SerbiaFrance and Syria signed several agreements today in Damascus, including a letter of intent outlining the return of 51 million euros in seized assets belonging to Rifat al-Assad, the brother-in-law of deposed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. French President Emmanuel Macron stated during a joint press conference with Syrian President Assad that over 50 million euros in illegally acquired assets from the Assad family would be returned to the Syrian people to fund specific development projects in the country. The letter of intent, signed by the foreign ministers of France and Syria, specifies the amount as 51 million euros. Rifat al-Assad, who died in exile in early 2026 at the age of 88, was known as 'The Butcher of Hama' due to his role in suppressing the Muslim Brotherhood uprising in the Syrian city of Hama in 1982. After an unsuccessful coup attempt in 1984, he fled to Switzerland and then France, living in exile for decades. Although he presented himself as an opponent of Bashar al-Assad, he spent 37 years in France before returning to Syria in 2021 to avoid serving a four-year prison sentence imposed in France for money laundering and the misuse of Syrian state funds.
Bias read (Center): The article presents a factual account of diplomatic agreements between France and Syria regarding the return of seized assets. It includes direct quotes from Macron and provides background information on Rifat al-Assad without overtly favoring any political side. The framing remains neutral, with a
