Syrian President Bashar Assad will be face of new bank note

BEIRUT — A new 2,000 Syrian Lira ($3.9) bank note with the face of President Bashar Assad will go into circulation Sunday, the Syrian Central Bank announced.

The notes are the first time Syria will depict President Bashar Assad on its currency since he took office 17 years ago.

Assad’s face appears on the new banknotes at a time when his government is boasting military successes against the armed rebellion across the country. The currency previously only carried images of historic icons or pictures of his father, Hafez Assad.

Central Bank Governor Duraid Durgham said the new bank notes will go into circulation starting Sunday “due to the wear and tear” affecting currency currently in circulation.