Journalist and writer Patrick Seale stated, “The Assad family has remained united, at least for now, but they are undoubtedly under significant pressure.” He suggested that “it will be difficult for the opposition to overthrow the regime if the family remains united with the security apparatus.”
Former Syrian Vice President Abdel Halim Khaddam commented, “I believe we should view the army in its current state as a tool for carrying out the regime’s crimes. However, many people certainly feel fear, bitterness, and pain.” He added that “the factor of fear has so far prevented these individuals from uniting. This will happen, but not today. It will occur when there is increased genuine international and Arab pressure. At that point, the regime’s institutions will disintegrate, and many will try to jump from the regime’s ship into the sea in hopes of survival.”
The army is led by members of the Assad family, who are from the Alawite minority. The president’s son-in-law, Assef Shawkat, is the Deputy Chief of Staff, and the president’s brother, Maher, heads the Fourth Division, which is considered the elite division of the Syrian army.
Observers confirm that the suppression of the protest movement is primarily led by Maher Assad. Khaddam says of Maher, “He is an instrument for implementing his brother’s decisions,” emphasizing that “Maher is closely linked to and committed to his brother. The decision-maker in the family and the regime is Bashar Assad. Family members may offer ideas, consultations, or suggestions, but that’s all.”
According to Khaddam, “Assad often makes decisions based on suggestions from some people and then reverses them based on suggestions from others.” He added that Assad suffers from “arrogance and a tyrannical mindset,” noting that there is no real role for the women in the family, such as Bashar’s mother, Anisa, and his sister, Bushra, as some might believe.**