Syria: The wife of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has undergone a “successful” operation as part of treatment for early-stage breast cancer, the presidency said on Sunday.
“Asma al-Assad continues her treatment against the malignant tumour,” it said on its Facebook page.
“Breast surgery at the Damascus military hospital has been successful,” it added.
The presidency announced in August that the first lady had begun treatment for “a malignant tumour in the breast that was discovered at an early stage”.
Since then, the presidency’s social media accounts have often showed her with a scarf knotted elegantly around her head, visiting children cancer patients, wounded soldiers, or attending charity events.
On Saturday, it published a video of her visiting a triple amputee wounded in Syria‘s nearly eight-year conflict, inside what appeared to be his family home.
Syria’s First Lady Asma al-Assad (C) poses for a picture during a graduation ceremony of future teachers of a Syrian Organisation for Persons with Disabilities, in Damascus on December 3, 2018. – The Syrian president’s wife is currently undergoing treatment for breast cancer, the presidency said earlier this year. (Photo by LOUAI BESHARA / AFP)
Syria’s First Lady Asma al-Assad (C) poses for a picture during a graduation ceremony of future teachers of a Syrian Organisation for Persons with Disabilities, in Damascus on December 3, 2018. – The Syrian president’s wife is currently undergoing treatment for breast cancer, the presidency said earlier this year. (Photo by LOUAI BESHARA / AFP)
Syria’s First Lady Asma al-Assad (bottom C) participates in a graduation ceremony of future teachers of a Syrian Organisation for Persons with Disabilities, in Damascus on December 3, 2018. – The Syrian president’s wife is currently undergoing treatment for breast cancer, the presidency said earlier this year. (Photo by LOUAI BESHARA / AFP)
Syria’s First Lady Asma al-Assad (L) participates in a graduation ceremony of future teachers of a Syrian Organisation for Persons with Disabilities, in Damascus on December 3, 2018. – The Syrian president’s wife is currently undergoing treatment for breast cancer, the presidency said earlier this year. (Photo by LOUAI BESHARA / AFP)
This handout picture released by the Syrian Presidency Facebook page on January 27, 2019, shows First Lady Asma al-Assad handling some papers in the capital Damascus. – The wife of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has undergone a “successful” operation as part of treatment for early-stage breast cancer, the presidency said today.
“Asma al-Assad continues her treatment against the malignant tumour,” it said on its Facebook page. “Breast surgery at the Damascus military hospital has been successful,” it added. (Photo by Handout / Syrian Presidency Facebook page / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – MANDATORY CREDIT “AFP PHOTO / Syrian Presidency Facebook page ” – NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS – DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS
Born in 1975, the British-born former investment banker styled herself as a progressive rights advocate and was seen as the modern side of the Assad dynasty.
But after the repression of anti-government protests in 2011 spiralled into a devastating civil war, she was criticised over her support for her husband.
Asma, whose father is a cardiologist and whose mother is a diplomat, has two sons and a daughter with Assad.
