President Bashar’s elder sister reportedly had the ear of their father, the late President Hafez Assad. In 1995 she eloped and married Assef Shawkat, a divorced father-of-five who was 10 years her senior, despite objections from her family. Then-president Hafez Assad eventually welcomed the couple back into the fold, and her husband’s power has risen ever since. A 2006 profile in the Mideast Monitor described Bushra Assad as politically astute, with an intellect comparable to her father. “Though she shuns the spotlight, her behind-the-scenes political influence has been decisive at times,” it said. The report also noted tension between her and Asma Assad, the President’s wife, over the latter’s frequent public appearances.
Meet the Assads: A Look at the Syrian Strongman’s Family
As the conflict in Syria reaches a critical phase, TIME looks at some of the regime's key figures.