Ali_Habib_Mahmoud

Ali Habib Mahmud

Ali Habib Mahmud

Syrian military officer (1939–2020)

Ali Habib Mahmud (Arabic: علي حبيب محمود‎; 1 January 1939 – 20 March 2020) was a Syrian military officer who served as Syria's minister of defense from June 2009 to August 2011. As one of Syria's most celebrated generals,[1] he was part of President Bashar al-Assad's inner circle.[2]

Quick Facts 10th Minister of Defense, President ...

Early life and education

Mahmud was born into an Alawite family on 1 January 1939 in Tartus[3][4] and joined the army in 1959.[5] In 1962, he graduated from the military academy.[3]

Career

Mahmud fought in Yom Kippur War against Israel. As a commander of the 1st Division, he also led forces against Israeli troops invading Lebanon in 1982, including the Battle of Sultan Yacoub.[6] He commanded 7th mechanized infantry in 1985.[4] In 1986, Mahmud became a general.[7] He also participated in the Gulf War as part of the international coalition that liberated Kuwait from Saddam Hussein's Iraq in 1991.[2] In 1994, he was appointed commander of the special forces.[5] In 1998, he was promoted to the rank of major general.[7] He was appointed deputy chief of staff in 2002. On 12 May 2004, he was appointed chief of general staff of the Syrian army and the armed forces.[3][8] He replaced Hasan Turkmani, who was appointed defense minister.[8] In addition, Mahmud was a member of the Baath Party.[7]

On 3 June 2009, President Bashar Assad appointed Mahmud as defense minister, replacing again Hasan Turkmani.[3][9] Mahmud's term ended on 8 August 2011, and he was replaced by Dawoud Rajha in the post.[5]

On 4 September 2013, the opposition wrongly claimed that Mahmud had defected and escaped to Turkey.[10] In fact, he remained in Syria.[1]

Sanctions

In May 2011, the United States accused Habib of human rights abuses, and announced a travel ban and asset freeze.[2]

Death

On 20 March 2020, Mahmud died in Al Assad University Hospital, Damascus.[11]

References

  1. [1]
    Kamal Alam (23 January 2019). "Kissinger's Prophecy Fulfilled in Syria". War on the Rocks. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  2. [2]
    "Bashar al-Assad's inner circle". BBC News. 18 May 2011.
  3. [3]
    وزير جديد للدفاع في سورية (in Arabic). BBC Arabic. 3 June 2009. Retrieved 15 December 2010.
  4. [4]
    Hanna Batatu (1999). Syria's Peasantry, the Descendants of Its Lesser Rural Notables, and Their Politics. Princeton University Press. p. 228. ISBN 978-0-691-00254-5.
  5. [5]
    "Ex-Syrian DefMin Opposition to Hama crackdown led to firing – Sources". Asharq Alawsat. Damascus, London. 9 August 2011. Archived from the original on 3 July 2013. Retrieved 5 April 2013.
  6. [6]
    Solley, Maj. George C. (10 May 1987). The Israeli Experience In Lebanon, 1982-1985. War Since 1945 Seminar. Quantico, VA: Marine Corps Command and Staff College.
  7. [7]
    "Who is Defence Minister Ali Habib Mahmoud?". Gulf News. 17 June 2011. Archived from the original on 9 October 2017. Retrieved 8 March 2013.
  8. [8]
    Flynt Lawrence Leverett (1 January 2005). Inheriting Syria: Bashar's Trial by Fire. Brookings Institution Press. p. 190. ISBN 978-0-8157-5206-6. Retrieved 12 March 2013.
  9. [9]
    "Syria names former army chief new defence minister". Syria Today. July 2009. Archived from the original on 30 November 2010. Retrieved 15 December 2010.
  10. [10]
    Exclusive: Former Syria defense minister defects in break with Assad. Reuters. Retrieved on 2013-09-06.
  11. [11]
    "Former Syrian army chief Ali Habib dies aged 81". alaraby.co.uk. 20 March 2020.
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