Following his absence at a high-level meeting in July 2012 , Sharaa was rumored to either be under house-arrest , or to have fled to Jordan . These reports came amidst a wave of fugitives from the Assad government after an increase in violence in the Syrian civil war . However , these reports were proven to be false , since Sharaa represented Bashar al-Assad at the funerals of three senior officials assassinated on 18 July 2012 in Damascus
assassinated on 18 July 2012
18 July 2012 Damascus bombing
Farouk al-Sharaa