I met Assad and his wife in 2009, before he turned to mass murder

Bashar al-Assad began his career as a physician but has transformed into a ruthless dictator responsible for numerous killings and is now evading capture.

The individual who was once dedicated to saving lives in both Damascus and London eventually became responsible for taking countless lives, launching attacks on hospitals and using chemical weapons against his own citizens.

He was a rather unremarkable person to encounter. He stood tall, was a bit awkward, had a lisp, and sported a thin, scruffy moustache.

Christopher Hitchens referred to him as the "human toothbrush." The author was reminded of Hannah Arendt's term "the banality of evil" when he thought of his encounter with another dictator, Argentina's General Videla. This description fits Mr. Assad equally well.

He was quite unremarkable, more quirky than sinister, and had a strangely high-pitched and awkward laugh.

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Back in 2009, things were quite different in Syria when Mr. Assad and his wife welcomed Sky News to Damascus. We took a stroll with them on a pleasant spring evening.

Barack Obama had recently taken office as President of the United States. Speaking in his thin, high-pitched tone, Mr. Assad expressed his desire to invite the young leader to Syria, as he mentioned during an interview with Sky News. He seemed to chuckle at the thought, while his wife, who was born in Britain, smiled proudly beside him.

At that time, it felt like anything could happen. However, just two years later, Syria was engulfed in protests fueled by the wave of the Arab Spring. In response, Mr. Assad unleashed a violent crackdown. This critical choice led Syria into the depths of a tragic civil war.

Mr. Assad ascended to the presidency in an unforeseen manner, and it appeared that he did so with little enthusiasm.

His older brother Bassel was prepared to take on the role. He possessed all the qualities that Bashar lacked—he was attractive, self-assured, and a soldier in the special forces, making him their father’s favorite. However, Bassel tragically lost his life in a car accident.

Could Mr. Assad's harshness have been partly influenced by jealousy towards his siblings? Did he feel the need to assert himself in front of his controlling deceased father, striving to match his brother's strength? In trying to compensate for his perceived weaknesses, did the less favored Bashar resort to the horrific act of killing hundreds of thousands?

More insights: Assad's top allies have chosen to abandon him. Russia and Iran are expected to remain committed to Syria, but the future holds serious worries.

Incorporate the Roys of Succession with arms or armaments.

The Assads were a remarkable dynasty. Imagine the Roy family from Succession, but with the addition of chemical and biological weapons.

Hafez, the shrewd and strategic leader, skillfully took control of Syria and maintained his rule for many years. However, his position was jeopardized by the plotting and ambitions of his less capable offspring.

Bashar, the introspective successor, and Maher, his unstable and disturbed brother, who has been directly involved in much of the regime's oppressive rule.

When Mr. Assad's father passed away in 2000, he returned from London, putting an end to his career as an eye doctor to take over his father's position. Initially, he vowed to bring about change, and it appeared that the country was beginning to progress.

Assad's spouse played a role in the performance.

Asma Assad, Mr. Assad's charming wife who was raised in West London by Syrian parents, played a significant role in the public image of their regime, projecting a vision of a progressive future. She excelled in this role far beyond her husband, effortlessly captivating the audience with her presence in front of the cameras.

She shared with me that she had secretly traveled around the country after her husband came into power, all to help him grasp its needs better.

According to her, they were an average middle-class couple who enjoyed nothing more than surprising people in Damascus by showing up at restaurants on their date nights in the city.

Vogue magazine faced criticism for labeling Ms. Assad as Syria's "Desert Rose," but it wasn't the only outlet that fell for this portrayal. During that time, many people genuinely thought Syria was heading in a new direction. Maybe Mr. and Mrs. Assad believed it as well.

However, behind the scenes, oppression and corruption continued to persist.

Mr. Assad was dispersing profitable privatization contracts to friends and relatives. The Assads' secret police continued to suppress opposition with the same level of brutality as in the past.

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The outbreak of internal conflict

Two years after extending the invitation to Mr. Obama, Mr. Assad faced a decision: to pursue a new path or to continue following the oppressive methods of his father.

In the southern city of Deraa, children were detained during protests motivated by the Arab Spring that was impacting the area. The authorities subjected them to torture and abuse, ultimately resulting in their deaths, and they returned the disfigured bodies.

Demonstrations spread throughout the southern region. Initially, the Assad government appeared confused about how to react. Any efforts to ease tensions were brief and didn't last long.

Mr. Assad has resorted to the traditional strategies used by his family. Back in 1982, his father Hafez brutally killed thousands in the city of Hama in response to an uprising.

Peaceful demonstrations broke out nationwide. Mr. Assad instructed his security forces to suppress them, resulting in gunfire directed at nonviolent, unarmed groups of people. His brother Maher was captured on video taking part in this action himself.

In the end, Syrians found themselves with no option but to take up arms. What began as a peaceful uprising transformed into an armed revolt. Soon after, foreign nations became involved, transforming the situation into a conflict that was both a civil war and a proxy battle.

Assad could never allow himself to be defeated.

Mr. Assad was fully committed. As a member of the minority Alawite community, he had no room for failure.

In his determination to win, he turned to increasingly extreme tactics. Helicopters unleashed thousands of barrel bombs, and soon after, chemical weapons came into play—chlorine gas, sarin, and mustard gas were all used.

Critics were imprisoned in huge numbers, where they faced widespread torture, sexual violence, and frequent executions.

Mr. Assad would not have been able to maintain his position without the help of his allies. With Russia providing air support and Iran assisting on the ground, their backing shifted the momentum of the war in his direction. The rebels became trapped in the northwestern part of the country, specifically in Idlib province, which turned into a deadly area for them.

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Assad's corrupt and ineffective government has collapsed.

The standoff appeared to be stagnant for many years, but Mr. Assad's opponents took advantage of this pause to replenish their weapons, develop new strategies, and strengthen their organization.

His supporters were preoccupied, with Russia engaged in Ukraine and Iran facing challenges due to developments in Lebanon.

Mr. Assad, the young ophthalmologist with a charming British spouse, transformed into a wicked tyrant, completely twisted and debased by his grip on power.

His rule became illegitimate long ago. Decayed and empty, and lacking outside backing, his regime has collapsed. This serves as a warning to others, including his allies in Moscow and Tehran.

After years of struggle and countless lives lost, the people of Syria have succeeded in toppling their despised ruler. The dynasty that former leader Assad envisioned has now fallen apart.

Mr. and Mrs. Assad might escape to another country for safety, but the future of the rest of their troubled family is still uncertain.