Feed MRSS-S ahmed_al_shara_a, english.elpais.com en-us https://english.elpais.com Tue, 10 Feb 2026 11:38:30 GMT https://english.elpais.com/international/2026-02-10/from-havana-to-damascus-the-story-of-rebel-commander-bachar-alkaderi.html Tue, 10 Feb 2026 11:38:30 GMT https://english.elpais.com/international/2026-02-10/from-havana-to-damascus-the-story-of-rebel-commander-bachar-alkaderi.html Andrés Mourenza The Syrian surgeon, trained in Cuba, warns that, after the overthrow of the Assad regime, ‘the revolution must be protected from its own children’ The Syrian surgeon, trained in Cuba, warns that, after the overthrow of the Assad regime, ‘the revolution must be protected from its own children’ Cuba Irán Ahmed al Shara Cedida (EL PAÍS) Bachar Alkaderi y otros rebeldes Bachar Alkaderi (fourth from left) and other rebels from Deraa in the Damascus neighborhood of Kafr Susa, after taking a position occupied by Iranian forces on December 8, 2024, when the Assad regime was overthrown. Bachar Alkaderi (fourth from left) and other rebels from Deraa in the Damascus neighborhood of Kafr Susa, after taking a position occupied by Iranian forces on December 8, 2024, when the Assad regime was overthrown. <img src="https://images.english.elpais.com/resizer/v2/WGALNDVDEBCBNJDRULJ7FHTY74.jpeg?auth=82a8f9f7f4c0ca7485b9ccce894584790e29224a2cd0ab5f19c3f2a0c9b12cf7" width="1284" height="843" alt="Bachar Alkaderi (fourth from left) and other rebels from Deraa in the Damascus neighborhood of Kafr Susa, after taking a position occupied by Iranian forces on December 8, 2024, when the Assad regime was overthrown."></img><p>Among the rebels who, on December 8, entered Damascus and<a href="https://english.elpais.com/international/2024-12-10/the-factions-that-overthrew-assad-in-syria-who-they-are-and-why-they-are-a-difficult-fit.html" target="_self" rel="" title="https://english.elpais.com/international/2024-12-10/the-factions-that-overthrew-assad-in-syria-who-they-are-and-why-they-are-a-difficult-fit.html"> put an end to almost 14 years of conflict</a> and the Assad family regime — one of the cruellest and longest-lasting in the Middle East — was one who spoke Spanish with a slight Caribbean accent. Dr. Bachar Alkaderi, a graduate of the University of Medical Sciences of Havana, specializing in general and thoracic surgery, became, through the twists of fate and history, a revolutionary commander.</p><p><a href="https://english.elpais.com/international/2026-02-10/from-havana-to-damascus-the-story-of-rebel-commander-bachar-alkaderi.html" target="_blank">Seguir leyendo</a></p><img src="https://images.english.elpais.com/resizer/v2/SFWVUE2ENNFJTKTFZFDOWR3JSI.jpg?auth=20a422b0f27840eae38d120084715f3edd1b066748bfcc4f2adb7111350d89a4" width="1024" height="1536" alt="Bachar Alkaderi after receiving his degree from the University of Medical Sciences in Havana."></img>