THE infamous uncle of ousted Syrian despot Assad, dubbed the “Butcher of Hama” has died.
Rifaat al-Assad, the brother of the late Syrian President Hafez al-Assad, died on the age of 88 within the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday, sources mentioned.
A former military officer, Rifaat helped Assad seize energy in a 1970 coup and set up his iron rule.
He was later dubbed by critics the “butcher of Hama” for crushing the 1982 Muslim Brotherhood rebellion in Hama, one of many largest threats to Hafez al-Assad throughout his 30-year rule.
The devastating three-week assault killed greater than 10,000 individuals.
Later, he tried a coup in opposition to his brother however was unsuccessful and despatched into exile.
CAMP REBELLION
ISIS brides ESCAPE from jail camp amid fears Shamima Begum could possibly be freed
‘VENGEANCE’
US launches airstrikes in opposition to IS targets in Syria in retaliation for 3 killed
Rifaat continued to harbour presidential ambitions throughout years of exile spent largely in France.
He returned to Syria in 2021, earlier than fleeing once more in 2024 following the ouster of his nephew, President Bashar al-Assad.
When Hafez died in 2000, Rifaat objected to the ability switch to Bashar.
He declared himself the reliable successor in what proved to be a toothless management problem.
As insurrection swept Syria in 2011, Rifaat weighed in once more from overseas, urging his nephew to step down to stop civil warfare.
Defecting blame from Bashar, he mentioned the revolt was attributable to an accumulation of errors.
Greater than a decade later, Bashar – nonetheless in energy on the time – allowed his uncle to return dwelling.
On the time, Rifaat had established himself as a wealthy businessman in Europe.
He initially settled in Geneva, later transferring to France and Spain.
However his wealth more and more turned the main focus of corruption investigations.
In 2020, a French courtroom discovered him responsible of funnelling funds from the Syrian state to accumulate tens of millions of euros of property.
Bashar helped him evade jail as he allowed his return after 30 years in exile.
However, all of his property in France, estimated to be value 100 million euros on the time, was seized in addition to a London property value 29 million euros.
Rifaat repeatedly denied the accusations.
Bashar was ousted in December 2024 by insurgent teams, ending the Assad household’s greater than 50 years of rule over Syria.
After he fell, Rifaat tried to flee by way of a Russian airbase however was denied entry and finally crossed to Lebanon after which Dubai.
