Syrian_Air_Force_Intelligence_Directorate
Air Force Intelligence Directorate
Syrian intelligence service
The Air Force Intelligence Directorate (Arabic: إدارة المخابرات الجوية, romanized: Idarat al-Mukhabarat al-Jawiyya) is an intelligence service of Syria, possibly the country's most powerful,[1] owing its importance to Hafez al-Assad's role as the Air Force commander.[1] Despite its name, it is mainly involved with issues other than air force intelligence,[2] and took an active part in the suppression of the Muslim Brotherhood rebellion in the 1980s.[3] Agents of this service have frequently been stationed in Syrian embassies or branch offices of the national airline.[4]
The service was headed for nearly thirty years by Maj. Gen. Muhammad al-Khuli, who was trusted by Hafez al-Assad and had an office adjacent to the president's in the presidential palace.[3] In 1995, it was headed by Ibrahim Huwayji.[5]
As of 2023, it is headed by Major General Ghassan Jaoudat Ismail.[6][7] Ghassan previously served as a security official in the eastern governorate of Deir ez-Zor. He is a part of Bashar al-Assad's inner circle,[8] though he has criticized "the decision of the leadership" to not immediately crush the 2011 Syrian uprising in its very beginning, making him a hardliner in the Syrian leadership.
The service also took part in the efforts to put down the 2011 Syrian uprising against Bashar al-Assad's government. It is known to have been active in the town of Talkalakh near the Lebanese border.[9]