Asma al-Assad, the wife of ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, is reportedly fighting leukemia, an aggressive form of blood and bone marrow cancer, with a 50% chance of survival.
The British-born former first lady is currently isolated to reduce the risk of infection and is undergoing treatment, according to The Telegraph.
Asma had previously battled breast cancer in 2019, declaring herself cancer-free after a year of treatment. However, it is believed that the leukemia has returned after a period of remission.
The Assad family fled Syria earlier this month as rebel forces advanced toward the capital, Damascus. While Bashar al-Assad remained in the country, Asma and their children were reportedly the first to leave, relocating to Moscow. There, she is being cared for by her father, Fawaz Akhras, a respected cardiologist based in London. Sources suggest Akhras is deeply affected by his daughter’s condition.
Asma was diagnosed with leukemia in May, as confirmed by Syria’s presidency. This diagnosis follows her earlier battle with breast cancer, which she had overcome in 2019. It is believed that her leukemia may have resurfaced after a period of remission.
Reports also indicate that Asma has grown frustrated with the restrictions placed on her in Russia and has expressed a desire to divorce her husband and seek further treatment in London. However, the Kremlin has denied these claims, and the Assad family has not made any public statements on the matter.
