume the presidency.