Air Force Intelligence Directorate
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 |
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
- Muhammad al-Khuli (1963–1987)[11]
- Ibrahim Huwayji (1987–2002)[11][12]
- Iz a-Din Isma'il (2002 – 2005)[13]
- Deputy Director: Ali Mamlouk (2003 – June 2005)[14]
- Abdel-Fatah Qudsiyeh (2005 – 1 July 2009)[15][16]
- Jamil Hassan (1 July 2009–7 July 2019)[9][16] was sanctioned by the European Union for being "involved in violence against the civilian population."[17][18]
- 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."[17]
- Head of Investigative Branch: Maj. Gen. Abdulsalam Fajer Mahmoud (2011), accused of ordering or committing crimes against humanity by Human Rights Watch.[19][20]
- Head of Special Operations Branch: Maj. Gen. Ghassan Jaoudat Ismail (2011).[20]
- Head of Operations Branch: Col. Suheil Hassan (2011).[20]
- Ghassan Jaoudat Ismail (8 July 2019–present)[8]
- Deputy Director: Malik Ali Habib (July 2023–present)
- Head of Special Operations Branch: Brig. Gen. Mohammed Nafie Bilal (May 2024–present)[21]
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
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