He was the first in his family to attend high school , but in Latakia Assad faced Sunni anti-Alawite bias .
Hafez left his Alawite village , beginning his education at age nine in Sunni - dominated Latakia .
Hafez was the first in Hafez 's family to attend high school , but in Latakia Assad faced Sunni anti-Alawite bias .
Hafez left his Alawite village , beginning his education at age nine in Sunni - dominated Latakia .