Ancestral appearance: [Description/Images of Natufian Hunters]
Iranian Neolithic Farmers
Ancestral appearance: [Description/Images of Iranian Neolithic Farmers]
Ancestral Sources of Levant Arabs (e.g., Syrians):
Natufian Hunters and Iranian Neolithic Farmers
Contribute to 50% of Syrian ancestry.
Caucasus Hunter Gatherers
Contribute to around 9% of Syrian ancestry.
Ancestral appearance: [Description/Images of Caucasus Hunter Gatherers]
Neolithic Farmers from Anatolia
Contribute to 40% of Syrian ancestry.
These farmers also migrated to Europe during the Neolithic.
Their DNA is prevalent in all Europeans, particularly Southern Europeans.
Ancestral Characteristics of Alawites:
Alawites, the ethnic group from which Bashar Assad stems, have an even higher proportion of these European-linked ancestries compared to more general Syrian populations.
Conclusion:
The ancestry of Syrians, and particularly Alawites, includes significant contributions from groups that also populated Europe, explaining their shared genetic traits with Europeans, including lighter skin tones.
This genetic background provides an explanation as to why some Syrians, including resistance fighters and political figures like Assad, may appear physically similar to Europeans.