I remember when bashar Al assad first arrived on the scene in 2000 I had my suspicion about him as a lot fitted age etc and also that he was an eye surgeon but when he was rejected and looked like he had lost all power I forgot about him..too my surprise he has now been welcomed back to the Arab league and how well does that fit the above title quote...I'll be watching him especially if it looks like he will get involved with any Russia Ukraine peace deals..
I don't think Bashar al-Assad is the antichrist, but when I read your thread, I remembered that some scholars say that the false messiah will come from the region that encompassed ancient Assyria.