Air Force Intelligence Directorate

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,[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]

Air Force Intelligence Directorate
إدارة المخابرات الجوية
Idarat al-Mukhabarat al-Jawiyya
Agency overview
Formed1963
Preceding agency
JurisdictionGovernment of Syria
HeadquartersDamascus, Syria
Agency executives
  • Ghassan Jaoudat Ismail (2019–present), Director
  • Malik Ali Habib (2023–present), Deputy Director
Parent agencyMilitary of Syria

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] In 1995, it was headed by Ibrahim Huwayji.[5]

As of 2023, it is headed by Major General Ghassan Jaoudat Ismail.[6][7] Ghassan 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,[8] 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.

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.[9]

Directors
  • Muhammad al-Khuli (1963–1987)[10]
  • Ibrahim Huwayji (1987–2002)[10][11]
  • Iz a-Din Isma'il (2002 – 2005)[12]
  • Abdel-Fatah Qudsiyeh (2005 – 1 July 2009)[14][15]
  • Jamil Hassan (1 July 2009–7 July 2019)[7][15] was sanctioned by the European Union for being "involved in violence against the civilian population."[16][17]
    • 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."[16]
    • Head of Investigative branch: Maj. Gen. Abdulsalam Fajer Mahmoud (2011), accused of ordering or committing crimes against humanity by Human Rights Watch.[18][19]
    • Head of Special Operations branch: Maj. Gen. Ghassan Jaoudat Ismail (2011).[19]
    • Head of Operations branch: Col. Suheil Hassan (2011).[19]
  • Ghassan Jaoudat Ismail (8 July 2019–present)[6]
    • Deputy Director: Malik Ali Habib (July 2023–present)

Regional Directors
  • Damascus branch: Eyad Mandou (2012)[20]
  • Aleppo branch: Maj. Gen. Adib Salameh[21] (2012–2016)
  • Homs branch: Brig. Gen. Jawdat al-Ahmed (2012) accused of "ordering or committing crimes against humanity".[18]
  • Daraa branch: Col. Qusay Mihoub (2012) accused of "ordering or committing crimes against humanity".[18]
  • Latakia branch: Col. Suhail Al-Abdullah (2012) accused of "ordering or committing crimes against humanity".[18]

Paramilitary units
  • Guardians of the Dawn (disbanded in 2017)[22]
    • Lions of the Cherubim
    • Ararat Group
    • Lions of the Valley
    • Intervention Regiment
    • Lions of Dwel’a[23]
  • Khaybar Brigade (disbanded in 2017)[24]
  • Fawj Nusur (Leopards) of Homs (disbanded in 2018)[25]
  • Kata'ib al-Jabalawi of Homs (disbanded in 2018)[26]

Other Syrian intelligence agencies

References
  1. "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. "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. "Assad replaces high-ranking Intel chief". Al-Masdar News. 7 July 2019. Archived from the original on 11 July 2019.
  7. Al Hendi, Ahed (3 May 2011). "The Structure of Syria's Repression". ForeignAffairs.com.
  8. "Bashar al-Assad's inner circle". BBC News. 30 July 2012. Archived from the original on 31 July 2012.
  9. Ana Maria Luca; Nadine Elali (30 April 2011). "The Syrian uprising's refugees". NOW Lebanon. Archived from the original on 9 May 2011.
  10. 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.
  11. Gambil, Gary (February 2002). "The Military-Intelligence Shakeup in Syria". Middle East Intelligence Bulletin. 4 (2).
  12. 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.
  13. "Ali Mamluk: Syria's new security chief". Al-Ahram. AFP. 24 July 2012.
  14. "Syria's Assad 'reshuffles security chiefs'". UPI. 21 October 2010.
  15. "The Syrian President Reshuffles Security, Intelligence Leaders". 28 September 2010. Middle East Transparent. Archived from the original on 12 March 2012.
  16. "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.
  17. "Council Regulation concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Syria and repealing Regulation (EU) No 442/2011".
  18. "Torture Archipelago". Human Rights Watch (Press release). 3 July 2012. Retrieved 3 July 2012.
  19. 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.
  20. Syria: Turkish embassy closed, senior intel officer assassinated. Al Bawaba (26 March 2012). Retrieved on 12 April 2012.
  21. 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.
  22. Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi (14 December 2016). "Usud Al-Cherubim: A Pro-Assad Christian Militia". Syria Comment.
  23. Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi (24 December 2016). "The Fifth Legion: A New Auxiliary Force". Syria Comment.
  24. Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi (3 January 2016). "The Syrian National Resistance: Liwa Khaybar". Syria Comment.
  25. "The Leopards of Homs: A Pro-Assad Militia".
  26. "Kata'ib al-Jabalawi: A Pro-Assad Militia from Homs".
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