Final answer:
Bashar Al-Assad was a trained ophthalmologist before becoming the president of Syria, following the death of his father Hafiz al-Assad in 2000.
Step-by-step explanation:
Bashar Al-Assad was a trained ophthalmologist before his presidency. After the death of his father, Hafiz al-Assad, in 2000, Bashar al-Assad took over the Syrian leadership. His family's control over Syria has been marked by a lack of democratic processes and the use of heavy military power to maintain their rule. The Syrian government, under Bashar al-Assad, has been involved in various controversial actions including the use of chemical weapons against civilians which are prohibited by the Geneva Convention. Moreover, the Assad regime has largely held control over the military, as well as political and economic activities in the country, and has faced international sanctions and military interventions due to their actions.