Hafez al-Assad

The provided news articles do not directly mention Hafez al-Assad. Instead, they focus on the aftermath of the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime and the death of Rifaat al-Assad. Rifaat, brother of Hafez and uncle of Bashar, is described as the commander of the paramilitary “Defence Companies” and the 'Butcher of Hama' due to his role in the 1982 Hama massacre. He recently died at 89, having been convicted of money laundering and accused of war crimes. The articles also detail the changes in Syria one year after Bashar al-Assad's ouster, including the removal of pro-Assad merchandise and celebrations in cities like Hama. The current relevance lies in the ongoing transition and rebuilding efforts in Syria following decades of Assad family rule, and the reckoning with the past atrocities committed under their regime.