Syrian president Assad's mother dies aged 86

ANKARA

The mother of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Aneesa Ahmad Makhlouf has died at the age of 86, state media said Saturday.

Syrian State Television announced that the widow of late president Hafez al-Assad passed away, without providing details. The news was confirmed by the Syrian Presidency.

Makhlouf was born in 1930 to a rich family in Lattakia, and married pilot Hafez al-Assad in 1957. Makhlouf was Syria’s first lady from 1971 when Assad became president until his death in 2000.

Aneesa Makhlouf had five children: Bushra, the late Bassel, Bashar, Majd, and Maher.