Kunyange zvazvo Syria yakanga ine ukama hwakanaka neSoviet Union, Assad akatanga kutendeukira kuMadokero mukupera kwema1980, achiona kuti Iraq yakabatsirwa sei muhondo yayo neIran. Akabvuma kujoina mubatanidzwa waitungamirirwa neUnited States mukurwisana neIraq muHondo yeGulf muna 1991. Akaramba achirangarira Israeri somuvengi mukuru womunzvimbomo. Pakupera kwemusangano worugare weMiddle East wa1991, Assad akasimbirira pachibvumirano che"nyika nokuda kworugare", achida kuti Israeri ibve muGolan Heights. Assad akaona chibvumirano chaSeptember 1993 cheIsrael nePLO<unk>chakapedza "intifada yekutanga"
" (kuramba) muNzvimbo Dzakagarwa pasina kupa vaPalestine chero zvikomborero zvakakosha" uye ukama huri kuramba huchiwedzera hune ushamwari pakati peIsrael neJordani sekudzokera shure.