Death and state funeral of Hafez al-Assad
2000 event in Damascus, Syria
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Hafez al-Assad, the president of Syria, died in office on 10 June 2000 at the age of 69. His funeral was held three days later, with his son Bashar succeeding him as president.
Illness
Assad's health began to deteriorate in late 1983 due to diabetes and varicose veins.[1] He was taken to Al-Shami Hospital in Damascus and placed under intensive care.[1][when?] He then transferred his powers during his absence to a committee consisting of five members from his close circle.[2]
Death and reactions
Assad died from a heart attack on 10 June 2000.[3][4] He was succeeded by Vice President Abdul Halim Khaddam in a caretaker capacity until presidential elections were held. Several national leaders paid tribute as the leader's body lay in state in the People's Palace.[5][6]
Following Assad's death, 40 days of mourning was declared in Syria and 7 days in Lebanon.[7] Egypt, Jordan, Oman, Palestine, Libya, Iran, Morocco, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Kuwait and Qatar announced three days of national mourning.[8][9][10]
Funeral
Assad's funeral was held on 13 June in Damascus.[11][12]
Dignitaries
- States
- Organizations
| Organization | Dignitaries |
|---|---|
 European Union | President of the European Commission Romano Prodi |
 Hezbollah | Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah |
Burial
Assad was buried in a mausoleum in his hometown Qardaha in Latakia Governorate, beside his eldest son Bassel al-Assad who died in 1994.[11][16]
On 11 December 2024, after the overthrow of his son Bashar following 13 years of civil war, rebels set fire and burned Hafez al-Assad's tomb inside the mausoleum.[17][18] Videos of armed men burning Assad's grave and urinating on it were published online. On 28 April 2025, videos and photos on social media showed his grave being exhumed by unidentified individuals. His remains were reportedly transferred to an unknown location.[19][20]