Bashar al-Assad

Bashar Hafez al-Assad (Arabic: بشار حافظ الأسد; b. 11 September 1965 in Damascus) is a Syrian politician who has served since 17 July 2000 as President of the Arab Union. He serves ex officio as commander-in-chief of the Arab Union Armed Forces, and is also National Secretary of the National Command of the Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party as well as Regional Secretary of the party's Syrian Regional Branch.