Air Force Intelligence Directorate Explained

Agency Name:Air Force Intelligence Directorate
Nativename A:Arabic: إدارة المخابرات الجوية
Nativename R:Idarat al-Mukhabarat al-Jawiyya
Seal:Air_Force_Intelligence_Directorate_(emblem).png
Formed:1963
Preceding1:Deuxième Bureau
Jurisdiction:Government of Syria
Headquarters:Defense Ministry headquarters, Umayyad Square, Damascus, Syria
Chief1 Name:Ghassan Jaoudat Ismail (2019–present)
Chief1 Position:Director
Chief2 Name:Malik Ali Habib (2023–present)
Chief2 Position:Deputy Director
Parent Agency:Ministry of Defense

The Air Force Intelligence Directorate (Arabic: إدارة المخابرات الجوية|translit=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. Agents of this service have frequently been stationed in Syrian embassies or branch offices of the national airline.[3]

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.[4] 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

Paramilitary units

Other Syrian intelligence agencies

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Syria, Intelligence and Security . Espionageinfo.com . 13 October 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20081013023339/http://www.espionageinfo.com/Sp-Te/Syria-Intelligence-and-Security.html. 13 October 2008 . live.
  2. Web site: 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 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20060113204637/http://www.desinfos.com/article.php?id_article=3899 . 13 January 2006 .
  3. Web site: NSNL 61 – Intelligence profile : Syria . cvni.net . 3 June 2003 . 13 October 2008 . dead . 17 November 2007 . https://web.archive.org/web/20071117072538/http://www.cvni.net/radio/nsnl/nsnl061/nsnl61sy.html.
  4. Web site: Syria's Intelligence Services: A Primer . July 2000 . Meib.org. dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20081222192442/http://www.meib.org/articles/0007_s3.htm . 22 December 2008 .
  5. The Succession Struggle in Damascus – Middle East Quarterly . Middle East Quarterly . September 1995 . Meforum.org . 13 October 2008. Zisser . Eyal .
  6. News: The Syrian uprising's refugees. Ana Maria Luca. Nadine Elali. 30 April 2011. NOW Lebanon. https://web.archive.org/web/20110509235320/http://www.nowlebanon.com/NewsArticleDetails.aspx?ID=265995. 9 May 2011. dead.
  7. News: First circle. 9 February 2013. France 24. https://web.archive.org/web/20130604004002/http://www.france24.com/static/infographies/syrie_garde/en/garde_bachar_en_04.swf. 4 June 2013. dead.
  8. Web site: Assad replaces high-ranking Intel chief. Al-Masdar News. 7 July 2019. 11 July 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190711044534/https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/assad-sacks-high-ranking-intel-chief-with-close-iranian-ties/. live.
  9. The Structure of Syria's Repression. Ahed. Al Hendi. 3 May 2011 . ForeignAffairs.com . subscription.
  10. Web site: Bashar al-Assad's inner circle . BBC News . 30 July 2012 . live . 31 July 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120731142604/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-13216195.
  11. Rathmell . Andrew . Syria's Intelligence Services: Origins and Development . Journal of Conflict Studies . Fall 1997 . XVI . 2 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110722183222/http://www.lib.unb.ca/Texts/JCS/bin/get.cgi?directory=J97%2Farticles%2F&filename=RATHMELLwp1.htm . 22 July 2011 . live .
  12. Gambil. Gary. The Military-Intelligence Shakeup in Syria. Middle East Intelligence Bulletin. Feb 2002. 4. 2.
  13. Bar . Shmuel . Bashar's Syria: The Regime and its Strategic Worldview . Comparative Strategy . 2006 . 25 . 5 . 424 . 10.1080/01495930601105412 . 154739379 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110723214138/http://www.herzliyaconference.org/_Uploads/2590Bashars.pdf . 23 July 2011 .
  14. Web site: Ali Mamluk: Syria's new security chief . . . 24 July 2012.
  15. News: Syria's Assad 'reshuffles security chiefs'. UPI. 21 October 2010.
  16. Web site: The Syrian President Reshuffles Security, Intelligence Leaders. 28 September 2010. Middle East Transparent. https://web.archive.org/web/20120312023146/http://www.metransparent.com/spip.php?article11370. 12 March 2012. dead.
  17. Web site: 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 . Document 32012R0036 . Eur-lex.europa.eu . 18 January 2012 . 26 December 2022.
  18. Web site: Council Regulation concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Syria and repealing Regulation (EU) No 442/2011.
  19. Book: "By All Means Necessary" Individual and Command Responsibility for Crimes against Humanity in Syria . December 2011 . 978-1-56432-842-7 . Neistat . Anna . (Organization) . Human Rights Watch . Human Rights Watch .
  20. Web site: 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. Ayman Al-Das. 9 May 2024. 16 May 2024.
  21. Web site: 4.Brigadier General Ahmed Shaaban Muhammad as a head of the #Damascus_Branch of the air force's intelligence service.. Twitter. Ayman Al-Das. 9 May 2024. 16 May 2024.
  22. http://www.albawaba.com/main-headlines/syria-turkish-embassy-closed-senior-intel-office-assassinated-418505 Syria: Turkish embassy closed, senior intel officer assassinated
  23. Web site: Notorious Aleppo intelligence chief moved from post. Albin. Szakola. 26 September 2016. NOW.. 27 September 2016. 3 October 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181003112743/https://now.mmedia.me/lb/en/NewsReports/567381-notorious-aleppo-intelligence-chief-moved-from-post. dead.
  24. Web site: 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. Ayman Al-Das. 9 May 2024. 16 May 2024.
  25. Torture Archipelago. 3 July 2012. Human Rights Watch. 3 July 2012.
  26. Web site: 3. Brigadier General Fouad Suleiman as a head of the Qamishli Branch of the air force's intelligence service.. Twitter. Ayman Al-Das. 9 May 2024. 16 May 2024.
  27. Web site: Usud Al-Cherubim: A Pro-Assad Christian Militia. Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi. Syria Comment. 14 December 2016.
  28. Web site: The Fifth Legion: A New Auxiliary Force. Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi. Syria Comment. 24 December 2016.
  29. Web site: The Syrian National Resistance: Liwa Khaybar. Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi. Syria Comment. 3 January 2016.
  30. Web site: The Leopards of Homs: A Pro-Assad Militia.
  31. Web site: Kata'ib al-Jabalawi: A Pro-Assad Militia from Homs.

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