Asma al-Assad diagnosed with leukemia, faces 50/50 survival chance: British media

Asma al-Assad, the British-born wife of ousted Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad, has been diagnosed with leukemia and has been given a “50/50” chance of survival, according to The Daily Telegraph.

She is currently in isolation in Moscow to avoid infection.

Why it matters

This diagnosis adds to the personal and political challenges faced by the al-Assad family, who recently sought asylum in Russia.

Details of Asma al-Assad’s condition

• Asma al-Assad, 49, was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia in May. This follows her announcement in 2019 that she had been declared free of breast cancer.
• She is believed to have traveled to Moscow for treatment before the Kremlin persuaded her husband to flee Syria earlier in December.
• Her father, Fawaz Akhras, a London-based cardiologist, is in Moscow to care for her and has been described as “heartbroken” by sources close to the family.
• The al-Assad family has not commented on reports suggesting Asma is unhappy in Moscow and seeking a divorce from Bashar al-Assad. The Kremlin has also denied rumors of a divorce.

Zoom in

A source in contact with the family stated that “Asma is dying” and cannot be in the same room with anyone because of her health condition. This is another chapter in her ongoing struggle with serious illness.

Zoom out

The al-Assad family’s ongoing crisis, coupled with their political asylum in Russia, raises questions about the future of both the family and Syrian leadership.

The reports of personal turmoil were believed to be sourced from Turkish journalists who were briefed by Russian diplomats.