Political Security Directorate Explained

Agency Name:	Political Security Directorate
Nativename A:	Arabic: إدارة الأمن السياسي
Nativename R:	Idarat al-Amn al-Siyasi
Seal:	Coat of arms of Syria.svg
Jurisdiction:	Government of Syria
Headquarters:	Grand Serail, Kafr Sousa, Damascus, Syria
Chief1 Name:	Maj. Gen. Ghaith Shafeeq Deeb
Chief1 Position:	Director
Parent Agency:	Ministry of Interior

The Political Security Directorate (PSD, Arabic: إدارة الأمن السياسي|translit=Idarat al-Amn al-Siyasi) is an intelligence service of the Syrian government. It is divided into an Internal Security Department and an External Security Department.^[1] Intelligence division is affiliated to the Ministry of Interior. Its activities involve the surveillance of the satellite parties of National Progressive Front and is active against the Syrian opposition.^{[2] [3]} It monitors literature, print publications, political dissent, and all media outlets.^{[1] [4] [5]} This intelligence service has been headed by Major General Ghaith Shafeeq Deeb since February 5, 2021.^[6]

Organization

The Political Intelligence Directorate is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Interior.^[7] The MID is also controlled by the President Bashar al-Assad through the National Security Bureau of the Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party Central Command.^[8] It is divided into two departments:

• Internal Security Department (ISD)
• External Security Department (ESD)
  • Arab Affairs Branch
  • Refugee Affairs Branch
  • Zionist and Jewish Affairs Branch

Directors

• Ahmad Sa'id Salih (past—1987)^[9]
• Adnan Badr Hassan (1987–2002)^[10]
• Ghazi Kanaan (2002–2004)^[11]
• Muhammad Mansoura (2004–2009)^{[12] [13]}
• Mohammed Dib Zaitoun (2009 – 25 July 2012)^{[14] [15]}
• Rustum Ghazali (25 July 2012 – 24 April 2015)

• Head of Investigative branch: Brig. Gen. Makhmoud al-Khattib (2011).^[16]

• Head of Operations branch: Brig. Gen. Mohamed Heikmat Ibrahim (2011).^[16]
• Nasser Muhammad Al-Ali (24 April 2015–2017)
• Mohammad Khaled al-Rahmoun (2017–26 November 2018)^[17]
• Hossam Louka (26 November 2018–July 2019)
• Nasser Muhammad Al-Ali (July 2019–5 February 2021)^[18]
• Ghaith Shafeeq Deeb (5 February 2021–present)

Regional Directors

• Rif Dimashq branch: Brig. Gen. Sameer al-Sheikh (1993–2005)^[19]
• Daraa branch: Brig. Gen. Atef Najib (2011), the European Union sanctioned him for "being responsible for the violence against protesters in Daraa during the Syrian uprising".^[20] He was replaced by Brig. Gen. Nasser Al-Ali.^[16]

Other Syrian intelligence agencies

• General Intelligence Directorate
• Military Intelligence Directorate
• Air Force Intelligence Directorate

Notes and References

1. Web site: Herzliya Conference Bashar's Syria. 8 March 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20110723214138/http://www.herzliyaconference.org/_Uploads/2590Bashars.pdf. 23 July 2011. dead.
2. Web site: Syria, Intelligence and Security. Espionageinfo. 8 March 2013. 13 October 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20081013023339/http://www.espionageinfo.com/Sp-Te/Syria-Intelligence-and-Security.html. dead.
3. News: 30 July 2012 . Bashar al-Assad's inner circle . BBC News . https://web.archive.org/web/20220327062345/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-13216195 . 27 March 2022.
4. Book: Paul Todd. Jonathan Bloch. Global Intelligence: The World's Secret Services Today. 8 March 2013. 8 November 2003. Zed Books. 978-1-84277-113-6. 167.
5. News: 30 July 2012 . Bashar al-Assad's inner circle . BBC News . https://web.archive.org/web/20220327062345/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-13216195 . 27 March 2022.
6. News: Installing Major General Ghaith Shafiq Fayyad Deeb as Head of Political Security. 2021-12-02. Syria Today. ar. 2022-05-01. https://web.archive.org/web/20211202204753/https://syria-today.org/2021/12/02/%d8%aa%d8%ab%d8%a8%d9%8a%d8%aa-%d8%a7%d9%84%d9%84%d9%88%d8%a7%d8%a1-%d8%ba%d9%8a%d8%ab-%d8%b4%d9%81%d9%8a%d9%82-%d9%81%d9%8a%d8%a7%d8%b6-%d8%af%d9%8a%d8%a8-%d8%b1%d8%a6%d9%8a%d8%b3%d8%a7%d9%8b-%d9%84/.
7. Web site: John Pike . Syria Intelligence and Security Agencies . Globalsecurity.org . 2012-07-21.
8. [Robert G. Rabil]
9. Rathmell. Andrew. Syria's Intelligence Services: Origins and Development. The Journal of Conflict Studies. 1996. 16. 2. 8 March 2013.
10. Book: The Annual Register: A Record of World Events 2002 - Keesings Worldwide. 2002. 9781886994461. 8 March 2013. Worldwide. Keesings.
11. News: A rather convenient suicide. The Economist. 12 October 2005. 8 March 2013.
12. Web site: Bahjat Suleiman Moved along with Other Security Chiefs. Syria Comment. 19 June 2005. 8 March 2013.
13. Web site: Political security department. Cablegatesearch. 8 March 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131002122851/http://cablegatesearch.net/cable.php?id=09DAMASCUS168&q=political-security-department%20syria. 2 October 2013. dead.
14. News: Ahed Al Hendi. The Structure of Syria's Repression. Foreign Affairs. 3 May 2011. 8 March 2013.
15. News: Bashar al-Assad's inner circle. BBC. 30 July 2012. 8 March 2013.
16. Web site: By all means necessary. Human Rights Watch. 8 March 2013.
17. Web site: Jihad Yazigi . Who's Who: Major General Husam Muhammad Louka . The Syrian Observer . 2019-09-24 . 2023-03-08.
18. Web site: Syria Regime Appoints Ghaith Shafiq Fayyad Head of Political Security. 19 January 2024. 2 December 2021. The Syrian Observer.
19. https://x.com/putintintin1/status/1813302032876380440?t=yscr0b2pSjG4TRBtT6AZQA&s=19 Brigadier Sameer al-Sheikh from Idlib was serving in political security branch in Damascus countryside governorate circa 1993-2005
20. Joint Proposal for a COUNCIL REGULATION concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Syria and repealing Regulation (EU) No 442/2011. EuroLex. 2011. 52011PC0887. 10 March 2012.