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Appendix 1: Structure and Command of Armed Forces and Intelligence Agencies
The information below has been compiled on the basis of defectors’ statements. To the extent possible, the information has been verified through third parties and public sources. Given limitations on access to Syria and official government sources, the information below might be expanded and clarified based on further research. Information provided on individuals below identifies their role within the structure of the Syrian Armed Forces or Intelligence Agencies. Not all individuals listed below also appear in the body of the report. References to specific allegations refer to the units involved.
Armed Forces
Top Commanders:
|
Bashar al-Assad |
Commander-in-Chief |
|
Imad [165] Dawoud Rajiha |
Minister of Defense (from August 8); before that served as Army Chief of Staff. |
|
Imad Fahed al-Jasem el-Freij |
Chief of Staff from August; before that, responsible for special forces operations in Daraa, Idlib, Hama |
|
Asef Shawkat |
Deputy Minister of Defense; reportedly influential with the intelligence agencies |
Presidential (Republican) Guard
Commander: Maj. Gen. Shoaeb Suleiman
Deputy: Brig. Gen. Mohamed Qasem
Areas of operation:
- Damascus and suburbs (Harasta, Douma)
Sub-units:
|
Name |
Commander |
Locations |
Specific allegations of human rights abuses against unit |
|
101st Security Regiment |
|
|
|
|
102nd Security Regiment |
|
April operation in Nawa |
|
|
104th Brigade |
Brig. Gen. Issam Zaher Eldin, Brig. Gen. Monaf Tlas |
Douma, Harasta |
|
|
105th Brigade |
Brig. Gen. Talal Makhlouf |
Douma, Harasta, April operation in Nawa (infantry battalion) |
Killing of unarmed protesters |
|
106th Brigade |
Brig. Gen. Rukin Mohamed Khaddor |
Douma, Harasta |
Arbitrary arrests; beatings of detainees |
3rd Division
Commander: Maj. Gen. Naim Jasem Suleiman
Areas of operation:
- Damascus governorate (Douma)
Sub-units:
|
Name |
Commander |
Locations |
Specific allegations of human rights abuses against unit |
|
65th Brigade |
Brig. Gen. Jihad Mohamed Sultan |
Douma |
Arbitrary arrests, looting of homes, shooting at unarmed protesters |
4th Division
Commander: Maj. Gen. Mohamed Ali Durgham
Areas of operation:
- Damascus governorate (Mo’adamiyeh, Daraya, Zamalka, Harasta, al-Tal)
- Homs governorate (Rastan)
- Daraa governorate (Daraa city, Nawa)
Sub-units:
|
Name |
Commander |
Locations |
Specific allegations of human rights abuses against unit |
|
42nd Brigade |
Maher al-Assad (brother of President al-Assad and de facto commander of 4th Division). |
|
|
|
154th Regiment |
Brig. Gen. Jawdat Ibrahim Safi |
Mo’adamiyeh, Douma, Abasiyeh, Domer |
Arbitrary arrests, killing of unarmed protesters |
|
555th Airborne Regiment |
Brig. Gen. Jamal Yonnes |
Mo’adamiyeh, Daraya, Qabun, Zamalka, April operation in Nawa |
Shooting at unarmed protesters; arbitrary arrest and beatings; destruction of property |
5th Division
Commander: Maj. Gen. Suheil Salman Hassan
Areas of operation:
- Daraa city and surrounding towns
Sub-units:
|
Name |
Commander |
Locations |
Specific allegations of human rights abuses against unit |
|
12th Brigade |
Brig. Gen. Mohsin Makhlouf |
Al-Herak |
Killing of unarmed protesters |
|
15th Brigade |
|
|
|
|
112th Brigade |
|
|
|
|
132nd Brigade |
Brig. Gen. Ahmed Yousef Jarad |
Daraa city |
Killing of unarmed residents |
|
175th Regiment |
|
|
|
9th Division
Sub-units:
|
Name |
Commander |
Locations |
Specific allegations of human rights abuses against unit |
|
76th Brigade |
|
Al-Tal |
Killing of unarmed protesters |
18th Division
Areas of operation:
- Homs governorate (Talbiseh, Rastan)
Sub-units:
|
Name |
Commander |
Locations |
Specific allegations of human rights abuses againt unit |
|
60th Brigade |
|
May invasion of Rastan |
|
|
120th Brigade |
|
May invasion of Rastan |
|
|
134th Brigade |
Brig. Gen. Yousef Ismail |
Talbiseh, May invasion of Rastan |
Shooting at unarmed protesters; arbitrary arrests; looting |
|
167th Brigade |
Brig. Gen. Ali Mohamed Hamdan |
May invasion of Rastan |
Shooting of unarmed residents |
Special Forces
Deputy: Maj. Gen. Fo’ad Hamoudeh
Sub-units:
|
Name |
Commander |
Locations |
Specific allegations of human rights abuses against unit |
|
35th Regiment |
Maj. Gen. Ramadan Mahmoud Ramadan |
Banyas, April 25 operation in Daraa |
Killing of unarmed protesters |
|
41st Regiment |
|
April 25 operation in Daraa |
|
|
45th Regiment |
Maj. Gen. Ghassan Afif |
Banyas and surrounding towns (Markab), Idlib, Homs |
Arbitrary arrests; shooting at unarmed residents |
|
46th Regiment |
|
Idlib (from June 22), Hama |
|
|
47th Regiment |
|
Hama, April 25 operation in Daraa |
|
|
53rd Regiment |
|
Banyas, Markab |
|
Intelligence Agencies
There are four main intelligence agencies in Syria:
- The Department of Military Intelligence (Shu'bat al-Mukhabarat al-'Askariyya);
- The Political Security Directorate (Idarat al-Amn al-Siyasi);
- The General Intelligence Directorate (Idarat al-Mukhabarat al-'Amma); and
- The Air Force Intelligence Directorate (Idarat al-Mukhabarat al-Jawiyya).
In theory, the National Security Bureau oversees the four intelligence agencies. In practice, however, the agencies operate with a high degree of autonomy, answerable mainly to President Bashar al-Assad.
Given the secretive nature of the Syrian intelligence agencies, it is very difficult to verify information about their structure and commanders. The information below has been included only when confirmed by two or more defectors. Nevertheless, the exact structure of the agencies and the identity of their commanders might be clarified as more information comes to light.
The four main intelligence agencies have regional branches in the governorates and main cities, in addition to central branches.
All of the main intelligence agencies have been implicated in the killing of unarmed protesters and the arbitrary arrest and torture of detainees.
National Security Bureau
Key Officials:
|
Name |
Comments |
|
Hisham Bak h tiyar |
Director |
Department of Military Intelligence (Shu’bat al-Mukhabarat al-‘Askariyya)
Central branches:
- Military Investigative Branch
- Palestine Investigative Branch (235)
- Communications Security and Surveillance Branch (211)
- Security Branches (291, 292, 293)
Key Officials:
|
Name |
Comments |
|
Maj. Gen. Abdul Fatah Kudsiyeh |
Director |
|
Maj. Gen. Rustam Ghazali |
Head of Damascus Regional Branch |
|
Col. Louai Ali |
Head or Deputy of Daraa Regional Branch |
|
Brig. Gen. Suheir Ramadan |
Head of Suwayda Regional Branch. Until replaced by Wafiq Nasser |
|
Wafiq Nasser |
Head of Suwayda Regional Branch; assumed position after Brig. Gen. Ramadan |
Air Force Intelligence Directorate (Idarat al-Mukhabarat al-Jawiyya)
Central Branches:
- Investigative Branch
- Special Operations Branch
Key Officials:
|
Name |
Comments |
|
Maj. Gen. Jamil Hassan |
Director |
|
Maj. Gen. Abdulsalam Fajer Mahmoud |
Head of Investigative Branch |
|
Maj. Gen. Ghassan Ismail |
Head of Special Operations Branch |
|
Col. Suheil Hassan |
Head of Operations Branch |
|
Col. Qusay Mihoub |
Officer from Damascus; sent to Daraa at the beginning of protests to oversee operations there. |
General Security Directorate (Idarat al-Amn al-Amm)
(Often referred to by its old name, “State Security”)
Central branches:
- Investigative Branch (285)
- Information Security Branch (255)
- Internal Branch (251)
- External Branch (300)
Key Officials:
|
Name |
Comments |
|
Maj. Gen. Ali Mamlouk (Mamluk) |
Director |
|
Maj. Gen. Ghassan Khalil |
Head of Information Security Branch (255) |
|
Col. Hafez Makhlouf |
Head of Internal Branch (251) |
|
Brig. Gen. Ahmed Dibe |
Head of Daraa Regional Branch |
Political Security Directorate (Idarat al-Amn al-Siyasi)
Central branches:
- Investigative Branch (“al-Feiha”)
Key Officials:
|
Name |
Comments |
|
Mohamed Dib Zeitoun |
Director |
|
Brig. Gen. Makhmoud al-Khattib |
Head of Investigative Branch |
|
Brig. Gen. Mohamed Heikmat Ibrahim |
Head of Operations Branch |
|
Atif Najib |
Head of Daraa Regional Branch when protests broke out in March; later removed |
|
Brig. Gen. Nasser Al-Ali |
Replaced Atif Najib as Head of Daraa Regional Branch |
[165]Imad is a rank in the Syrian armed forces between major general and lieutenant general.