Syria’s British-born first lady, Asma al-Assad, has breast cancer

Asma al-Assad, the British-born wife of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, has been diagnosed with breast cancer, the president’s office has announced via its social media accounts.

The postings included a photograph of the first lady with an IV line in her arm and smiling at her husband, who is sitting next to her, while apparently undergoing treatment in a hospital.

“With strength and confidence and faith, Mrs Asma al-Assad begins the preliminary stage of treatment for a malignant tumour in the breast that was discovered early,” the statement said. “From its heart, the presidency and all those who work in it wish Mrs Asma a speedy recovery.”

Later Wednesday, the presidency posted another photo of the first lady walking, carrying a laptop in one hand and a cup in the other. Her left wrist was bandaged.

“I belong to the [Syrian] people who taught the world steadfastness, strength and how to face difficulties,” read the caption in Arabic. “My determination comes from your determination and strength in the past years.”

The public acknowledgement is a rare disclosure of a serious health matter in the top echelons of an Arab state. Ailing autocrats in the region usually treat such issues as grave national security secrets. The long illness of the president’s father, Hafez, who ruled Syria for decades, was a closely guarded secret even as he appeared frailer in public in the last months of his life.