born Oct. 6, 1930, Qardāḥa, Syria
died June 10, 2000, Damascus
President of Syria (1971–2000).
He joined the Golan Heights , taken by Israel in the Six-Day War of 1967. A longtime foe of Iraqi leader {{link=Saddam Hussein">Saddām Hussein , he supported the Western alliance against Iraq in the Persian Gulf War (1990–91). He was succeeded by his son Bashshār.