Rifaat al-Assad, Notorious Syrian Figure Known as 'Butcher of Hama', Dies at 88
Rifaat al-Assad, the uncle of the deposed Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assad and infamously dubbed the "Butcher of Hama" for his role in a brutal 1980s crackdown, has died at the age of 88. Two sources close to the family confirmed his passing, marking the end of a controversial life intertwined with Syria's turbulent political history.
Death After Brief Illness and Exile in the UAE
According to reports, Rifaat al-Assad died after suffering from influenza for approximately one week. A source with over three decades of experience working in Syria's presidential palace provided this information to AFP on Wednesday. A second source, a former officer from the Syrian army during the Assad era, corroborated the death, noting that Rifaat had relocated to the United Arab Emirates following the toppling of his nephew's government by rebels in December 2024. It remains unspecified whether he passed away in the UAE.
Legacy of the 1982 Hama Massacre
Rifaat al-Assad's notoriety stems primarily from his involvement in the February 1982 massacre in Hama, part of a severe suppression of an armed revolt by the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood group. His brother, Hafez al-Assad, who ruled Syria at the time, initiated the campaign, with government forces executing it under Rifaat's command as head of the elite Defence Brigades.
The violence, which lasted for 27 days under a media blackout, resulted in a death toll that has never been formally established. Estimates vary widely, ranging from 10,000 to 40,000 casualties, cementing Rifaat's grim nickname in historical accounts.
Exile, Legal Troubles, and Family Dynamics
Rifaat al-Assad served as vice-president under his brother Hafez but was forced into exile in 1984 after a failed attempt to overthrow him. He initially moved to Switzerland and then to France. During his time abroad, he positioned himself as an opponent of his nephew Bashar, who succeeded Hafez in 2000.
Swiss prosecutors had accused Rifaat of a series of grave crimes, including ordering "murders, acts of torture, inhumane treatment and illegal detentions" during his tenure as a Syrian army officer. In 2021, he returned to Syria from France to evade a four-year prison sentence for money laundering and misappropriation of Syrian public funds. By 2023, he had reconciled with the family, appearing in a photo alongside Bashar, the ruler's wife Asma, and other relatives.
Following Bashar's ousting in late 2024, Rifaat crossed into Lebanon and departed from Beirut airport, according to a Lebanese security source, though his final destination was not disclosed at the time.
