{{Short description|None}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2025}} {{About|individuals who have held the office of [[President of Syria]] since 1922|historical leaders of Syria|List of heads of state of Syria}} {{Multiple image | total_width = 290 | image1 = Subhi barkat.jpg | caption1 = [[Subhi Bey Barakat]] was the first Syrian president under the [[Syrian Federation]] | align = right | perrow = 2 | image2 = Portrait of Shukri al-Quwatli in 1943 (3x4 cropped).jpeg | caption2 = [[Shukri al-Quwatli]], the first president of post-independence Syria | image3 = Hafez al-Assad official portrait (cropped).jpg | caption3 = [[Hafez al-Assad]] served as president from 1971 to 2000, and his son [[Bashar al-Assad|Bashar]] ruled until the [[Fall of the Assad regime|regime fell]] in 2024 | image4 = Ahmed al-Sharaa, President of Syria, in March 2026.jpg | caption4 = [[Ahmed al-Sharaa]] is the current president since 2025 }} [[File:(قصر الشعب (دمشق.jpg|thumb|280px|[[People's Palace (Syria)|People's Palace]], the official residence]] {{Politics of Syria}} This is a list of [[President of Syria|president]]s of [[Syria]] since the creation of the office in 1922. Under the current [[Constitutional Declaration of the Syrian Arab Republic|constitutional declaration]] implemented on 13 March 2025, the president of Syria serves as both the [[head of state]] and [[head of government]]. The president directs the [[Executive (government)|executive branch]] of the [[Syrian government]], acts as [[commander-in-chief]] of the [[Syrian Armed Forces]], represents the nation in international relations, and formalizes treaties with foreign countries.<ref name="newinterimconstition">{{Cite web|date=13 March 2025 |title=Constitutional Declaration of the Syrian Arab Republic |url=https://constitutionnet.org/sites/default/files/2025-03/2025.03.13%20-%20Constitutional%20declaration%20%28English%29.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250318030710/https://constitutionnet.org/sites/default/files/2025-03/2025.03.13%20-%20Constitutional%20declaration%20%28English%29.pdf |archive-date=18 March 2025 |access-date=18 March 2025}}</ref> Since the [[fall of the Assad regime]], Syria has been undergoing a political transition as a [[Presidential system|presidential republic]], led by President [[Ahmed al-Sharaa]] and his [[Syrian caretaker government|caretaker government]], which later became the [[Syrian transitional government|transitional government]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Syria: Transition and U.S. Policy |url=https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/RL33487 |access-date=2026-03-08 |website=www.congress.gov}}</ref> Articles 3 and 34 of the Constitutional Declaration state that the religion of the President of the Republic is [[Islam]], with [[Fiqh|Islamic jurisprudence]] as the principal source of legislation, and that in the event of a vacancy in the presidency, the [[Vice President of Syria|Vice President]] shall assume the powers of the President of the Republic.<ref name="newinterimconstition" /> As mandated by the Constitutional Declaration, al-Sharaa will serve as president for a five-year transitional period.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2025-10-12|title=Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa's journey from al Qaeda to rebuilding his country after rebellion|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ahmed-al-sharaa-syria-rebuilding-60-minutes/|access-date=2026-02-25|website=cbsnews.com|language=en-US}}</ref>
The Syrian presidency dates back to 1922, when French authorities established the [[Syrian Federation]] under the [[Mandate for Syria and Lebanon]], with [[Subhi Bey Barakat]] as its president.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k6486997n/f4.item|title=Arrêtés Nos. 1, 2 & 3 - Bulletin hebdomadaire des actes administratifs du Haut-Commissariat|publisher=BnF Gallica|date=8 October 1922|page=268|language=fr|access-date=22 March 2025|archive-date=1 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210701154046/https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k6486997n/f4.item|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="100years">{{Cite web|last=Moubayed|first=Sami|title=From Barakat to Assad: The Syrian presidency in 100 years|publisher=[[Al Majalla]]|date=16 December 2024|url=https://en.majalla.com/node/323494/documents-memoirs/barakat-assad-syrian-presidency-100-years|access-date=22 March 2025|archive-date=22 March 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250322212651/https://en.majalla.com/node/323494/documents-memoirs/barakat-assad-syrian-presidency-100-years|url-status=live}}</ref> The federation was short-lived and was replaced by the [[State of Syria]] in 1925.<ref name="100years" /> Barakat briefly remained president until the outbreak of the [[Great Syrian Revolt]] later that year, which led to his resignation. He was succeeded by [[Ahmad Nami]], who served as president until his removal in 1928.{{sfn|Moubayed|2006|p=299}} In the following decades, the presidency experienced several changes in leadership, including a coup by [[Husni al-Za'im]] in March 1949 and another led by [[Adib Shishakli]] in 1951.<ref name="100years" /> After the [[1958 Syrian United Arab Republic referendum|1958 referendum]], Syria joined the [[United Arab Republic]], and its president, [[Gamal Abdel Nasser]], also became president of Syria. This union lasted three years until the 1961 coup restored Syria's independence and the [[Syrian Constitution of 1950|1950 constitution]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Syrien, 21. Februar 1958: Gamad Abd al-Nasser als Präsident der Vereinigten Arabischen Republik|publisher=Direct Democracy|url=https://www.sudd.ch/event.php?lang=en&id=sy021958|language=gsw|archive-date=19 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200919130830/https://www.sudd.ch/event.php?lang=en&id=sy021958}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Constitutional history of Syria|url=https://constitutionnet.org/country/syria|access-date=23 March 2025|website=ConstitutionNet|language=en|archive-date=29 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210329193441/https://constitutionnet.org/country/syria|url-status=live}}</ref>
The [[1963 Syrian coup d'état|1963 coup d'état]], carried out by the [[Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party – Syria Region|Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party]], established a [[one-party state]]. Internal power struggles within Ba'athist factions led to further coups in [[1966 Syrian coup d'état|1966]] and [[Corrective Movement (Syria)|1970]], the latter bringing [[Hafez al-Assad]] to power. Under Assad, Syria became a [[hereditary dictatorship]]. After [[Death and state funeral of Hafez al-Assad|his death]] in 2000, his son [[Bashar al-Assad]] succeeded him and ruled until his overthrow in 2024. Following Assad's fall, Ahmed al-Sharaa, commander of [[Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham]] and head of the new Syrian administration, assumed the ''[[de facto]]'' role of head of state until he was officially appointed president by the Syrian General Command during the [[Syrian Revolution Victory Conference]] in January 2025.
==List of officeholders==
===Syria (1922–1958)=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |- ! rowspan="2" | No. ! rowspan="2" | Portrait ! rowspan="2" | Name<br>{{small|(Birth–Death)}} ! rowspan="2" | Elected ! colspan="3" | Term of office ! colspan="2" rowspan="2" | Political party ! rowspan="2" width="40%" | Note(s) |- ! Took office ! Left office ! Time in office |- ! colspan="10"| [[Mandate for Syria and the Lebanon|French mandate]] (1922–1930) |- | bgcolor=#EEEEEE colspan="10"| [[Syrian Federation]] (1922–1925) |- | colspan="10"| ''Position not established'' ({{Dts|format=dmy|1922|June|28}} – {{Dts|format=dmy|1922|June|29}}) |- | 1 | [[File:Subhi barkat.jpg|frameless|upright=0.3]] | [[Subhi Bey Barakat]]<br>{{lang|ar|صبحي بك بركات}}<br>{{small|(1889–1939)}} | — | 29 June 1922<ref>[https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k6486997n/f4.item Arrêtés Nos. 1, 2 & 3, ''Bulletin hebdomadaire des actes administratifs du Haut-Commissariat'' (8 October 1922), p. 268]; [https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k5805853c/f11.item].</ref> | 1 January 1925 | {{ayd|1922|6|29|1924|12|31}} ! style="background:{{party color|Independent politician}};" | | [[Independent politician|Independent]] | |- | bgcolor=#EEEEEE colspan="10"| [[State of Syria (1925–1930)|State of Syria]] (1925–1930) |- | (1) | [[File:Subhi barkat.jpg|frameless|upright=0.3]] | [[Subhi Bey Barakat]]<br>{{lang|ar|صبحي بك بركات}}<br>{{small|(1889–1939)}} | — | 1 January 1925 | 21 December 1925 | {{ayd|1925|1|1|1925|12|21}} ! style="background:{{party color|Independent politician}};" | | [[Independent politician|Independent]] | |- | colspan="10"| Vacant ({{Dts|format=dmy|1925|December|21}} – {{Dts|format=dmy|1926|February|9}}) |-style="background-color:#E6E6AA" | — | [[File:Pierre Alype - NAC.jpg|frameless|upright=0.3]] | [[François Pierre-Alype]]<br>{{lang|ar|فرانسوا بيير أليب}}<br>{{small|(1886–1956)<br />''acting''}} | — | 9 February 1926 | 28 April 1926 | {{ayd|1926|2|9|1926|4|28}} ! style="background:{{party color|Independent politician}};" | | [[Independent politician|Independent]] | Acting President as Envoy Extraordinary of the High Commissioner. |- | 2 | [[File:Ahmad nami (3x4 cropped).jpg|frameless|upright=0.3]] | [[Ahmad Nami]]<br>{{lang|ar|أحمد نامي}}<br>{{small|(1873–1962)}} | — | 28 April 1926 | 15 February 1928 | {{ayd|1926|4|28|1928|2|15}} ! style="background:{{party color|Independent politician}};" | | [[Independent politician|Independent]] | |-style="background-color:#E6E6AA" | — | [[File:Taj al-Din al-Hasani (3x4 cropped).jpg|frameless|upright=0.3]] | [[Taj al-Din al-Hasani]]<br>{{lang|ar|تاج الدين الحسني}}<br>{{small|(1885–1943)<br />''acting''}} | — | 15 February 1928 | 14 May 1930 | {{ayd|1928|2|15|1930|5|14}} ! style="background:{{party color|Independent politician}};" | | [[Independent politician|Independent]] | |- ! colspan="10"| [[First Syrian Republic]] (1930–1950) |- | bgcolor=#EEEEEE colspan="10"| [[Mandatory Syrian Republic]] (1930–1946) |-style="background-color:#E6E6AA" | — | [[File:Taj al-Din al-Hasani (3x4 cropped).jpg|frameless|upright=0.3]] | [[Taj al-Din al-Hasani]]<br>{{lang|ar|تاج الدين الحسني}}<br>{{small|(1885–1943)<br />''acting''}} | — | 14 May 1930 | 19 November 1931 | {{ayd|1930|5|14|1931|11|19}} ! style="background:{{party color|Independent politician}};" | | [[Independent politician|Independent]] | |-style="background-color:#E6E6AA" | — | <!-- Do not use placeholder images per WP:IPH --> | [[Léon Solomiac]]<br>{{lang|ar|ليون سولومياك}}<br>{{small|(1873–1960)<br />''acting''}} | — | 19 November 1931 | 11 June 1932 | {{ayd|1931|11|19|1932|6|11}} ! style="background:{{party color|Independent politician}};" | | [[Independent politician|Independent]] | Acting President as High Commissioner. |- | 3 | [[File:Muhammad Ali al-Abid.jpg|frameless|upright=0.3]] | [[Muhammad Ali Bey al-Abid]]<br>{{lang|ar|محمد علي بك العابد}}<br>{{small|(1867–1939)}} | 1932 | 11 June 1932 | 21 December 1936 | {{ayd|1932|6|11|1936|12|21}} ! style="background:{{party color|Independent politician}};" | | [[Independent politician|Independent]] | |- | 4 | [[File:Hashim Al Atassi.jpg|frameless|upright=0.3]] | [[Hashim al-Atassi]]<br>{{lang|ar|هاشم الأتاسي}}<br>{{small|(1875–1960)}} | 1936 | 21 December 1936 | 7 July 1939 | {{ayd|1936|12|21|1939|7|7}} ! style="background:{{party color|National Bloc (Syria)}};" | | [[National Bloc (Syria)|National Bloc]] | |- | 5 | [[File:Bahij al-Khatib.jpg|frameless|upright=0.3]] | [[Bahij al-Khatib]]<br>{{lang|ar|بهيج الخطيب}}<br>{{small|(1895–1981)}} | — | 8 July 1939 | 4 April 1941 | {{ayd|1939|7|8|1941|4|4}} ! style="background:{{party color|Independent politician}};" | | [[Independent politician|Independent]] | |-style="background-color:#E6E6AA" | — | [[File:Khalid al-Azm, Syrian politician.jpg|frameless|upright=0.3]] | [[Khalid al-Azm]]<br>{{lang|ar|خالد العظم}}<br>{{small|(1903–1965)<br />''acting''}} | — | 4 April 1941 | 16 September 1941 | {{ayd|1941|4|4|1941|9|16}} ! style="background:{{party color|Independent politician}};" | | [[Independent politician|Independent]] | |- | 6 | [[File:Taj al-Din al-Hasani (3x4 cropped).jpg|frameless|upright=0.3]] | [[Taj al-Din al-Hasani]]<br>{{lang|ar|تاج الدين الحسني}}<br>{{small|(1885–1943)}} | — | 16 September 1941 | 17 January 1943 | {{ayd|1941|9|16|1943|1|17}} ! style="background:{{party color|Independent politician}};" | | [[Independent politician|Independent]] | Hasani died in office.{{sfn|Moubayed|2006|p=345}} |-style="background-color:#E6E6AA" | — | [[File:Jamil al-Ulshi.jpg|frameless|upright=0.3]] | [[Jamil al-Ulshi]]<br>{{lang|ar|جميل الألشي}}<br>{{small|(1883–1951)<br />''acting''}} | — | 17 January 1943 | 25 March 1943 | {{ayd|1943|1|17|1943|3|25}} ! style="background:{{party color|Independent politician}};" | | [[Independent politician|Independent]] | |- | 7 | [[File:Ata al-Ayyubi (3x4 cropped).jpg|frameless|upright=0.3]] | [[Ata Bey al-Ayyubi]]<br>{{lang|ar|عطا الأيوبي}}<br>{{small|(1877–1951)}} | — | 25 March 1943 | 17 August 1943 | {{ayd|1943|3|25|1943|8|17}} ! style="background:{{party color|Independent politician}};" | | [[Independent politician|Independent]] | |- | 8 | [[File:Portrait of Shukri al-Quwatli in 1943 (3x4 cropped).jpeg|frameless|upright=0.3]] | [[Shukri al-Quwatli]]<br>{{lang|ar|شكري القوّتلي}}<br>{{small|(1891–1967)}} | 1943 | 17 August 1943 | 17 April 1946 | {{ayd|1943|8|17|1945|10|24}} ! style="background:{{party color|National Bloc (Syria)}};" | | [[National Bloc (Syria)|National Bloc]] | |- | bgcolor=#EEEEEE colspan="10"| [[Independent First Syrian Republic]] (1946–1950) |- | rowspan="2" | (8) | rowspan="2" | [[File:Portrait of Shukri al-Quwatli in 1943 (3x4 cropped).jpeg|frameless|upright=0.3]] | rowspan="2" | [[Shukri al-Quwatli]]<br>{{lang|ar|شكري القوّتلي}}<br>{{small|(1891–1967)}} | rowspan="2" | 1948 | rowspan="2" | 17 April 1946 | rowspan="2" | 30 March 1949 | rowspan="2" | {{ayd|1945|10|24|1949|3|30}} ! style="background:{{party color|National Bloc (Syria)}};" | | [[National Bloc (Syria)|National Bloc]] | rowspan="2" | Quwatli was ousted from power in the [[March 1949 Syrian coup d'état|March 1949 coup d'état]] by [[Husni al-Za'im]], his chief of staff.{{sfn|Moubayed|2006|p=311}} |- ! style="background:{{party color|National Party (Syria)}};" | | [[National Party (Syria)|National Party]] |- | colspan="10"| Vacant ({{Dts|format=dmy|1949|March|30}} – {{Dts|format=dmy|1949|June|26}}) |- | 9 | [[File:Husni al-Zaiim (3x4 cropped).jpg|frameless|upright=0.3]] | [[Husni al-Za'im]]<br>{{lang|ar|حسني الزعيم}}<br>{{small|(1897–1949)}} | [[June 1949 Syrian presidential election|1949 {{small|(Jun.)}}]] | 26 June 1949 | 14 August 1949 | {{ayd|1949|6|26|1949|8|14}} ! style="background:{{party color|Syrian Social Nationalist Party}};" | | [[Independent politician|Independent]]<br>{{small|([[Syrian Social Nationalist Party|SSNP]]–affiliated)}} | Za'im was from 30 March 1949{{snd}}26 June 1949 ''de facto'' leader as Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Armed Forces. He was overthrown in the [[August 1949 Syrian coup d'état|August 1949 coup d'état]] led by [[Adib Shishakli]], and was later executed on the orders of the new government.{{sfn|Moubayed|2006|p=610}} |-style="background-color:#E6E6AA" | — | [[File:Sami al-Hinnawi.jpg|frameless|upright=0.3]] | [[Sami al-Hinnawi]]<br>{{lang|ar|سامي الحناوي}}<br>{{small|(1898–1950)<br />''acting''}} | — | 14 August 1949 | 15 August 1949 | {{ayd|1949|8|14|1949|8|15}} ! style="background:{{party color|Military rule}};" | | [[Syrian Armed Forces|Military]]<br>{{small|([[Syrian Social Nationalist Party|SSNP]])}} | Acting President as Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Armed Forces. |- | colspan="10"| Vacant ({{Dts|format=dmy|1949|August|15}} – {{Dts|format=dmy|1949|December|19}}) |-style="background-color:#E6E6AA" | (4) | [[File:Hashim Al Atassi.jpg|frameless|upright=0.3]] | [[Hashim al-Atassi]]<br>{{lang|ar|هاشم الأتاسي}}<br>{{small|(1875–1960)}} | 1949 {{small|(Dec.)}} | 19 December 1949 | 5 September 1950 | {{ayd|1949|12|19|1950|9|5}} ! style="background:{{party color|People's Party (Syria)}};" | | [[People's Party (Syria)|People's Party]] | Head of State. During this period, Hinnawi served as the country's ''de facto'' leader (as Chairman of the Supreme Council of War) until his overthrow in the [[December 1949 Syrian coup d'état|December 1949 coup d'état]], led by Shishakli, who then became ''de facto'' leader as head of the Council of Colonels (later the Supreme Military Council). |- ! colspan="10"| [[Second Syrian Republic]] (1950–1958) |- | (4) | [[File:Hashim Al Atassi.jpg|frameless|upright=0.3]] | [[Hashim al-Atassi]]<br>{{lang|ar|هاشم الأتاسي}}<br>{{small|(1875–1960)}} | 1950 | 5 September 1950 | 2 December 1951 | {{ayd|1950|9|5|1951|12|2}} ! style="background:{{party color|People's Party (Syria)}};" | | [[People's Party (Syria)|People's Party]] | Atassi resigned in the aftermath of the [[1951 Syrian coup d'état|1951 coup d'état]]. |-style="background-color:#E6E6AA" | — | [[File:Adib al-Shishakli.jpg|frameless|upright=0.3]] | [[Adib Shishakli]]<br>{{lang|ar|أديب الشيشكلي}}<br>{{small|(1909–1964)<br />''acting''}} | — | 2 December 1951 | 3 December 1951 | {{ayd|1951|12|2|1951|12|3}} ! style="background:{{party color|Syrian Social Nationalist Party}};" | | [[Syrian Social Nationalist Party]] | Acting President as Chief of the General Staff and head of the Supreme Military Council. |- | 10 | [[File:Fawzi Selu (3x4 cropped).jpg|frameless|upright=0.3]] | [[Fawzi Selu]]<br>{{lang|ar|فوزي سلو}}<br>{{small|(1905–1972)}} | — | 3 December 1951 | 11 July 1953 | {{ayd|1951|12|3|1953|7|11}} ! style="background:{{party color|Military rule}};" | | [[Syrian Armed Forces|Military]]<br>{{small|([[Arab Liberation Movement|ALM]]–affiliated)}} | After the coup the Army Command Council announced that it was collectively assuming responsibility for government, entrusted Selu with all executive and legislative powers, and dissolved the parliament. Shishakli assumed supreme command in the country and took the office of deputy chief of staff. |- | 11 | [[File:Adib al-Shishakli.jpg|frameless|upright=0.3]] | [[Adib Shishakli]]<br>{{lang|ar|أديب الشيشكلي}}<br>{{small|(1909–1964)}} | [[1953 Syrian presidential election|1953]] | 11 July 1953 | 25 February 1954 | {{ayd|1953|7|11|1954|2|25}} ! style="background:{{party color|Arab Liberation Movement}};" | | [[Arab Liberation Movement]] | Shishakli resigned from office in the evening of 26 February 1954, amidst a [[1954 Syrian coup d'état|coup d'état]].{{sfn|Moubayed|2006|p=339}} He fled the country, claiming that he did not want Syria to fall into a civil war.{{sfn|Moubayed|2006|p=339}} |-style="background-color:#E6E6AA" | — | [[File:Maamun al-Kuzbari (1914-1998) portrait.png|frameless|upright=0.3]] | [[Maamun al-Kuzbari]]<br>{{lang|ar|مأمون الكزبري}}<br>{{small|(1914–1998)<br />''acting''}} | — | 25 February 1954 | 28 February 1954 | {{ayd|1954|2|25|1954|2|28}} ! style="background:{{party color|Arab Liberation Movement}};" | | [[Arab Liberation Movement]] | |- | (4) | [[File:Hashim Al Atassi.jpg|frameless|upright=0.3]] | [[Hashim al-Atassi]]<br>{{lang|ar|هاشم الأتاسي}}<br>{{small|(1875–1960)}} | — | 28 February 1954 | 6 September 1955 | {{ayd|1954|2|28|1955|9|6}} ! style="background:{{party color|People's Party (Syria)}};" | | [[People's Party (Syria)|People's Party]] | |- | (8) | [[File:Portrait of Shukri al-Quwatli in 1943 (3x4 cropped).jpeg|frameless|upright=0.3]] | [[Shukri al-Quwatli]]<br>{{lang|ar|شكري القوّتلي}}<br>{{small|(1891–1967)}} | 1955 | 6 September 1955 | 22 February 1958 | {{ayd|1955|9|6|1958|2|22}} ! style="background:{{party color|National Party (Syria)}};" | | [[National Party (Syria)|National Party]] | |}
===United Arab Republic (1958–1961)=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |- ! rowspan="2" | No. ! rowspan="2" | Portrait ! rowspan="2" | Name<br>{{small|(Birth–Death)}} ! rowspan="2" | Elected ! colspan="3" | Term of office ! colspan="2" rowspan="2" | Political party |- ! Took office ! Left office ! Time in office |- | 12 | [[File:Nasser 1961.jpg|frameless|upright=0.3]] | [[Gamal Abdel Nasser]]<br>{{lang|ar|جمال عبد الناصر}}<br>{{small|(1918–1970)}} | [[1958 Syrian United Arab Republic referendum|1958]] | 22 February 1958 | 28 September 1961 | {{ayd|1958|2|22|1961|9|28}} ! style="background:{{party color|National Union (United Arab Republic)}};" | | [[National Union (United Arab Republic)|National Union]] |}
===Syria (1961–present)=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |- ! rowspan="2" | No. ! rowspan="2" | Portrait ! rowspan="2" | Name<br>{{small|(Birth–Death)}} ! rowspan="2" | Elected ! colspan="3" | Term of office ! colspan="2" rowspan="2" | Political party ! rowspan="2" width="40%" | Note(s) |- ! Took office ! Left office ! Time in office |- ! colspan="10"| [[Syria|Syrian Arab Republic]] (1961–present) |- | bgcolor=#EEEEEE colspan="10"| [[Second Syrian Republic]] (1961–1963) |- | colspan="10"| Vacant ({{Dts|format=dmy|1961|September|28}} – {{Dts|format=dmy|1961|December|14}})<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1961/11/22/archives/elnuss-leads-syria-heads-transitional-cabinet-after-kuzbari-resigns.html |title=EL-NUSS LEADS SYRIA; Heads Transitional Cabinet After Kuzbari Resigns |agency=Associated Press |newspaper=New York Times |date=22 November 1961 |access-date=17 October 2025 }}</ref> |- | 13 | [[File:Nazim al-Kudsi (3x4 cropped).jpg|frameless|upright=0.3]] | [[Nazim al-Qudsi]]<br>{{lang|ar|ناظم القدسي}}<br>{{small|(1906–1998)}} | 1961 | 14 December 1961 | 8 March 1963 | {{ayd|1961|12|14|1963|3|8}} ! style="background:{{party color|People's Party (Syria)}};" | | [[People's Party (Syria)|People's Party]] | On 28 March 1962, Qudsi resigned but took office again on 2 April, after the [[1962 Syrian coup attempt|1962 coup attempt]] failed.<ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://www.sav.sk/journals/uploads/092611431_Sorby.pdf|title=The Separatist Period in Syria, 1961-1963|last=Sorby|first=Karol R.|date=2009|journal=Asian and African Studies|issue=2|volume=18|pages=145-168|via=Slovak Academy of Sciences|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150922063821/https://www.sav.sk/journals/uploads/092611431_Sorby.pdf|archive-date=22 September 2015}}</ref> The [[1963 Syrian coup d'état|1963 coup d'état]], an event known as the March 8 Revolution, toppled Qudsi and brought the [[National Council for the Revolutionary Command]] (NCRC) to government, although real power lay with the [[Ba'ath Party|Ba'athist]] [[Military Committee (Syria)|Military Committee]], which organized the coup.{{sfn|Moubayed|2006|p=133}} |- | bgcolor=#EEEEEE colspan="10"| [[Ba'athist Syria]] (1963–2024) |- | colspan="10"| Vacant ({{Dts|format=dmy|1963|March|8}} – {{Dts|format=dmy|1963|March|9}}) |- | 14 | [[File:Luai al-Atassi.jpg|frameless|upright=0.3]] | [[Lu'ay al-Atassi]]<br>{{lang|ar|لؤي الأتاسي}}<br>{{small|(1926–2003)}} | — | 9 March 1963 | 27 July 1963 | {{ayd|1963|3|9|1963|7|27}} ! style="background:{{party color|Independent politician}};" | | [[Independent politician|Independent]] | Atassi was appointed president by the NCRC because he posed no threat to the Military Committee's power.{{sfn|Moubayed|2006|p=175}} He resigned after high-ranking non-Ba'athist officers were purged.{{sfn|Rabinovich|1972|p=72}}{{efn|During Atassi's tenure, the office of head of state was entitled ''President of the National Council for the Revolutionary Command''.}} |- | 15 | [[File:Amin al-Hafez 1965.jpg|frameless|upright=0.3]] | [[Amin al-Hafiz]]<br>{{lang|ar|أمين الحافظ}}<br>{{small|(1921–2009)}} | — | 27 July 1963 | 23 February 1966 | {{ayd|1963|7|27|1966|2|23}} ! style="background:{{party color|Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party – Syria Region}};" | | [[Ba'ath Party]]<br>{{small|([[Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party – Syria Region|Syria Region]])}} | Hafiz was [[1966 Syrian coup d'état|overthrown]] by the Military Committee because of his support for [[Michel Aflaq]] and the Ba'athist [[National Command of the Ba'ath Party|National Command]].{{sfn|Seale|1990|pp=99–101}}{{efn|During Hafiz's tenure, the office of head of state was entitled ''President of the National Council for the Revolutionary Command'', and later as ''President of the Presidential Council''.}} |- | colspan="10"| Vacant ({{Dts|format=dmy|1966|February|23}} – {{Dts|format=dmy|1966|February|25}}) |- | 16 | [[File:Nureddin Atassi (3x4 cropped).jpg|frameless|upright=0.3]] | [[Nureddin al-Atassi]]<br>{{lang|ar|نور الدين الأتاسي}}<br>{{small|(1929–1992)}} | — | 25 February 1966 | 18 November 1970 | {{ayd|1966|2|25|1970|11|18}} ! style="background:{{party color|Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party – Syria Region}};" | | [[Ba'ath Party (Syrian-dominated faction)|Syrian Ba'ath Party]]<br>{{small|([[Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party – Syria Region|Syria Region]])}} | Atassi was overthrown when a falling out occurred between [[Salah Jadid]], the country's ''de facto'' leader from 1966 to 1970 as Assistant Regional Secretary of the Regional Command, and [[Hafez al-Assad]], the [[Ministry of Defense (Syria)|Minister of Defense]].{{sfn|Seale|1990|pp=142–144}} Assad initiated a coup in 1970, known as the [[Corrective Movement (Syria)|Corrective Movement]].{{sfn|Seale|1990|pp=162–163}} |-style="background-color:#E6E6AA" | — | [[File:Ahmad al-Khatib, the interim head of state who ruled Syria for four months from November 1970 to March 1971.png|frameless|upright=0.3]] | [[Ahmad al-Khatib]]<br>{{lang|ar|أحمد الخطيب}}<br>{{small|(1933–1982)<br />''acting''}} | — | 18 November 1970 | 12 March 1971 | {{ayd|1970|11|18|1971|3|12}} ! style="background:{{party color|Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party – Syria Region}};" | | [[Ba'ath Party (Syrian-dominated faction)|Syrian Ba'ath Party]]<br>{{small|([[Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party – Syria Region|Syria Region]])}} | Assad served as the country's ''de facto'' leader during this period, as head of the Temporary Regional Command and as Regional Secretary of the Regional Command; and from 22 February 1971 onwards additionally as Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Armed Forces. |- | [[Presidency of Hafez al-Assad|17]] | [[File:Hafez al-Assad official portrait (cropped).jpg|frameless|upright=0.3]] | [[Hafez al-Assad]]<br>{{lang|ar|حافظ الأسد}}<br>{{small|(1930–2000)}} | [[1971 Syrian presidential election|1971]]<br>[[1978 Syrian presidential election|1978]]<br>[[1985 Syrian presidential election|1985]]<br>[[1991 Syrian presidential election|1991]]<br>[[1999 Syrian presidential election|1999]] | 12 March 1971 | 10 June 2000 | {{ayd|1971|3|12|2000|6|10}} ! style="background:{{party color|Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party – Syria Region}};" | | [[Ba'ath Party (Syrian-dominated faction)|Syrian Ba'ath Party]]<br>{{small|([[Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party – Syria Region|Syria Region]])}} | In late 1983, due to deteriorating health, Assad transferred his powers during his absence and recovery to a committee consisting of members from his close circle.{{efn|The committee consisted of [[Rifaat al-Assad]] (younger brother of Assad), [[Abdul Halim Khaddam]] ([[Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates (Syria)|Minister of Foreign Affairs]]), [[Mustafa Tlass]] ([[Ministry of Defense (Syria)|Minister of Defense]]), [[Hikmat al-Shihabi]] ([[Chief of the General Staff (Syria)|Chief of the General Staff]]), [[Ali Duba]] (Director of the [[Military Intelligence Directorate (Syria)|Military Intelligence Directorate]]), [[Abdullah al-Ahmar]] ([[Ba'ath Party (Syrian-dominated faction)|National Ba'ath Party]] official), [[Zuhair Masharqa]] ([[Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party – Syria Region|Regional Ba'ath Party]] official) and [[Abdul Rauf al-Kasm]] ([[Prime Minister of Syria|Prime Minister]]).}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1983/12/06/major-illness-said-to-incapacitate-syrian-president/1da1213d-4e7d-4b17-92fb-95104f57a954/|title=Major Illness Said To Incapacitate Syrian President|website=The Washington Post|date=6 December 1983|access-date=7 April 2025}}</ref><ref>Seale, Patrick (8 February 1989). "Chapter 24: Brothers's war". Asad: The Struggle for the Middle East. University of California Press. p. 427. ISBN 978-0520069763.</ref> Assad recovered and [[Death and state funeral of Hafez al-Assad|died in office]] seventeen years later.{{sfn|Moubayed|2006|pp=154–155}} |-style="background-color:#E6E6AA" | — | [[File:President Jimmy Carter and Abdul Halim Khaddam (cropped).jpg|frameless|upright=0.3]] | [[Abdul Halim Khaddam]]<br>{{lang|ar|عبدالحليم خدام}}<br>{{small|(1932–2020)<br />''acting''}} | — | 10 June 2000 | 17 July 2000 | {{ayd|2000|6|10|2000|7|17}} ! style="background:{{party color|Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party – Syria Region}};" | | [[Ba'ath Party (Syrian-dominated faction)|Syrian Ba'ath Party]]<br>{{small|([[Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party – Syria Region|Syria Region]])}} | Khaddam [[1973 Constitution of Ba'athist Syria|constitution]]ally succeeded from the [[Vice President of Syria|vice presidency]], and served on an acting basis until the new [[2000 Syrian presidential election|confirmative referendum]]. |- | [[Presidency of Bashar al-Assad|18]] | [[File:Bashar al-Assad (2018-05-17) 02 (cropped).jpg|frameless|upright=0.3]] | [[Bashar al-Assad]]<br>{{lang|ar|بَشَّارُ ٱلْأَسَدِ}}<br>{{small|(born 1965)}} | [[2000 Syrian presidential election|2000]]<br>[[2007 Syrian presidential election|2007]]<br>[[2014 Syrian presidential election|2014]]<br>[[2021 Syrian presidential election|2021]] | 17 July 2000 | 8 December 2024 | {{ayd|2000|7|17|2024|12|8}} ! style="background:{{party color|Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party – Syria Region}};" | | [[Ba'ath Party (Syrian-dominated faction)|Syrian Ba'ath Party]]<br>{{small|([[Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party – Syria Region|Syria Region]])}} | Assad was [[Fall of the Assad regime|overthrown]] during the [[Fall of Damascus (2024)|fall of Damascus]] in the [[Syrian civil war]], and fled the country to [[Russia]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Syrian rebels topple President Assad, prime minister calls for free elections |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/syria-rebels-celebrate-captured-homs-set-sights-damascus-2024-12-07/ |website=Reuters |date=8 December 2024}}</ref> |- | bgcolor=#EEEEEE colspan="10"| Transitional period (2024–present)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sharaa's New Party: Reviving the Baath in Disguise? |publisher=The Syrian Observer |date=31 October 2025 |url=https://syrianobserver.com/syrian-actors/sharaas-new-party-reviving-the-baath-in-disguise.html }}</ref> |- | colspan="10"| Vacant ({{Dts|format=dmy|2024|December|8}} – {{Dts|format=dmy|2025|January|29}}){{efn|Following the [[fall of the Assad regime]], [[Ahmed al-Sharaa]] served as Syria's ''de facto'' leader<ref>{{multiref2|{{cite web|first=Richard|last=Salame|date=29 December 2024|title=Syrian elections may not be held for 4 years, says de facto leader|url=https://www.ft.com/content/bf11898a-8e0a-416b-bd37-b7835bc8fd1c|website=[[Financial Times]]|archive-url=https://archive.today/20241229153058/https://www.ft.com/content/bf11898a-8e0a-416b-bd37-b7835bc8fd1c|archive-date=29 December 2024}}|{{cite web|first=Alisha Rahaman|last=Sarkar|date=19 December 2024|title=Syria's de facto new leader says it is not a threat to the West|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/syria-golani-hts-sanction-terror-list-b2666926.html|website=[[The Independent]]|archive-url=https://archive.today/20241220110510/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/syria-golani-hts-sanction-terror-list-b2666926.html|archive-date=20 December 2024|url-status=live}}|{{cite web|first=Chris|last=Jewers|date=19 December 2024|title=Syrian rebel leader says women's education will continue – but refuses to be drawn on alcohol|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/12/19/syria-rebel-leader-womens-education-alcohol/|website=[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]|archive-url=https://archive.today/20241220013208/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/12/19/syria-rebel-leader-womens-education-alcohol/|archive-date=20 December 2024|quote=Ahmed al-Sharaa, Syria's de facto leader, said he believed in education for women as he denied the new government would be another version of the Taliban.}}|{{cite web|first=Jeremy|last=Bowen|author-link=Jeremy Bowen|date=18 December 2024|title=Syria not a threat to world, rebel leader Ahmed al-Sharaa tells BBC|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c05p9g2nqmeo|website=[[BBC News]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241218223216/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c05p9g2nqmeo|archive-date=18 December 2024|url-status=live|quote=The de facto leader of Syria, Ahmed al-Sharaa, has said the country is exhausted by war and is not a threat to its neighbours or to the West.}}|{{cite magazine|first=Eliza|last=Griswold|author-link=Eliza Griswold|date=17 December 2024|title=Reasons to Leave Syria—and to Return|url=https://www.newyorker.com/news/the-lede/reasons-to-leave-syria-and-to-return|magazine=[[The New Yorker]]|archive-url=https://archive.today/20241217112157/https://www.newyorker.com/news/the-lede/reasons-to-leave-syria-and-to-return|archive-date=17 December 2024|quote=He wanted to see how Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, the head of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham—an Islamist group formerly linked to the Islamic State and Al Qaeda—and now the de-facto leader of Syria, behaved.}}|{{cite web|first=Hatem|last=Maher|date=14 December 2024|title=Syria's de facto leader not interested in new conflicts despite Israeli attacks|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/syrias-de-facto-leader-not-interested-new-conflicts-despite-israeli-attacks-2024-12-14/|website=[[Reuters]]|archive-url=https://archive.today/20241214231519/https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/syrias-de-facto-leader-not-interested-new-conflicts-despite-israeli-attacks-2024-12-14/|archive-date=14 December 2024}} }}</ref> as the emir of the [[Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham]], general commander and head of the new Syrian administration until 29 January 2025, when he was appointed President of Syria by the Syrian General Command.<ref name="defactoleader">{{Cite web |date=31 January 2025 |title=Ahmed al-Sharaa named Syria's transitional president |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8d9r0vg6v7o |access-date=22 March 2025 |website=www.bbc.com |language=en-GB|quote=Ahmed al-Sharaa has been Syria's de facto leader since leading the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad}}</ref><ref name="appointment">{{Cite web |date=29 January 2025 |title=General Command appoints Ahmed al-Sharaa as President of Syria |url=https://english.enabbaladi.net/archives/2025/01/general-command-appoints-ahmed-al-sharaa-as-president-of-syria/ |access-date=15 February 2025 |website=[[Enab Baladi]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Leader of Syria's new administration congratulates Trump |url=https://www.aa.com.tr/en/politics/leader-of-syria-s-new-administration-congratulates-trump/3456721 |access-date=2025-07-20 |website=www.aa.com.tr|quote=The leader of the new Syrian administration, Ahmed al-Sharaa, congratulated US President Donald Trump on his [[Second inauguration of Donald Trump|inauguration]]}}</ref>}} |- | [[Presidency of Ahmed al-Sharaa|19]] | [[File:Ahmed al-Sharaa, President of Syria, in March 2026.jpg|frameless|upright=0.3]] | [[Ahmed al-Sharaa]]<br>{{lang|ar|أحمد الشرع}}<br>{{small|(born 1982)}} | — | 29 January 2025 | Incumbent | {{ayd|2025|01|29}} ! style="background:{{party color|Independent politician}};" | | [[Independent politician|Independent]] | Al-Sharaa was appointed as president by the Syrian General Command during the transitional period at the [[Syrian Revolution Victory Conference]].<ref name="appointment"/> |}
==Timeline== {{#tag:timeline| ImageSize = width:1050 height:auto barincrement:10 PlotArea = top:3 bottom:100 right:130 left:20 AlignBars = late
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bar:SubhiBeyBarakat from: 29/06/1922 till: 21/12/1925 color:none text:"[[Subhi Bey Barakat]]" bar:FrançoisPierre-Alype from: 09/02/1926 till: 28/04/1926 color:none text:"[[François Pierre-Alype]]" bar:AhmadNami from: 28/04/1926 till: 15/02/1928 color:none text:"[[Ahmad Nami]]" bar:Tajal-Dinal-Hasani from: 15/02/1928 till: 19/11/1931 color:none from: 16/09/1941 till: 17/01/1943 color:none text:"[[Taj al-Din al-Hasani]]" bar:LéonSolomiac from: 19/11/1931 till: 11/06/1932 color:none text:"[[Léon Solomiac]]" bar:MuhammadAlial-Abid from: 11/06/1932 till: 21/12/1936 color:none text:"[[Muhammad Ali al-Abid]]" bar:Hashimal-Atassi from: 21/12/1936 till: 07/07/1939 color:nationalbloc from: 19/12/1949 till: 02/12/1951 color:people'sparty from: 28/02/1954 till: 06/09/1955 color:people'sparty text:"[[Hashim al-Atassi]]" bar:Bahijal-Khatib from: 08/07/1939 till: 04/04/1941 color:none text:"[[Bahij al-Khatib]]" bar:Khalidal-Azm from: 04/04/1941 till: 16/09/1941 color:none text:"[[Khalid al-Azm]]" bar:Jamilal-Ulshi from: 17/01/1943 till: 25/03/1943 color:none text:"[[Jamil al-Ulshi]]" bar:AtaBeyal-Ayyubi from: 25/03/1943 till: 17/08/1943 color:none text:"[[Ata Bey al-Ayyubi]]" bar:Shukrial-Quwatli from: 17/08/1943 till: 01/01/1947 color:nationalbloc from: 01/01/1947 till: 30/03/1949 color:nationalparty from: 06/09/1955 till: 22/02/1958 color:nationalparty text:"[[Shukri al-Quwatli]]" bar:Husnial-Za'im from: 26/06/1949 till: 14/08/1949 color:ssnp text:"[[Husni al-Za'im]]" bar:Samial-Hinnawi from: 14/08/1949 till: 15/08/1949 color:military text:"[[Sami al-Hinnawi]]" bar:AdibShishakli from: 02/12/1951 till: 03/12/1951 color:ssnp from: 11/07/1953 till: 25/02/1954 color:alm text:"[[Adib Shishakli]]" bar:FawziSelu from: 03/12/1951 till: 11/07/1953 color:military text:"[[Fawzi Selu]]" bar:Maamunal-Kuzbari from: 25/02/1954 till: 28/02/1954 color:alm text:"[[Maamun al-Kuzbari]]" bar:GamalAbdelNasser from: 22/02/1958 till: 28/09/1961 color:nationalunion text:"[[Gamal Abdel Nasser]]" bar:Nazimal-Kudsi from: 14/12/1961 till: 08/03/1963 color:people'sparty text:"[[Nazim al-Kudsi]]" bar:Lu'ayal-Atassi from: 09/03/1963 till: 27/07/1963 color:none text:"[[Lu'ay al-Atassi]]" bar:Aminal-Hafiz from: 27/07/1963 till: 23/02/1966 color:baath text:"[[Amin al-Hafiz]]" bar:Nureddinal-Atassi from: 25/02/1966 till: 18/11/1970 color:baath text:"[[Nureddin al-Atassi]]" bar:Ahmadal-Khatib from: 18/11/1970 till: 12/03/1971 color:baath text:"[[Ahmad al-Khatib]]" bar:Hafezal-Assad from: 12/03/1971 till: 10/06/2000 color:baath text:"[[Hafez al-Assad]]" bar:AbdulHalimKhaddam from: 10/06/2000 till: 17/07/2000 color:baath text:"[[Abdul Halim Khaddam]]" bar:Basharal-Assad from: 17/07/2000 till: 08/12/2024 color:baath text:"[[Bashar al-Assad]]" bar:Ahmedal-Sharaa from: 29/01/2025 till: $today color:none text:"[[Ahmed al-Sharaa]]"
}}
==See also== *[[President of Syria]] *[[List of heads of state of Syria]] *[[Vice President of Syria]] *[[Prime Minister of Syria]] **[[List of prime ministers of Syria]] *[[Speaker of the People's Assembly of Syria]]
==Notes== {{notelist}}
==References== ===Citations=== {{reflist}}
===Bibliography=== * {{cite book | author = Moubayed, Sami M. | ref = CITEREFMoubayed2006 | title = Steel & Silk: Men and Women who shaped Syria 1900–2000 | publisher = Cune Press | year = 2006 | isbn = 1-885942-40-0}} * {{cite book | last = Rabinovich | first = Itamar | title = Syria Under the Ba'th, 1963–66: The Army Party Symbiosis | publisher = Transaction Publishers | year = 1972 | isbn = 0-7065-1266-9}} * {{cite book | author = Seale, Patrick | ref = CITEREFSeale1990 | title = Asad of Syria: The Struggle for the Middle East | publisher = [[University of California Press]] | year = 1990 | isbn = 978-0520069763 | url-access = registration | url = https://archive.org/details/asadofsyriastrug00seal | author-link = Patrick Seale }}
{{Presidents of Syria}} {{Syria topics}}
[[Category:Presidents of Syria|*]] [[Category:Lists of national presidents|Syria]] [[Category:Lists of political office-holders in Syria|Presidents]]