Aslan commanded 5th mechanized infantry in 1973. At the beginning of the 1980s Aslan was deputy chief of staff and head of operations. After the
death of Hafez al-Assad in 2000, a 9-member committee was formed to oversee the transition period, and Aslan was among its members. In addition, he became a member of the Baath Party's central committee in the Summer of 2000. Aslan was one of the senior officials, who contributed to secure the rule of
Bashar al-Assad. However, he was relieved from his post as chief of staff by Bashar al-Assad in January 2002, as part of the younger president's program of reform regarding personnel changes. Aslan was later appointed military advisor to the president. In June 2005, Aslan was removed from the central committee of the Baath Party, and he retired from politics. His nephew Qusay was married to Bashar al-Assad's cousin, Falak Jamil, but they divorced. ==Honours==