Death and state funeral of Hafiz al-Assad

Hafiz al-Assad, the 18th president of Syria, died from a heart attack on 10 June 2000 at the age of 69.[1][2] His funeral was held three days later in Damascus, and he was buried in a mausoleum in his hometown Qardaha in Latakia Governorate, beside his eldest son Basil al-Assad who died in 1994.[3][4]

Death and state funeral of Hafiz al-Assad
Official portrait of Hafez al-Assad
Date13 June 2000 (2000-06-13)
LocationDamascus, Syria
ParticipantsSyrian officials and dignitaries from foreign countries

He was succeeded by vice president Abdul Halim Khaddam in a caretaker capacity until presidential elections were held. Several national leaders paid tribute as the leader's body lay in state in the People's Palace.[5][6]

Following Assad's death, 40 days of mourning was declared in Syria and 7 days in Lebanon.[7] Egypt, Jordan, Oman, Palestine, Libya, Iran, Morocco, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Kuwait and Qatar announced three days of national mourning.[8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19] His funeral was held three days later.[20]

Illness and death

President al-Assad's health began to deteriorate in late 1983 due to his diabetes and varicose veins.[21] He was taken to Al-Shami Hospital in Damascus and placed under intensive care.[21] Then he transferred his powers during his absence to a committee consisting of five members from his close circle.[22]

Funeral

Dignitaries
States
Organizations

Burial
Mausoleum of Hafez al-Assad in Qardaha, Syria

He was buried in a mausoleum in his hometown Qardaha in Latakia Governorate, beside his eldest son Bassel al-Assad who died in 1994.

References
  1. "Syria's President Assad dies". The Guardian.
  2. MacFarquhar, Neil (11 June 2000). "Hafez al-Assad, Who Turned Syria Into a Power in the Middle East, Dies at 69". The New York Times.
  3. "Syria's Assad laid to rest". UPI.
  4. "BBC Arabic News | News | الرئيس الأسد يصل لمثواه الأخير". news.bbc.co.uk.
  5. agencies, Staff and (13 June 2000). "World pays tribute to Syrian dictator". the Guardian.
  6. "فيما تولى الحرس الجمهوري مسؤولية الأمن في دمشق". www.al-jazirah.com.
  7. "Bashar Al_Assad - THE FUNERAL OF PRESIDENT HAFEZ ASSAD". Archived from the original on 6 October 2014.
  8. "Kuna :: Egypt Mourns the Death of Al-Assad 10/06/2000".
  9. Sachs, Susan (11 June 2000). "TRANSITION IN SYRIA; Apprehension and Hope for Stability in Mideast". The New York Times.
  10. "CNN Transcript - Special Event: The Death of Hafez Al-Assad - June 10, 2000".
  11. "KUNA : OMAN DECLARES THREE DAYS MOURNING FOR SYRIA - Politics - 10/06/2000".
  12. "BBC NEWS | Middle East | Assad: Mourned by friends and foes".
  13. "Libya Declares Three-Day National Mourning For Assad". AllAfrica.
  14. "KUNA : IRAN ANNOUNCES 3 DAYS OF MOURNING FOR ASSAD - General - 11/06/2000".
  15. "KUNA : MOROCCO DECLARES THREE DAYS MOURNING ON AL-ASSAD'S DEATH - Politics - 11/06/2000".
  16. "KUNA : UAE MOURNS AL-ASSAD DEATH - Politics - 10/06/2000".
  17. "KUNA : YEMEN MOURNS THE DEATH OF AL-ASSAD - Politics - 10/06/2000".
  18. "Kuna :: Kuwati Declares Three Days of Mourning on Assad's Death 10/06/2000".
  19. "KUNA : QATAR MOURNS DEATH OF AL-ASSAD - Politics - 10/06/2000".
  20. Freedman 2002, p. 105.
  21. "تاريخ أحزان الاسد ، بقلم: عادل حمودة". www.albayan.ae.
  22. Martin Schram; Maralee Schwartz (6 December 1983). "Major Illness Said To Incapacitate Syrian President". The Washington Post. Washington, D.C. ISSN 0190-8286. OCLC 1330888409.
  23. "江泽民主席电唁叙利亚总统阿萨德逝世" (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 26 October 2020. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  24. "Britain's Cook pays last respects to Assad". UPI.

Works cited
  • Freedman, R. (2002). The Middle East Enters the Twenty-first Century. University Press of Florida. ISBN 978-0-8130-3110-1.
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