Bashar al-Assad's Wife Battles Leukemia Amid Divorce Reports, Has 50-50 Chance of Survival: Report

Asma al-Assad, the wife of deposed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, is reportedly battling leukemia, an aggressive form of cancer affecting the bone marrow and blood, with a 50-50 chance of survival. The British-born former first lady is currently in isolation to minimise the risk of infection and is undergoing treatment, according to *The Telegraph*.

The report states that Asma had previously fought breast cancer in 2019 and declared herself cancer-free after a year of treatment. However, the blood cancer is believed to have reappeared after a period of remission.

Born in London in 1975 to Syrian parents, Asma al-Assad holds dual British-Syrian citizenship. She earned degrees in computer science and French literature from King's College London before pursuing a career in investment banking. Asma married Bashar al-Assad in December 2000, and the couple has three children: Hafez, Zein, and Karim.

Asma has reportedly sought to exile herself in London with her children since the Syrian uprising began. There have also been reports suggesting she has filed for divorce from the ousted president, citing dissatisfaction with her life in Moscow. However, the Kremlin has rejected these claims, stating, "No, they do not correspond to reality."

She has allegedly applied to a Russian court for special permission to leave the country, and her application is currently under review by Russian authorities.

Bashar al-Assad and his family fled Syria on December 8 following an 11-day rebel offensive led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), after years of civil war triggered by his violent crackdown on anti-government protests in 2011. The conflict has claimed the lives of over 500,000 people and displaced more than half of the country's population.

Assad, now living under asylum in Moscow, is reportedly facing severe restrictions imposed by Russian authorities. While his asylum request has been accepted, he is prohibited from leaving Moscow or engaging in political activities. Russian authorities are also said to have frozen his assets, although the Kremlin has denied this claim.