15. Bashar al-Assad (Syria)
Bashar al-Assad’s leadership during the Syrian Civil War, which began in 2011, has been marked by widespread human rights abuses and a protracted international conflict. His government’s violent crackdown on peaceful protests escalated into a full-scale civil war, resulting in over 600,000 deaths, with pro-Assad forces responsible for more than 90% of civilian casualties. The regime’s use of chemical weapons, such as the 2013 Ghouta chemical attack, led to international condemnation and sanctions. The conflict has caused the displacement of over 14 million Syrians, including 7.2 million refugees, making it the largest refugee crisis in the world. Despite these atrocities, Assad maintained power with support from allies like Russia and Iran.
