Attempted assassination of Hafez al-Assad

On 26 June 1980, an assassination attempt on Hafez al-Assad, the Syrian president, was carried out by Muslim Brotherhood supporters who threw two grenades and fired machine gun bursts at him as he waited for an African diplomat in the Guest Palace in Damascus.^[1][2][3] Assad kicked one grenade out of range, while one of his bodyguards threw himself on the other grenade.^{[citation needed]}

Attempted assassination of Hafez al-Assad
Part of Islamist uprising in Syria
Location of the assassination attempt.
Location	Guest Palace, Damascus, Syria
Date	26 June 1980 (Local time)
Weapons	Hand grenades, machine gun
Deaths	1 bodyguard (+2 attackers)

The attack came in the context of the Islamist uprising in Syria. The attack on the president prompted a series of deadly retaliation by the government troops, most notably the Tadmor prison massacre, carried out the next day. Ten days later Law No. 49 was passed, making membership of the Muslim Brotherhood a capital offense.^[1]

See also

• 1986 Damascus bombings
• 1982 Hama massacre