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Syrian intelligence agency
The Military Intelligence Directorate (MID ;
Arabic : شعبة المخابرات العسكرية ,
romanized : Shu'bat al-Mukhabarat al-'Askariyya ) is the
military intelligence
service of
Syria .
[1] Although its roots go back to the
French mandate period , its current organization was established in 1969.
[2]
[3] Its predecessor organisation was called the
Deuxième Bureau (the Second Bureau).
[2]
[3] It is headquartered at the
Defense Ministry building in
Damascus . The military intelligence service, or the
Mukhabarat in Arabic, is very influential in
Syrian politics .
Organization
The Military Intelligence Directorate is under the jurisdiction of the
Ministry of Defense .
[4] The MID is also controlled by the
President
Bashar al-Assad through the
National Security Bureau of the
Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party Central Command .
[5]
[6]
Responsibility
The MID is responsible for providing intelligence on foreign and internal threats to the
Government of Syria , the
Syrian Armed Forces or the
national security of Syria. The service also monitors opponents of the government inside/outside Syria.
[7] MID is 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 is suspected of providing logistic and material support to different Palestinian or Lebanese radical groups.
[8]
Directors
Deputy Director: Kamal Hassan (July 2023–18 January 2024)
Deputy Director: Mufid Khadour (18 January 2024–present)
Regional Directors
Rif Dimashq (Branch 227):
Damascus (Branch 215):
[24]
Brig. Gen. Sha'afiq (2012) accused of ordering or committing crimes against humanity.
[23]
Damascus (Branch 235 a.k.a. "
Palestine Branch "):
Brig. Gen. Muhammad Khallouf (2012) accused of ordering or committing crimes against humanity.
[23]
Brig. Gen. Kamal Hassan (2017–2020)
Damascus (Branch 248): Brig. Gen. Yousef Abdou (2012) accused of ordering or committing crimes against humanity.
[23]
Damascus (Branch 290): Brig. Gen. Wafiq Nasser (2017–2018)
[25]
Damascus (Branch 291): Brig. Gen. Burhan Qadour (past–2012) accused of ordering or committing crimes against humanity.
[23]
Hama (Branch 219):
Mohammad Mufleh (2011), the European Union sanctioned him for being involved in the crackdown on demonstrators during the Syrian uprising.
[20]
Brig. Gen. Wafiq Nasser (2018–2020)
Brig. Gen. Ibrahim Abbas (2021–present)
Deir ez-Zor branch:
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.
[20]
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.
[20] Accused of ordering or committing crimes against humanity.
[23]
Homs branch:
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.
[20] Accused of ordering or committing crimes against humanity.
[23]
Brig. Gen. Emad Mayhoub (2020–present)
[26]
Tartus city branch:
Brig. Gen. Emad Mayhoub (2018–2020)
Daraa (Branch 245):
Brig. Gen. Lu'ai al-Ali
[27] (2011–present), the European Union sanctioned him for being responsible for the violence against protesters in Daraa during the Syrian uprising.
[20] Accused of ordering or committing crimes against humanity.
[23]
Suwayda branch:
Brig. Gen. Wafiq Nasser (2011–2017)
Brig. Gen. Suheir Ramadan (?–2011)
[28]
Aleppo branch:
Muhammad Duba (1974–1979)
[29]
Brig. Gen. Wafiq Nasser (2020–present)
[30]
Paramilitary units
Other Syrian intelligence agencies
References
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^
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^
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^
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^
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^
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External links