Hafez Al-Assad gained prominence as the leader of Syria for a generation spanning from 1971 until his death. He was involved in some of the most important wars and conflicts of the previous century. The authoritarian leader participated in every major event in the Middle East and was also crucially involved in many world events. He was a career military man and was eventually promoted to head of the Air Force. He participated in two coups against existing Syrian governments and finally seized complete power for himself. He then went on to create a cult of personality with total military and government rule of the economy and society. His one-party state monopolized power and allowed Assad a free reign. He rewarded members of his Allawite religion and promoted fellow members to places of authority. When challenges to his authority arose, he crushed them without hesitancy or mercy. During his rule, he counted on the Soviet Union to support his state. He tirelessly opposed the words of America and engaged in ground wars with the US allies in the Middle East such as Israel. Overall, Hafez Al-Assad led a lasting legacy as a brutal dictator that dominated all of Syria for three decades
