His profile helped shine a spotlight on the sport, which came to symbolise elite status under the Assads. Abu al-Dahab said those close to the family had European horses, which far outperformed the ...

State within a state - Western sanctions to squeeze the Assads and their cronies did little to impede Maher and his men. Theirs was an "independent state" within the state, said Omar Shaaban ...

The Assads have ruled Syria for over half a century. On Sunday, rebel forces breached their capital and seat of power Damascus, prompting President Bashar al-Assad to flee and effectively ending ...