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Military Intelligence Directorate (Syria)

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Military Intelligence Directorate
شعبة المخابرات العسكرية
Shu'bat al-Mukhabarat al-'Askariyya
Agency overview
Formed1945 (first)
1969 (second)
Preceding agency
  • Second Bureau
Dissolved1969 (first)
8 December 2024 (second de facto)
29 January 2025 (second de jure)[1]
Superseding agency
JurisdictionGovernment of Syria
HeadquartersDefense Ministry headquarters, Umayyad Square, Damascus, Syria
Agency executives
  • Kamal Hassan (2024), Director
  • Mufid Khadour (2024), Deputy Director
Parent agencyMinistry of Defense

The Military Intelligence Directorate (MID; Arabic: شعبة المخابرات العسكرية, romanized: Shu'bat al-Mukhabarat al-'Askariyya) was the military intelligence service of Ba'athist Syria until 2024.[2] Although its roots go back to the French mandate period, its current organization was established in 1969.[3][4] It's predecessor organization was called the Second Bureau.[3][4] It was headquartered at the Defense Ministry building in Damascus. The military intelligence service, or the Mukhabarat in Arabic, was very influential in Syrian politics.

Organization

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The Military Intelligence Directorate was under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Defense.[5] The MID was also controlled by the former President Bashar al-Assad through the National Security Bureau of the Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party Central Command.[6][7] It was divided into eleven branches:

  • Technical (Computers) Branch (Branch 211)
  • Raids and Storming Branch (Branch 215)[8]
  • Patrols Branch (Branch 216)
  • Front Intelligence Branch (Branch 220)
  • Internal and External Communications Branch (Branch 225)
  • Palestine Branch (Branch 235)
  • Wireless Branch (Branch 237)
  • Political Guidance Branch (Branch 248)
  • External Security Branch (Branch 279)
  • Officers Affairs Branch (Branch 293)
  • Armed Forces Security Branch (Branch 294)

Responsibility

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The MID was responsible for providing intelligence on foreign and internal threats to the deposed Government of Syria, the former Syrian Armed Forces or the national security of Syria. The service also monitored opponents of the former government inside/outside Ba'athist Syria.[9] MID was both a foreign intelligence and a military security/counterintelligence service. During the Syrian occupation of Lebanon, the Mukhabarat exercised political authority in Lebanon. After Cedar Revolution and Syrian withdrawal in 2005, it ended. It was suspected of providing logistic and material support to different Palestinian or Lebanese radical groups.[10]

Directors

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  • Deputy Director: Kamal Hassan (July 2023–18 January 2024)
  • Deputy Director: Mufid Khadour (18 January 2024–8 December 2024)

Regional Directors

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  • Rif Dimashq (Branch 227):
  • Damascus (Branch 215):[27]
    • Brig. Gen. Sha'afiq (2012) accused of ordering or committing crimes against humanity.[26]
  • Damascus (Branch 235 a.k.a. "Palestine Branch"):
    • Brig. Gen. Muhammad Khallouf (2012) accused of ordering or committing crimes against humanity.[26]
    • Brig. Gen. Kamal Hassan (2017–2020)[28]
  • Damascus (Branch 248): Brig. Gen. Yousef Abdou (2012) accused of ordering or committing crimes against humanity.[26]
  • Damascus (Branch 290): Brig. Gen. Wafiq Nasser (2017–2018)[29]
  • Damascus (Branch 291): Brig. Gen. Burhan Qadour (past–2012) accused of ordering or committing crimes against humanity.[26]
  • Hama (Branch 219):
    • Mohammad Mufleh (2011), the European Union sanctioned him for being involved in the crackdown on demonstrators during the Syrian uprising.[23]
    • Brig. Gen. Wafiq Nasser (2018–2020)
    • Brig. Gen. Ibrahim Abbas (2021–2024)
  • Deir ez-Zor (Branch 243):
    • Jameh Jameh (2011–2013), the European Union sanctioned him for being directly involved in repression and violence against the civilian population in Deir ez-Zor and Abu Kamal during the Syrian uprising.[23]
  • Idlib (Branch 271):
    • Brig. Gen. Nawful Al-Husayn (2011), the European Union sanctioned him for being directly involved in repression and violence against the civilian population in Idlib province during the Syrian uprising.[23] Accused of ordering or committing crimes against humanity.[26]
  • Homs (Branch 261):
    • Muhammed Zamrini (2011), the European Union sanctioned him for being directly involved in repression and violence against the civilian population in Homs during the Syrian uprising.[23] Accused of ordering or committing crimes against humanity.[26]
    • Brig. Gen. Emad Mayhoub (2020–2024)[30]
  • Tartus city branch:
    • Brig. Gen. Emad Mayhoub (2018–2020)
  • Daraa (Branch 245):
    • Brig. Gen. Lu'ai al-Ali[31] (2011–8 December 2024), the European Union sanctioned him for being responsible for the violence against protesters in Daraa during the Syrian uprising.[23] Accused of ordering or committing crimes against humanity.[26]
  • Suwayda branch:
    • Brig. Gen. Suheir Ramadan (?–2011)[32]
    • Brig. Gen. Wafiq Nasser (2011–2017)
  • Aleppo (Branch 290):
    • Muhammad Duba (1974–1979)[33]
    • Brig. Gen. Wafiq Nasser (2020–2024)[34]
  • Tadmur (Branch 221)
  • Al-Hasakah (Branch 222)


Paramilitary units

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Other Syrian intelligence agencies

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References

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  1. ^ "تعيين الشرع رئيسا لسوريا في المرحلة الانتقالية". الجزيرة نت (in Arabic). Retrieved 29 January 2025.
  2. ^ "Syria Intelligence and Security Agencies". GlobalSecurity.org. Archived from the original on 10 November 2012. Retrieved 17 December 2012.
  3. ^ a b Wege, Carl Anthony (2011). "Hizbollah–Syrian Intelligence Affairs: A Marriage of Convenience". Journal of Strategic Security. 4 (3): 1–14. doi:10.5038/1944-0472.4.3.1. Archived from the original on 4 May 2014. Retrieved 17 December 2012.
  4. ^ a b Conflict Studies Journal at the University of New Brunswick Archived 22 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine. Lib.unb.ca. Retrieved on 19 October 2010.
  5. ^ John Pike. "Syria Intelligence and Security Agencies". Globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 21 July 2012.
  6. ^ Robert G. Rabil Syria, the United States, and the war on terror in the Middle East Archived 18 May 2016 at the Wayback Machine, Greenwood Publishing Group, 2006, ISBN 0-275-99015-X p.214
  7. ^ TFJD990-01-210480.texArchived 23 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine. (PDF). Retrieved 19 October 2010.
  8. ^ Unit 215 of the Syrian intelligence kills 4 terrorists near Kanaker in the countryside of Damascus. They are affiliated with ISIS and wanted for their involvement in several terrorist operations and explosions. Weapons and ammunition were found with the terrorists.
  9. ^ Paul Todd, Jonathan Bloch Global intelligence: the world's secret services today Archived 9 May 2016 at the Wayback Machine, Zed Books, 2003 ISBN 1-84277-113-2 p. 167
  10. ^ Syria, Intelligence and Security Archived 13 October 2008 at the Wayback Machine. Espionageinfo.com. Retrieved 19 October 2010.
  11. ^ Rathmell, Andrew (Fall 1997). "Syria's Intelligence Services: Origins and Development". Journal of Conflict Studies. XVI (2). Retrieved 8 June 2011.
  12. ^ McConville, Maureen; Seale, Patrick (1990). Asad of Syria: The Struggle for the Middle East. University of California Press. ISBN 978-0-520-06976-3. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
  13. ^ Eyal Ziser (2001). Asad's Legacy: Syria in Transition. C. Hurst, Publishers, Limited. p. 34. ISBN 978-1-85065-450-6. Retrieved 3 April 2013.
  14. ^ Moubayed, Sami (2005). Steel & silk: Men and women who shaped Syria 1900-2000. Seattle, Wash: Cune. p. 83. ISBN 1-885942-40-0. Archived from the original on 29 April 2016. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
  15. ^ "Ali Douba: Hafez al-Assad's spy chief and most feared man in Syria". Al Majalla. 22 June 2023. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
  16. ^ a b c 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. Retrieved 15 May 2011.
  17. ^ a b MEIB (July 2000). "Syria's Intelligence Services: A Primer". Middle East Intelligence Bulletin. 2 (6). Archived from the original on 4 July 2012. Retrieved 8 June 2011.
  18. ^ Gambil, Gary (February 2002). "The Military-Intelligence Shakeup in Syria". Middle East Intelligence Bulletin. 4 (2). Archived from the original on 24 July 2012. Retrieved 8 June 2011.
  19. ^ "The List: The Middle East's Most Powerful Spooks". Foreign Policy. 20 July 2009. Archived from the original on 3 October 2012. Retrieved 17 December 2012.
  20. ^ Bar, Shmuel (2006). "Bashar's Syria: The Regime and its Strategic Worldview" (PDF). Comparative Strategy. 25 (5): 390. doi:10.1080/01495930601105412. S2CID 154739379. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 July 2011. Retrieved 15 May 2011.
  21. ^ Black, Ian (28 April 2011). "Six Syrians who helped Bashar al-Assad keep iron grip after father's death". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  22. ^ Rainer, Hermann (26 April 2011). "Geheimdienste in Syrien: Teile, herrsche, morde". Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. Retrieved 8 June 2011.
  23. ^ a b c d e f g "Joint Proposal for a COUNCIL REGULATION concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Syria and repealing Regulation (EU) No 442/2011". EuroLex. 52011PC0887. 2011. Archived from the original on 19 October 2013. Retrieved 10 March 2012.
  24. ^ "Assad reshuffles top security posts after bombing that killed four senior officials". The Times of Israel. Damascus. 24 July 2012. Archived from the original on 27 July 2012. Retrieved 17 December 2012.
  25. ^ a b Hugo (26 March 2019). "Assad Appoints New Head of Military Intelligence". The Syrian Observer. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  26. ^ a b c d e f g h "Torture Archipelago". Human Rights Watch. 3 July 2012. Archived from the original on 6 July 2012. Retrieved 3 July 2012.
  27. ^ Unit 215 of the Syrian intelligence kills 4 terrorists near Kanaker in the countryside of Damascus.
  28. ^ McCardle, Guy D. (18 December 2024). "American Travis Timmerman Found in Damascus After 7 Months in a Syrian Jail". SOFREP. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
  29. ^ Treasury Sanctions Syrian Regime Prisons, Officials, and Syrian Armed Group
  30. ^ Brig Emad Mayhoub, head of Homs Branch (appointed Aug 18, 2020, extended now)
  31. ^ "New strategy to empty Daraa of opposition fighters". Enab Baladi. 21 March 2020.
  32. ^ "By All Means Necessary" (PDF). Human Rights Watch. 2011. Archived (PDF) from the original on 21 December 2011. Retrieved 17 December 2012.
  33. ^ "محمد دوبا". opensanctions.org. 16 January 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  34. ^ Brig Wafiq Nasser, head of Aleppo Branch (appointed Aug 18, 2020, extended now)
  35. ^ Vince Beshara (17 April 2017). "New small loyalist group formed earlier this month, Military Security Falcons, formed in Homs, Syria. Led by Sheikh Mohamed al-Milham". Syria Comment. Archived from the original on 27 April 2017. Retrieved 26 April 2017.
  36. ^ Beshara, Vince (25 April 2017). "Another new #Syria loyalist group formed this week, Southern Shield Brigade. Based in #Qunietra, it is being sponsored by Military Intel.pic.twitter.com/erv2tzf1yx". Archived from the original on 27 April 2017. Retrieved 26 April 2017.
  37. ^ Assad Shield Forces, small detachment under Military Intelligence Directorate, shell rebel lines in northern Lattakia this afternoon and with renewed shelling now
  38. ^ Big news in terms of SAA/pro-gov military news: After meetings with Russians and the founders of the al-Assad Shield Forces, the al-Assad Shield Forces are now reactivated and will be posted on the front in Lattakia, Idleb and Palmyra
  39. ^ Yakovlev, Ivan (20 December 2016). "The fall of Palmyra: Chronology of the events". Archived from the original on 22 December 2016. Retrieved 24 February 2017.
  40. ^ "Usud Al-Cherubim: A Pro-Assad Christian Militia". 15 December 2016. Archived from the original on 13 June 2017. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
  41. ^ Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi (2 April 2017). "Quwat Muqatili al-Asha'ir: Tribal Auxiliary Forces of the Military Intelligence". Archived from the original on 31 August 2017. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
  42. ^ "Fawj Maghawir al-Badiya: A Military Intelligence Branch Militia".
  43. ^ Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi (3 September 2016). "Quwat Dir' Al-Amn Al-Askari: A Latakia Military Intelligence Militia". Syria Comment. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
  44. ^ Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi (10 August 2017). "Suqur al-Furat: A Pro-Assad Sha'itat Tribal Militia". Archived from the original on 28 August 2017. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
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