Director of the General Intelligence Service (Syria)
| Director of the General Intelligence Service | |
|---|---|
| مدير جهاز المخابرات العامة | |
.svg) | |
| General Intelligence Service | |
| Member of | National Security Council |
| Reports to | Minister Of Interior |
| Appointer | President of Syria |
| Term length | No fixed term |
| Formation | 26 December 2024 |
The Director of the General Intelligence Service (مدير جهاز المخابرات العامة) is the head of the General Intelligence Service (GIS), Syria's primary civilian intelligence agency responsible for national security intelligence, both domestically and internationally. The position was established on 26 December 2024 following the dissolution of the Ba'athist-era General Intelligence Directorate after the fall of the Assad regime.[1] The director is appointed by the transitional president and oversees operations under the Ministry of Interior.
The role encompasses directing intelligence gathering, counterintelligence, and security operations, with a mandate to reform previous repressive practices and focus on national stability during Syria's transitional period..[2]
History
[edit]The origins of Syrian civilian intelligence trace back to the French Mandate period, where the Sûreté Générale served as the primary security apparatus. Post-independence in 1946, it evolved through various iterations, including the Department of General Security (1945–1958), Internal Security Forces Command (1961–1971), and the General Intelligence Directorate (1971–2024), which was notorious for domestic repression and human rights abuses under the Assad regime.
The GIS was created amid the 2024 Syrian revolution's success, aiming to dismantle the mukhabarat state's legacy of surveillance and torture.[3] Initial director Anas Khattab pledged institutional reforms to prevent past abuses.[4] The agency has since undergone leadership changes to align with transitional governance goals.
List of Directors
[edit]- Anas Khattab ( 26 December 2024 — 3 May 2025)
- Hussein al-Salama ( 3 May 2025 — present)
References
[edit]- ^ "Syria's head of intelligence says security institution to be restructured". Reuters. 2024-12-28. Retrieved 2025-10-16.
- ^ "Syria appoints new intelligence chief after Assad regime's fall". Al Jazeera. 2024-12-26. Retrieved 2025-10-16.
- ^ "Syria appoints new intelligence chief after Assad regime's fall". Al Jazeera. 2024-12-26. Retrieved 2025-10-16.
- ^ "Syria appoints Anas Khattab as head of General Intelligence Service". Anadolu Agency. 2024-12-26. Retrieved 2025-10-16.