Assad's Leadership Style: Eroding Power Amidst Isolation and Rivalries

Reports about former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad have resurfaced with claims that, during the final phase of his rule, his attention drifted away from governing toward personal relationships, internal rivalries, and isolation from military decision-making. The accounts, attributed to former associates and regional sources, paint a portrait of a leadership circle fracturing from within while Syria faced mounting military pressure. Because many details come from unnamed insiders and disputed intelligence narratives, they remain allegations rather than verified historical records. Still, they offer insight into how political power can erode long before it collapses publicly. According to accounts cited in international media reporting, members of Assad’s inner circle described a president increasingly detached from formal governance. The allegations include: Some former officials alleged: In July 2024, al-Shibl was found dead in a car outsideDamascus. State media described the incident as a traffic accident. However, competing narratives quickly emerged.