(FILES) A TV grab shows a photo of Rifaat al-Assad, the exiled brother of Syria's late Preisdent Hafez al-Assad, as it appeared on June 12, 2000 on the London-based Arab News Network (ANN) television station, which belongs to his son Sumer. Rifaat al-Assad, uncle of deposed Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assad and dubbed the "Butcher of Hama" for suppressing an uprising in the 1980s, has died aged 88, two sources close to the family said January 21, 2026. (Photo by Arab News Network / AFP via Getty Images) / XGTY / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / ARAB NEWS NETWORK (ANN)" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS