List of Presidents of Syria: Past and Present

Last updated November 2026

This page lists the presidents and heads of state of Syria from 1963 to the present, with the years each leader was in office and a short summary of their time in power. Use it to find the current president of Syria, former presidents, and key dates in the country's political history.

Current president of Syria: Ahmed al-Sharaa (in office since 2025). The presidency was vacant from 8 December 2024 to 29 January 2025. Under the March 2025 interim constitution, al-Sharaa serves a five-year transitional period.

Presidents of Syria in order, with years in office

Luay al-Atassi

Served: 1963

Head of state for a few months after the March 1963 Ba'athist coup.

Amin al-Hafiz

Served: 1963–1966

Army general who led the state until the February 1966 coup.

Nureddin al-Atassi

Served: 1966–1970

Held office until Hafez al-Assad's November 1970 coup; the first Syrian president to address the UN General Assembly (1967).

Ahmad al-Khatib

Served: 1970–1971 (acting)

Acting head of state after the November 1970 coup, until Assad was installed.

Hafez al-Assad

Served: 1971–2000

Took power in the 1970 coup, was confirmed as president in 1971 and re-elected in 1978, 1985, 1991 and 1999; died on 10 June 2000.

Abdul Halim Khaddam

Served: 2000 (acting)

Vice president who acted as president from 10 June to 17 July 2000.

Bashar al-Assad

Served: 2000–2024

Son of Hafez al-Assad; confirmed in a July 2000 referendum and in power until the fall of his government on 8 December 2024.

Ahmed al-Sharaa

Served: 2025–present

Former commander of Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham who became de facto leader on 8 December 2024 and was appointed transitional president on 29 January 2025.

Frequently asked questions about the presidents of Syria

Who is the current president of Syria?

The current head of state of Syria is Ahmed al-Sharaa, in office since 2025. The presidency was vacant from 8 December 2024 to 29 January 2025. Under the March 2025 interim constitution, al-Sharaa serves a five-year transitional period.

Who were the previous presidents of Syria?

The presidents and heads of state of Syria listed on this page, in order, are: Luay al-Atassi, Amin al-Hafiz, Nureddin al-Atassi, Ahmad al-Khatib, Hafez al-Assad, Abdul Halim Khaddam, Bashar al-Assad, Ahmed al-Sharaa.

Sources: Wikipedia, List of presidents of Syria, President of Syria and 2025 in Syria; Al Jazeera and Reuters reports on the January 2025 appointment (checked Nov 2026). Presidents since 1963, with acting presidents labelled; earlier presidents come in a later update.. Last reviewed November 2026.

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