First Lady Asma al-Assad Battles Acute Leukemia; Battling 50/50 Odds Amidst Isolation
The wife of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Asma al-Assad, is battling acute myeloid leukemia, with medical experts evaluating her chances of survival at a grim 50/50. According to sources speaking to British newspaper The Telegraph, the 49-year-old first lady’s condition has deteriorated to the point where she cannot share a room with others due to her fragile state.
“Asma is dying,” claimed one source close to the family who spoke to The Telegraph. “She cannot be in a room with anyone due to her condition.” Another source in Moscow revealed that her health status has been at a critical 50/50 for the past few weeks.
Following her diagnosis in May 2024, Asma al-Assad has been isolated from others to prevent potential infections. Following the fall of her husband’s regime in Syria, she sought treatment in Moscow, where her father, Fawwaz Akhras, had been caring for her until recently. “He is heartbroken,” expressed a source close to the family.
Born in London and raised in the UK, Asma al-Assad worked as an investment banker at JP Morgan in the UK before marrying Bashar al-Assad in 2000, the same year he assumed the Syrian presidency. Today, she is known to control vast sectors of the Syrian economy, including telecommunications, real estate, banking, and trade, through proxies.
On December 23, Turkish news outlet Haberturk reported that Asma al-Assad had filed for divorce from her husband. Citing sources familiar with the matter, the report claims that she is unhappy with her life in Moscow and has requested permission to relocate to London. The Kremlin has dismissed these reports as false.
Formerly diagnosed with breast cancer in 2006, Asma al-Assad announced her full recovery in August 2019. However, her current battle with acute myeloid leukemia—a highly aggressive form of cancer affecting the bone marrow—has gravely compromised her prospects for survival.
As global attention shifts towards the situation in Syria and the fate of its former first couple, the world awaits updates on Asma al-Assad’s health and her ongoing legal battle for divorce.
