Bashar al-Assad

Children are dying of starvation in the rebel-held region of eastern Ghouta.
At least 350,000 trapped Syrians lack access to food and medicine.
The Syrian regime is pushing the besieged suburb of eastern Ghouta "to the brink of catastrophe," experts warn.
The Assad government has repeatedly denied using chemical weapons.
Thousands of detainees are secretly killed by the Assad regime every year.
The president even disparaged the efforts of the U.S. military.
The decision is a move sought by Assad ally Russia.