- Rifaat Al-Assad was the most prominent young activist and supporter of uniting Syria and Egypt in one state. He led many popular and student demonstrations in support of that cause.
- He was a staunch opponent f abolishing the Socialist Arab Baath Party. He believed the existence of the party would guarantee the success of the new unified state.
- He was doing his military service when the union was established. He was punished and discriminated against because of his opinions. But he continued his activities in the army advocating the Baath party ethics and principals.
- Rifaat Al-Assad was communication coordinator in the party, and was responsible for liaison between party members who were transferred to Egypt and party members in who remained in Syria. These party members were all lieutenants in the Syrian Army. He gained valuable experience and was distinguished for his work.
- He was imprisoned and detained several times in this period.
- He continued his struggle against the regime. The government was exceptionally brutal and created a police state.
- A small group of army officials carried a military coup against the union government. This marked an end to union state. This was a proof of the failure of union government and it methods of ruling.
- Syria went through a full circle in a short period. A new period of struggle started and in the heart of it was a young ambitious Rifaat Al-Assad. He returned to working through the civil divisions of the Baath party.Rifaat Al-Assad resumed communication with the party leadership. Most of the military members of the party were dispersed in the country. Rifaat Al-Assad was responsible for resuming communication between the party leadership, indeed he did this with extreme success. His work paved the way for the 8th March 1963, which herald a new era before our beloved leader Rifaat Al-Assad.
- Rifaat Al-Assad graduated from the military academy and became a member of the revolution lieutenants. His work was greatly appreciated by the party’s civil leadership and the military’s revolutionary council. He was made responsible for defending the revolution security.
- This short period in the revolution made Rifaat Al-Assad mature. He was following developments, analyzing the situation and closely monitoring the emerging differences between party’s members.
Differences in the party grew and the party’s leadership divided civil and military. New names rose to prominence and the strife ended with the reform movement of 23 February 1966.
- The military wing of the Baath party came to power and cooperated with disenchanted civil members of the party. These members were especially not happy with the historical trio of “Michel Afleq, Salah Al-Bitar, Akram Horany”.
- General Hafiz Al-Assad became Minster of defense and military aviation. He believed in the Party’s unity and carried a month long discussion with all conflicting sides in attempt to resolve the disagreement. He decided to take a different route to the historical leadership when he realized that it was not possible to bridge the rift in the party.
- In that period Rifaat Al-Assad rose to prominence for various reasons:
- Rifaat Al-Assad overthrew President Amin Al-Hafiz, and was injured in due course.
- He led Saraya Al-Difaa (Special Forces) which had the role of defending the Baath party and the state.
- Rifaat Al-Assad became a Colonel in the Army and Saraya Al-Difaa grew in size.
Again differences emerged within the party leadership. This time between Salah Jadeed and president Nor Al-Din Al-Atassy on one side and General Hafiz Al-Assad Defense Minster in the other side. Hafiz Al-Assad opposed the rule of Jadeed and Atassy because they curbed people’s right and showed absolute disregard to human rights. Party members supported Hafiz Al-Assad’s reform attempts and he became a popular leader. His also popular brother Rifaat Al-Assad and Saraya Al-Difaa closely supported him. Saraya Al-Difaa trained and organized by Rifaat Al-Assad showed great courage and discipline. Their conduct was immaculate and humane.
The situation became unbearable and the Syria and Egypt lost the six days war. It was an embarrassing defeat. Which came as a result of total political, social and economical failure.
The aftermath of the war was a period of contemplation and analysis. President Gamal Abdul Naser reviewed his methods of rule, reorganized the army and acquired new weapons from the USSR. Naser started a long campaign of exhausting the Israeli army.
In Syria, General Hafiz Al-Assad expressed his views in support of democracy, rule of law and respecting the constitution in the national congress of the Socialist Arab Party. His attempts were in vein as the leadership did not respect or implement the assembly’s decision. He led reform movement of October 1970. This ushered a new era for the rise of our beloved knight Rifaat Al-Assad.