| General Security Directorate | |
|---|---|
| Idarat al-Amn al-Amm | |
| إدارة الأمن العام | |
| Agency overview | |
| Formed | 1971 |
| Jurisdiction | Government of Syria |
| Headquarters | Damascus, Syria |
| Agency executive | Zouheir Hamad (2010 - present), Director |
| Parent agency | Independent |
The General Security Directorate (Arabic: إدارة الأمن العام, Idarat al-Amn al-Amm) is the most important civil intelligence service of Syria.[1]
Contents |
Its divisions are:
It belongs to the jurisdiction of the ministry of the interior.[3]
In 2001 Hisham Bakhtiar became the head of Idarat al-Amn al-Amm, replacing Ali Hammoud, who became minister of the interior.[4] General Bakhtiar is close to Bashar al-Assad's brother-in-law Assef Shawkat.[5] In the late 20th century Maj. Gen Ali Houri was director of Idarat al-Amn al-Amm.[6] The service was in competition with Idarat al-Amn al-Siyasi in the late 20th century.[7] Gen. Ghazi Kanaan possibly headed international security of Idarat al-Amn al-Amm in the late 20th century.[6] In 2005, President Bashar al-Assad appointed General Ali Mamluk as commander of the General Security Directorate, a position which he still holds. In April 2011, the US government imposed sanctions on Gen Mamluk, saying he had been responsible for human rights abuses, including through the use of violence against civilians. His agency had repressed internal dissent, monitored individual citizens, and had been "involved in the Syrian regime's actions in Deraa, where protesters were killed by Syrian security services", it alleged. The next month, the EU also imposed sanctions on Gen Mamluk, saying he had been involved in efforts to crush anti-government protesters. A Sunni, he is said to be on good terms with all of Syria's intelligence agencies - the heads of Air Force Intelligence and the Political Security Directorate were once his assistants. He's a part of Bashar al-Assad's inner circle.[8]
Adnan Babagh (1971 - )[9]
Ali Hadani (1970s)[9]
Nazih Zirayr ( - 1983)[10]
Fu'ad Absi (1983 - 1987)[10]
Majid Sa'id (1987 - 1994)[10][11]
Bashir an-Najjar (1994 - 1998)[11]
Ali Houri (1998 - 2001)[6][4]
Ali Hammoud (2001)[4]
Hisham Ikhtiyar (2001 - 2005)[12]
Ali Mamluk (2005 - 2010)[12][13]
Zouheir Hamad (2010 - present)[13]
Political Security Directorate
Military Intelligence
Air Force Intelligence Directorate
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