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Political Security Directorate

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Political Security Directorate
إدارة الأمن السياسي
Idarat al-Amn al-Siyasi
Agency overview
Formed1971; 53 years ago (1971)
DissolvedDecember 2024; 0 months ago (2024-12)
JurisdictionGovernment of Syria
HeadquartersKafr Sousa, Damascus, Syria
Agency executive
  • Ghaith Shafeeq Deeb, Director
Parent agencyMinistry of Interior

The Political Security Directorate (PSD, Arabic: إدارة الأمن السياسي, romanized: Idarat al-Amn al-Siyasi) was an intelligence service of Ba'athist Syria. It was divided into an Internal Security Department and an External Security Department.[1] Intelligence division was affiliated to the Ministry of Interior. Its activities involved the surveillance of the satellite parties of National Progressive Front and was active against the Syrian opposition.[2][3] It monitors literature, print publications, political dissent, and all media outlets.[1][4][5] This intelligence service was headed by Major General Ghaith Shafeeq Deeb from February 5, 2021 until December 2024.[6]

Organization

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The Political Intelligence Directorate was supervised by the Ministry of Interior.[7] The PSD was also controlled by former President Bashar al-Assad through the National Security Bureau of the Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party Central Command.[8] It was divided into two departments:[9]

  • Internal Security Department (ISD)
    • Investigative Branch
    • Operations Branch
  • External Security Department (ESD)
    • Arab Affairs Branch
    • Refugee Affairs Branch
    • Zionist and Jewish Affairs Branch

Directors

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  • Head of Investigative branch: Brig. Gen. Makhmoud al-Khattib (2011).[16]
  • Head of Operations branch: Brig. Gen. Mohamed Heikmat Ibrahim (2011).[16]
  • Nasser Muhammad Al-Ali (24 April 2015–2017)
  • Mohammad Khaled al-Rahmoun (2017–26 November 2018)[17]
  • Hossam Louka (26 November 2018–July 2019)[17]
  • Nasser Muhammad Al-Ali (July 2019–5 February 2021)[18]
  • Ghaith Shafeeq Deeb (5 February 2021–December 2024)

Regional Directors

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  • Rif Dimashq branch: Brig. Gen. Sameer al-Sheikh (1993–2005)[19]
  • Daraa branch: Brig. Gen. Atef Najib (2011), the European Union sanctioned him for "being responsible for the violence against protesters in Daraa during the Syrian uprising".[20] He was replaced by Brig. Gen. Nasser Al-Ali.[16]

Other Syrian intelligence agencies

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Herzliya Conference Bashar's Syria" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 July 2011. Retrieved 8 March 2013.
  2. ^ "Syria, Intelligence and Security". Espionageinfo. Archived from the original on 13 October 2008. Retrieved 8 March 2013.
  3. ^ "Bashar al-Assad's inner circle". BBC News. 30 July 2012. Archived from the original on 27 March 2022.
  4. ^ Paul Todd; Jonathan Bloch (8 November 2003). Global Intelligence: The World's Secret Services Today. Zed Books. p. 167. ISBN 978-1-84277-113-6. Retrieved 8 March 2013.
  5. ^ "Bashar al-Assad's inner circle". BBC News. 30 July 2012. Archived from the original on 27 March 2022.
  6. ^ "Installing Major General Ghaith Shafiq Fayyad Deeb as Head of Political Security". Syria Today (in Arabic). 1 May 2022. Archived from the original on 2 December 2021.
  7. ^ John Pike. "Syria Intelligence and Security Agencies". Globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 21 July 2012.
  8. ^ Robert G. Rabil Syria, the United States, and the war on terror in the Middle East Archived 18 May 2016 at the Wayback Machine, Greenwood Publishing Group, 2006, ISBN 0-275-99015-X p.214
  9. ^ a b Rathmell, Andrew (1996). "Syria's Intelligence Services: Origins and Development". The Journal of Conflict Studies. 16 (2). Retrieved 8 March 2013.
  10. ^ Worldwide, Keesings (2002). The Annual Register: A Record of World Events 2002 - Keesings Worldwide. ISBN 9781886994461. Retrieved 8 March 2013.
  11. ^ "A rather convenient suicide". The Economist. 12 October 2005. Retrieved 8 March 2013.
  12. ^ "Bahjat Suleiman Moved along with Other Security Chiefs". Syria Comment. 19 June 2005. Retrieved 8 March 2013.
  13. ^ "Political security department". Cablegatesearch. Archived from the original on 2 October 2013. Retrieved 8 March 2013.
  14. ^ Ahed Al Hendi (3 May 2011). "The Structure of Syria's Repression". Foreign Affairs. Retrieved 8 March 2013.
  15. ^ "Bashar al-Assad's inner circle". BBC. 30 July 2012. Retrieved 8 March 2013.
  16. ^ a b c "By all means necessary" (PDF). Human Rights Watch. Retrieved 8 March 2013.
  17. ^ a b Jihad Yazigi (24 September 2019). "Who's Who: Major General Husam Muhammad Louka". The Syrian Observer. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
  18. ^ "Syria Regime Appoints Ghaith Shafiq Fayyad Head of Political Security". The Syrian Observer. 2 December 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
  19. ^ Brigadier Sameer al-Sheikh from Idlib was serving in political security branch in Damascus countryside governorate circa 1993-2005
  20. ^ "Joint Proposal for a COUNCIL REGULATION concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Syria and repealing Regulation (EU) No 442/2011". EuroLex. 52011PC0887. 2011. Retrieved 10 March 2012.
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