The soldiers were predominantly Alawites, the sectarian community of the Assad family.

A shoot-out among the Assad family, perhaps, when they realise the current strategy isn't working and they can't agree on what to do next.

The rest of the Ba'ath party, which is run largely be the Assad family and others from their community?

Malek al-Assad was the first known smuggler in the Assad family.

During its decades of rule... the Assad family developed a strong political safety net by firmly integrating the military into the government.

But the Assad family does not believe in taking chances-they're very hard bargainers.

The oppositions have problem with the Assad family only!!

Many members of the Assad family have served in the Republican Guard.

How did first the Ba'athists and then the faction associated with the Assad family become the government of Syria?

Impose a travel ban not on 13 people when 800 are killed, but on the whole Assad family and declare what is very important.