Ali Abdullah Ayyoub

Ali Abdullah Ayyoub
Chief of the General Staff of the Army and the Armed Forces
Incumbent
Assumed office 18 July 2012
President	Bashar al-Assad
Defense Minister	Fahd Jassem al-Freij
Preceded by	Fahd Jassem al-Freij
Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Army and the Armed Forces
In office Unknown – 18 July 2012
Defense Minister	Dawoud Rajiha
Chief of Staff	Fahd Jassem al-Freij
Succeeded by	Bassam Najm el-Din Antakiali
Personal details
Religion	Alawite
Military service
Allegiance	Syria
Service/branch	Syrian Arab Army
Years of service	1972-
Rank	Lieutenant General
Unit	14th Engineering Batallion
Commands	Chief of Staff Deputy Chief of Staff 5th Armoured Division 112th Mechanized Brigade
Battles/wars	Battle of Aleppo (2012–present) Rif Dimashq Governorate campaign 2014 Latakia offensive

Lt. General Ali Abdullah Ayyoub (Arabic: علي عبد الله أيوب‎) is a senior Syrian military commander and current Chief of the General Staff of the Syrian Arab Army. He was appointed by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on 18 July 2012 during the Syrian civil war.

The appointment of Ayyoub as Chief of the General Staff was a result of Fahd Jassem al-Freij promotion to the post of Defense Minister and Deputy Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, in the wake of the 2012 Damascus bombing.^[1]

Ayyoub previously served as Deputy Chief of the General Staff, with responsibility for the co-ordination and movements of Syrian Army units during the Syrian civil war. As a result, he was seen as a logistical key during the early crackdown of protests.^[2]

Ayyoub is actively involved in government efforts to retake and re-assert army control in the rebel-held areas of Damascus and Aleppo.^[3]

References