Posters of Asma Assad Heavily on Display at Popular Event in Syria’s Hama

Asma Assad. (Getty Images file photo)
Asma Assad. (Getty Images file photo)
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Posters of Asma Assad Heavily on Display at Popular Event in Syria’s Hama

Asma Assad. (Getty Images file photo)
Asma Assad. (Getty Images file photo)

In what has been described as a “precedent” throughout the decades-long rule of the Assad family over Syria, a large poster of first lady, Asma Assad, was raised at a popular event in the city of Hama.

Hama, which the regime destroyed during the ongoing conflict in 2012, was holding the annual meeting of the al-Areen Charitable Foundation, attracting more than 20,000 people wounded in the war and families of victims of pro-regime forces.

This was the first time that the poster of a woman who is affiliated with the regime is raised at an event. The size of the poster rivaled those of Bashar, her husband.

Asma’s poster was seen covering the façade of one building overlooking the stadium where the gathering was held. A poster of Bashar and the national flag covered another building.

Sources in Damascus said the move was a message from Asma to regime loyalists as she rallies support in her rivalry with Rami Makhlouf, Bashar’s cousin and business tycoon who has fallen from grace with the regime.

The rivalry between Amsa and Makhlouf saw the first lady come on top and isolate him from the regime.

Two weeks ago, Asma had toured coastal towns affected by forest fires in an attempt to gain favor with the people. Bashar was holding a similar tour in nearby regions in what was interpreted as an attempt by the ruling family to come close to the affected families who have criticized the regime’s inability to contain the fires.

Makhlouf had announced a donation to help the affected families to which ngos, overseen by Asma, reacted by carrying out a donation campaign to the victims.

The campaign was met with an “overwhelming” positive response and garnered some 2.5 million dollars in two weeks.



Israel Ready to Negotiate Permanent Gaza Ceasefire during 60-day Truce, Netanyahu Says

09 July 2025, US, Washington: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaking with the press at the US Capitol in Washington. Photo: Douglas Christian/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
09 July 2025, US, Washington: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaking with the press at the US Capitol in Washington. Photo: Douglas Christian/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
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Israel Ready to Negotiate Permanent Gaza Ceasefire during 60-day Truce, Netanyahu Says

09 July 2025, US, Washington: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaking with the press at the US Capitol in Washington. Photo: Douglas Christian/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
09 July 2025, US, Washington: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaking with the press at the US Capitol in Washington. Photo: Douglas Christian/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel will likely have a ceasefire agreement with Hamas to release more Israeli hostages held by the Palestinian group. 

Netanyahu said 50 hostages were still being held captive by Hamas. Of that figure, he said, only 20 are believed to be alive. 

"I want to take them all out. We now have a deal that supposedly will get half of the living and half of the dead out," Netanyahu said in an interview on Newsmax show "The Record with Greta Van Susteren" that aired on Thursday. 

"And so we'll have 10 living left and about 12 deceased hostages, but I'll get them out, too. I hope we can complete it in a few days." 

On October 7, 2023, Hamas attacked southern Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages, according to Israeli figures. Israel's retaliation has killed more than 57,000 Palestinians, Gaza's health ministry says, and reduced much of Gaza to rubble. 

The two sides have had two ceasefires - one in November 2023 and another in January 2025- since the fighting started. 

Netanyahu said Israel and Hamas will likely have a 60-day ceasefire, which the two sides could use to try to end the conflict. 

Hamas said on Wednesday there were several sticking points in the ongoing ceasefire talks including the flow of aid, withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip, and "genuine guarantees for a permanent ceasefire." 

Netanyahu's interview with Newsmax comes as he wraps his third visit to Washington since President Donald Trump took office in January. 

Speaking of Trump, the Israeli leader said his country has never had "such a friend, such a support of Israel, the Jewish state in the White House." 

Last month, the US joined Israel in striking Iran, a move that Trump has said "obliterated" three of Iran's nuclear sites. 

When asked about a damage assessment, Netanyahu said, "Within months, they could have produced atomic bombs."