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]
| إدارة المخابرات الجوية Idarat al-Mukhabarat al-Jawiyya | |
 | |
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1963 |
| Preceding agency | |
| Jurisdiction | Government of Syria |
| Headquarters | Defense Ministry headquarters, Umayyad Square, Damascus, Syria |
| Agency executives |
|
| Parent agency | Ministry of Defense |
History edit
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][8]
As of 2023, it is headed by Major General Ghassan Jaoudat Ismail since 2019.[9][10] 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,[11] 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 edit
- Muhammad al-Khuli (1963–1987)[12]
- Ibrahim Huwayji (1987–2002)[12][13]
- Iz a-Din Isma'il (2002 – 2005)[14]
- Deputy Director: Ali Mamlouk (2003 – June 2005)[15]
- Abdel-Fatah Qudsiyeh (2005 – 1 July 2009)[16][17]
- Jamil Hassan (1 July 2009–7 July 2019)[10][17] was sanctioned by the European Union for being "involved in violence against the civilian population."[18][19]
- Deputy Director: Ghassan Jaoudat Ismail (2012–2019)
- Deputy Director: Fu'ad Tawil (2012) was sanctioned by European Union for "the use of violence across Syria and intimidation and torture of protestors."[18]
- Head of Investigative branch: Maj. Gen. Abdulsalam Fajer Mahmoud (2011), accused of ordering or committing crimes against humanity by Human Rights Watch.[20][21]
- Head of Special Operations branch: Maj. Gen. Ghassan Jaoudat Ismail (2011).[21]
- Head of Operations branch: Col. Suheil Hassan (2011).[21]
- Ghassan Jaoudat Ismail (8 July 2019–present)[9]
- Deputy Director: Malik Ali Habib (July 2023–present)
Regional Directors edit
- Damascus branch: Eyad Mandou (2012)[22]
- Aleppo branch: Maj. Gen. Adib Salameh[23] (2012–2016)
- Hama branch: Col. Duraid Awad (2024–present)
- Homs branch: Brig. Gen. Radwan Saqqar (2024–present)
- Brig. Gen. Jawdat al-Ahmed (2012) accused of "ordering or committing crimes against humanity".[20]
- Latakia branch: Brig. Gen. Rami Ismail (2024–present)
- Col. Suhail Al-Abdullah (2012) accused of "ordering or committing crimes against humanity".[20]
- Qamishli branch: Brig. Gen. Fouad Suleiman (2024–present)
- Daraa branch: Col. Qusay Mihoub (2012) accused of "ordering or committing crimes against humanity".[20]
Paramilitary units edit
Other Syrian intelligence agencies edit
References edit
- ^ a b "Syria, Intelligence and Security". Espionageinfo.com. Archived from the original on 13 October 2008. Retrieved 13 October 2008.
- ^ "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.
- ^ a b "Syria's Intelligence Services: A Primer". Meib.org. July 2000. Archived from the original on 22 December 2008.
- ^ "NSNL 61 – Intelligence profile : Syria". cvni.net. 3 June 2003. Archived from the original on 17 November 2007. Retrieved 13 October 2008.
- ^ Zisser, Eyal (September 1995). "The Succession Struggle in Damascus – Middle East Quarterly". Middle East Quarterly. Meforum.org. Retrieved 13 October 2008.
- ^ Ana Maria Luca; Nadine Elali (30 April 2011). "The Syrian uprising's refugees". NOW Lebanon. Archived from the original on 9 May 2011.
- ^ "First circle". France 24. Archived from the original on 4 June 2013. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
- ^ "رؤوس جديدة لأجهزة الأمن السورية". روسيا اليوم. 7 July 2019. Archived from the original on 9 December 2019.
- ^ a b "Assad replaces high-ranking Intel chief". Al-Masdar News. 7 July 2019. Archived from the original on 11 July 2019.
- ^ a b Al Hendi, Ahed (3 May 2011). "The Structure of Syria's Repression". ForeignAffairs.com.
- ^ "Bashar al-Assad's inner circle". BBC News. 30 July 2012. Archived from the original on 31 July 2012.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Gambil, Gary (February 2002). "The Military-Intelligence Shakeup in Syria". Middle East Intelligence Bulletin. 4 (2).
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Ali Mamluk: Syria's new security chief". Al-Ahram. AFP. 24 July 2012.
- ^ "Syria's Assad 'reshuffles security chiefs'". UPI. 21 October 2010.
- ^ a b "The Syrian President Reshuffles Security, Intelligence Leaders". 28 September 2010. Middle East Transparent. Archived from the original on 12 March 2012.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Council Regulation concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Syria and repealing Regulation (EU) No 442/2011".
- ^ a b c d "Torture Archipelago". Human Rights Watch (Press release). 3 July 2012. Retrieved 3 July 2012.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Syria: Turkish embassy closed, senior intel officer assassinated. Al Bawaba (26 March 2012). Retrieved on 12 April 2012.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi (14 December 2016). "Usud Al-Cherubim: A Pro-Assad Christian Militia". Syria Comment.
- ^ Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi (24 December 2016). "The Fifth Legion: A New Auxiliary Force". Syria Comment.
- ^ Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi (3 January 2016). "The Syrian National Resistance: Liwa Khaybar". Syria Comment.
- ^ "The Leopards of Homs: A Pro-Assad Militia".
- ^ "Kata'ib al-Jabalawi: A Pro-Assad Militia from Homs".