Baath regime

Bashar's uncle was a key figure in the Assad regime who oversaw the bloodiest massacre committed by an Arab state against its own people in history, earning him the title 'the Butcher of Hama'

The Ba'ath movement was a big part of the Arab world for almost 80 years. Its demise in Iraq after 35 years in power—and in Syria just recently—comes with important lessons.

Douba's name was permanently associated with the massive crackdown on the Muslim Brotherhood in Hama and was a loyal friend of al-Assad to the very end

A movement based on Arab nationalism took control of Syria in 1963 and went on to shape the politics of the region for decades after