Damascus Winter News Today

Called back to syria after his older brother was killed in a car accident. he was now next in line to rule, and took over in 2000 after his father died. but the hopes of the damascus spring didnt last long. >> many from the so-called olgar in leadership positions came to him and said, listen, son, this isnt how we do things here. this will undermine our legit ma see and the position that weve worked very hard to get and maintain over the decades and so, what ensued about six, eight months later ...

And took over in 2000 after his father died. but the hopes of the damascus spring didnt last long. >> many from the so-called olgar in leadership positions came to him and said, listen, son, this isnt how we do things here. this will undermine our legit ma see and the position that weve worked very hard to get and maintain over the decades and so, what ensued about six, eight months later is what many people called the damascus winter. >> reporter: it was a return to the rule of the assad family...

Legitimacy that weve worked hard to maintain to get through in the decades and so, what ensued about six, eight months later is what many people called the damascus winter. >> reporter: it was a return to the rule of the assad family a continued hard line against israel and the west. and brutal crackdowns against any internal descent. but all the while, the public face of bashar and his wife has been the picture of calm, of a loving and normal family posting pictures on instagram, while all the ...