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The Air Force Intelligence Directorate (Arabic: إدارة المخابرات الجوية, romanized: Idarat al-Mukhabarat al-Jawiyya) is an intelligence service of Syria, possibly the country's most powerful agency,[1] owing its importance to Hafez al-Assad's role as the Air Force commander.[1] Despite its name, it is mainly involved with issues other than air force intelligence,[2] and took an active part in the suppression of the Muslim Brotherhood rebellion in the 1980s.[3] Agents of this service have frequently been stationed in Syrian embassies or branch offices of the national airline.[4]

History

The service was headed for nearly thirty years by Maj. Gen. Muhammad al-Khuli, who was trusted by Hafez al-Assad and had an office adjacent to the president's in the presidential palace.[3] Between 1987 and 2002, it was headed by Ibrahim Huwayji.[5] The service also took part in the efforts to put down the 2011 Syrian uprising against Bashar al-Assad's government. It is known to have been active in the town of Talkalakh near the Lebanese border.[6] From 2009 until July 2019, the agency was headed by Major General Jamil Hassan, who is from Alawite sect.[7]

As of 2023, it is headed by Major General Ghassan Jaoudat Ismail since 2019.[8][9] Ghassan Jaoudat Ismail previously served as a security official in the eastern governorate of Deir ez-Zor. He is a part of Bashar al-Assad's inner circle,[10] though he has criticized "the decision of the leadership" to not immediately crush the 2011 Syrian uprising in its very beginning, making him a hardliner in the Syrian leadership.

Directors

Regional Directors

  • Damascus branch: Brig. Gen. Ahmed Shaaban Muhammad (2024–present)[22]
    • Eyad Mandou (2012)[23]
  • Aleppo branch: Maj. Gen. Adib Salameh[24] (2012–2016)
  • Hama branch: Col. Duraid Awad (2024–present)[25]
  • Homs branch: Brig. Gen. Radwan Saqqar (2024–present)[25]
    • Brig. Gen. Jawdat al-Ahmed (2012) accused of "ordering or committing crimes against humanity".[19]
  • Latakia branch: Brig. Gen. Rami Ismail (2024–present)
    • Col. Suhail Al-Abdullah (2012) accused of "ordering or committing crimes against humanity".[19]
  • Qamishli branch: Brig. Gen. Fouad Suleiman (2024–present)[26]
  • Daraa branch: Col. Qusay Mihoub (2012) accused of "ordering or committing crimes against humanity".[19]

Paramilitary units

Other Syrian intelligence agencies

References

  1. ^ a b "Syria, Intelligence and Security". Espionageinfo.com. Archived from the original on 13 October 2008. Retrieved 13 October 2008.
  2. ^ "Le rapport Mehlis : la Syrie et de hauts responsables libanais officiellement impliqués dans l'assassinat de Rafic Hariri" [The Mehlis report: Syria and senior Lebanese officials officially implicated in the assassination of Rafic Hariri]. Desinfos.com. 21 October 2005. Archived from the original on 13 January 2006.
  3. ^ a b "Syria's Intelligence Services: A Primer". Meib.org. July 2000. Archived from the original on 22 December 2008.
  4. ^ "NSNL 61 – Intelligence profile : Syria". cvni.net. 3 June 2003. Archived from the original on 17 November 2007. Retrieved 13 October 2008.
  5. ^ Zisser, Eyal (September 1995). "The Succession Struggle in Damascus – Middle East Quarterly". Middle East Quarterly. Meforum.org. Retrieved 13 October 2008.
  6. ^ Ana Maria Luca; Nadine Elali (30 April 2011). "The Syrian uprising's refugees". NOW Lebanon. Archived from the original on 9 May 2011.
  7. ^ "First circle". France 24. Archived from the original on 4 June 2013. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
  8. ^ a b "Assad replaces high-ranking Intel chief". Al-Masdar News. 7 July 2019. Archived from the original on 11 July 2019.
  9. ^ a b Al Hendi, Ahed (3 May 2011). "The Structure of Syria's Repression". ForeignAffairs.com.
  10. ^ "Bashar al-Assad's inner circle". BBC News. 30 July 2012. Archived from the original on 31 July 2012.
  11. ^ a b Rathmell, Andrew (Fall 1997). "Syria's Intelligence Services: Origins and Development". Journal of Conflict Studies. XVI (2). Archived from the original on 22 July 2011.
  12. ^ Gambil, Gary (February 2002). "The Military-Intelligence Shakeup in Syria". Middle East Intelligence Bulletin. 4 (2).
  13. ^ Bar, Shmuel (2006). "Bashar's Syria: The Regime and its Strategic Worldview" (PDF). Comparative Strategy. 25 (5): 424. doi:10.1080/01495930601105412. S2CID 154739379. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 July 2011.
  14. ^ "Ali Mamluk: Syria's new security chief". Al-Ahram. AFP. 24 July 2012.
  15. ^ "Syria's Assad 'reshuffles security chiefs'". UPI. 21 October 2010.
  16. ^ a b "The Syrian President Reshuffles Security, Intelligence Leaders". 28 September 2010. Middle East Transparent. Archived from the original on 12 March 2012.
  17. ^ a b "Council Regulation (EU) No 36/2012 of 18 January 2012 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Syria and repealing Regulation (EU) No 442/2011". Eur-lex.europa.eu. 18 January 2012. Document 32012R0036. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
  18. ^ "Council Regulation concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Syria and repealing Regulation (EU) No 442/2011".
  19. ^ a b c d "Torture Archipelago". Human Rights Watch (Press release). 3 July 2012. Retrieved 3 July 2012.
  20. ^ a b c Neistat, Anna; (Organization), Human Rights Watch (December 2011). "By All Means Necessary" Individual and Command Responsibility for Crimes against Humanity in Syria (PDF). Human Rights Watch. ISBN 978-1-56432-842-7.
  21. ^ Ayman Al-Das (9 May 2024). "5. Brigadier General Muhammad Bilal, brother of Major General Ghassan Bilal (Head of the #Security_Office at the #4th_Division) has been appointed as the head of #Special_Task Forces Branch in #Air_Force Intelligence". Twitter. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  22. ^ Ayman Al-Das (9 May 2024). "4.Brigadier General Ahmed Shaaban Muhammad as a head of the #Damascus_Branch of the air force's intelligence service". Twitter. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  23. ^ Syria: Turkish embassy closed, senior intel officer assassinated. Al Bawaba (26 March 2012). Retrieved on 12 April 2012.
  24. ^ Szakola, Albin (26 September 2016). "Notorious Aleppo intelligence chief moved from post". NOW. Archived from the original on 3 October 2018. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
  25. ^ a b Ayman Al-Das (9 May 2024). "New appointments in the #Air_force_intelligence: 1. Brigadier General Radwan Saqar as a head of the Homs Branch of the air force's intelligence service, 2. Colonel Duraid E Awad as a head of the Hama Branch of the air force's intelligence service". Twitter. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  26. ^ Ayman Al-Das (9 May 2024). "3. Brigadier General Fouad Suleiman as a head of the Qamishli Branch of the air force's intelligence service". Twitter. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  27. ^ Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi (14 December 2016). "Usud Al-Cherubim: A Pro-Assad Christian Militia". Syria Comment.
  28. ^ Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi (24 December 2016). "The Fifth Legion: A New Auxiliary Force". Syria Comment.
  29. ^ Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi (3 January 2016). "The Syrian National Resistance: Liwa Khaybar". Syria Comment.
  30. ^ "The Leopards of Homs: A Pro-Assad Militia".
  31. ^ "Kata'ib al-Jabalawi: A Pro-Assad Militia from Homs".
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