Bashar al-assad, wife

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad inherited power in July , a month after his father, military strongman Hafez al-Assad died.

But since March , his rule over Syria has been under threat, with the country beset by violence that has killed an estimated , people and embroiled regional and world powers in the never-ending horror.

Despite Western and Arab countries backing the opposition, Assad has survived seven years of war and refuses to step aside.

But who is he?

This is what we know:

Medical student

• Ruling family: Born on September 11, , Bashar al-Assad is the second son of former Syrian President Hafez al-Assad, and his wife Anisa.
• His father, Hafez, rose to power through the Syrian military and the minority Alawite political party before taking control of Syria in
• Studies: Bashar al-Assad was educated at the Arab-French al-Hurriya School in Damascus where he learned to speak English and French fluently.
• He graduated from school in and continu