Military Intelligence (Syria)

Military Intelligence
Shu'bat al-Mukhabarat al-'Askariyya
Agency overview
Formed	1969
Preceding agency	Deuxième Bureau
Jurisdiction	Government of Syria
Headquarters	Defense Ministry headquarters, Damascus, Syria
Agency executive	Abdel-Fatah Qudsiyeh, Director
Parent agency	Military of Syria

Shu'bat al-Mukhabarat al-'Askariyya (Military Intelligence) is an intelligence service of Syria.^[1] It was established in 1969;^[2] its predecessor was called Deuxième Bureau.^[2] It is headquartered at the Defense Ministry headquarters in Damascus.^[3]

The Mukhabarat is very influential in Syrian politics, and is controlled by the President.^[4][5] It is suspected of providing support to different radical groups.^[6] Additionally, the service monitors dissidents of the regime outside Syria.^[7] During the Syrian occupation of Lebanon, the Mukhabarat exercised political authority in Lebanon.

General Assef Shawqat, the brother-in-law of Bashar Al-Assad, became director in 2005 replacing General Hassan Khalil.^[8] In 2011, military intelligence was headed by Abdel-Fatah Qudsiyeh who is from the Alawite sect.^[9][10] In May 2011, Gen Qudsiya was included in a list of Syrian officials subjected to EU sanctions for their roles in violence against protesters. Military Intelligence is said to have played a prominent role in the crackdown, firing on crowds of protesters and killing a large number of civilians. The US also imposed sanctions on Gen Qudsiya later that month, accusing his agency of using force against and arresting demonstrators participating in the unrest. He's a part Bashar al-Assad's inner circle.^[11]

Heads of Military Intelligence

Ali Duba (1973 - 2000)^[12]
Hassan Khalil (2000 - 2005)^[12]
Assef Shawkat (2005 - 2009)^[12][13]
Abdel-Fatah Qudsiyeh (2009 - present)^[14][15]

Other Syrian intelligence agencies

General Security Directorate
Political Security Directorate
Air Force Intelligence Directorate

References

1. ^ [1]^{[dead link]}
2. ^ ^{a b} Conflict Studies Journal at the University of New Brunswick. Lib.unb.ca. Retrieved on 2010-10-19.
3. ^ [2]^{[dead link]}
4. ^ Robert G. Rabil Syria, the United States, and the war on terror in the Middle East, Greenwood Publishing Group, 2006, ISBN 027599015X p.214
5. ^ TFJD990-01-210480.tex. (PDF). Retrieved on 2010-10-19.
6. ^ Syria, Intelligence and Security. Espionageinfo.com. Retrieved on 2010-10-19.
7. ^ Paul Todd, Jonathan Bloch Global intelligence: the world's secret services today, Zed Books, 2003 ISBN 1842771132 p. 167
8. ^ Print - ESISC : European Strategic Intelligence & Security Center. ESISC (2005-10-22). Retrieved on 2010-10-19.
9. ^ http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/67823/ahed-al-hendi/the-structure-of-syrias-repression?page=show
10. ^ http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/apr/28/syria-bashar-assad-regime-members
11. ^ http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-13216195
12. ^ ^{a b c} Bar, Shmuel (2006). "Bashar's Syria: The Regime and its Strategic Worldview". Comparative Strategy 25: 424. http://www.herzliyaconference.org/_Uploads/2590Bashars.pdf. Retrieved 15 May 2011. 
13. ^ http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2009/07/20/the_list_the_middle_easts_most_powerful_spies?page=0,3
14. ^ Rainer, Hermann (26 April 2011). "Geheimdienste in Syrien: Teile, herrsche, morde". Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. http://www.faz.net/artikel/C32315/geheimdienste-in-syrien-teile-herrsche-morde-30335230.html. Retrieved 8 June 2011. 
15. ^ http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/apr/28/syria-bashar-assad-regime-members

External links

• Syria's Intelligence Services: A Primer, Middle East Intelligence Bulletin, July 2000.
• Syria's Intelligence Services: Origins and Development, Andrew Rathmell, J. Conflict Studies, 1996.
• Human Rights in Syria, James A. Paul, Middle East Watch, 1990.
• Syria's Intelligence Services, Agentura.