Maher Hafez al-Assad, born on December 8, 1967, is a Syrian military officer who rose to the rank of Major General and served as the younger brother of former President Bashar al-Assad. He was raised out of the public spotlight in Syria, received his secondary education at the Academy of Freedom School, and studied business administration at Damascus University before pursuing a military career. Maher commanded key regime-loyal forces including the elite 4th Armoured Division and the Republican Guard, units that along with Military Intelligence formed the core of the Assad regime's security forces. As a member of the Central Committee of the Syrian Ba'ath Party, he played a significant role in maintaining the family's grip on power.

During the Syrian Civil War starting in 2011, Maher's forces were instrumental in suppressing anti-government protests and combating opposition groups. His divisions were accused of committing war crimes, including the use of indiscriminate artillery barrages on civilian areas, torture, and extrajudicial killings, particularly in operations around Damascus and Homs. International reports and human rights organizations, such as Human Rights Watch, have alleged his direct involvement in these atrocities, leading to sanctions from the United States, European Union, and others designating him as a key perpetrator of regime violence. Critics have also linked him to drug trafficking networks, including the production and export of Captagon, though these claims remain under investigation.

The collapse of the Assad regime in December 2024 marked the end of Maher's formal military command. Reports indicate he may have fled Syria amid the regime's fall, with his current whereabouts unknown. His role in the regime has cemented his reputation as a controversial figure central to the network of influence that sustained the Assad family's rule for decades.