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{{Short description|Lebanese security official (1965–2012)}}
{{use dmy dates|date=October 2012}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2015}}
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{{Infobox person
|name = Wissam al-Hassan<br>وسام الحسن
{{Family name hatnote|Adnan|al-Hassan|lang=Lebanese}}
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{{Infobox officeholder
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|image =
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| name = Wissam al-Hassan
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|image_size =
| native_name = {{lang|ar|وسام الحسن}}
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|caption =
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| image =
|birth_name = Wissam Adnan al-Hassan
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| image_size =
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|birth_date = {{Birth date|1965|4|11|df=y}}
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| caption =
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|birth_place = [[Btouratige]], [[Koura District]], [[Lebanon]]
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| birth_name =
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|death_date = {{Death date and age|2012|10|19|1965|4|11|df=y}}
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| birth_date = {{Birth date|1965|4|11|df=y}}
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|death_place = [[Beirut]], Lebanon
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| birth_place = [[Btouratige]], [[Koura District]], [[Lebanon]]
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|death_cause = [[Assassination of Wissam al-Hassan|Assassinated]]
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| death_date = {{Death date and age|2012|10|19|1965|4|11|df=y}}
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|residence =
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| death_place = [[Achrafieh]], [[Beirut]], [[Lebanon]]
|nationality = [[Lebanese nationality law|Lebanese]]
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| death_cause = [[Assassination of Wissam al-Hassan|Assassinated]]
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|alma_mater =
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| residence =
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|occupation = Chief of Information Branch
|employer = [[Internal Security Forces]]
| nationality = [[Lebanese nationality law|Lebanese]]
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| alma_mater =
|years_active =
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| occupation = Chief of [[Lebanese Information Branch|Information Branch]]
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|net_worth =
|boards =
| years_active =
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| net_worth =
|religion = [[Islam]]<!-- PLEASE DON'T CHANGE THIS TO SHIA OR SUNNI AS THEY ARE SECTS NOT AS A WHOLE RELIGION -->
|spouse = Anna al-Hassan
| spouse = Anna al-Hassan
|children = 2
| children = Majd<br>Mazen
|parents =
| parents =
|signature =
| signature =
|website =
| website =
| rank = [[Brigadier general]]
| allegiance = {{Flag|Lebanon}}
| branch = [[Internal Security Forces]]
}}
}}


'''Wissam Adnan al-Hassan''' ({{lang-ar| وسام عدنان الحسن‎}} ''Wissām ‘Adnān al-Ḥassan''; 11 April 1965&nbsp;– 19 October 2012) was a [[brigadier general]] at the [[Lebanon|Lebanese]] [[Internal Security Forces]] (ISF) and the head of its intelligence-oriented Information Branch. Seen as a leading [[Sunni Islam in Lebanon|Sunni]] figure in Lebanon, he was also a key player in the opposition [[March 14 alliance]] without having a political position.
'''Wissam Adnan al-Hassan''' ({{langx|ar| وسام عدنان الحسن|Wisām ‘Adnān al-Ḥasan}}; 11 April 1965&nbsp;– 19 October 2012) was a [[brigadier general]] at the [[Lebanon|Lebanese]] [[Internal Security Forces]] (ISF) and the head of its intelligence-oriented [[Lebanese Information Branch|Information Branch]]. Seen as a leading [[Sunni Islam in Lebanon|Sunni]] figure in Lebanon, he was also a key player in the opposition [[March 14 alliance]] without having a political position.


== Biography==
==Early life==
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Al-Hassan was born into a [[Lebanese Sunni Muslims|Sunni]] family in the northern Lebanese city of [[Btouratige]], [[Koura District]], [[Lebanon]], on 11 April 1965.<ref name="BBC-profile">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-20004476|title=Profile: Wissam al-Hassan|date=19 October 2012|newspaper=BBC News|accessdate=19 October 2012}}</ref><ref name=dspiegel>{{cite news|last=Follath|first=Erich|title=Was Murdered Intelligence Chief a Hero or Double Agent?|url=http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/lebanon-tribunal-may-investigate-recent-assassination-a-865242.html|accessdate=5 November 2012|newspaper=Der Spiegel|date=5 November 2012}}</ref> However, the UN report cites his birthplace as [[Tripoli, Lebanon|Tripoli]].<ref name=cbc/>


From 1992 to 1995 al-Hassan was official guard of the late Lebanese Prime Minister [[Rafik Hariri]].<ref name=cbc/> During this period, he was an internal security officer under [[Ali Al Hajj]].<ref name=cbc/> In 1995, he was appointed Hariri's chief of protocol and served in this post until 1998.<ref name=cbc/> Then he was named as the head of the Hariri office (1998 - 2000).<ref name=cbc/> He worked as Hariri's head guard detachment from June 2001 to Summer 2004,<ref name="Al-Akhbar">{{cite news|url=http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/who-was-wissam-al-hassan|title=Who Was Wissam Al-Hassan?|date=19 October 2012|newspaper=Al Akhbar|accessdate=19 October 2012|archive-date=21 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021225907/http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/who-was-wissam-al-hassan|url-status=dead}}</ref> and also, promoted to the rank of [[lieutenant colonel]] in this period.<ref name=cbc/> Then he began to work for [[Saad Hariri]] as head of his office from 2004 to January 2006, and resigned from the ISF during this period.<ref name=cbc/>
=== Early life ===
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Wissam al-Hassan was born to a [[Lebanese Sunni Muslims|Sunni]] family in the northern Lebanese city of [[Btouratige]], [[Koura District]], [[Lebanon]], on 11 April 1965.<ref name="BBC-profile">{{cite news|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-20004476|title=Profile: Wissam al-Hassan|date=19 October 2012|work=BBC News|accessdate=19 October 2012}}</ref>


==Rafik Hariri Assassination==
Al-Hassan spent the early part of his career looking after the security of the Sunni leader and Lebanese Prime Minister [[Rafic Hariri]], becoming the Prime Minister's head guard detachment in 2001.<ref name="Al-Akhbar">{{cite news|url=http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/who-was-wissam-al-hassan|title=Who Was Wissam Al-Hassan?|date=19 October 2012|work=Al-Akhbar|accessdate=19 October 2012}}</ref>

=== Hariri assassination ===
{{main|Assassination of Rafic Hariri}}
{{main|Assassination of Rafic Hariri}}
Rafic Hariri was killed in a massive [[car bomb]] in Beirut on 14 February 2005. As Hariri's chief of protocol, al-Hassan would have normally been in the motorcade that was hit by the attack, but he had taken the day off to study for a university exam.<ref name=BBC-profile /><ref name=Al-Akhbar />
Rafik Hariri was killed in a massive [[car bomb]] in Beirut on 14 February 2005. As Hariri's chief of protocol, al-Hassan would have normally been in the motorcade that was hit by the attack, but he had taken the day off to undergo a university exam.<ref name=BBC-profile/><ref name=cbc>{{cite news|title=Wissam Al Hassan|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/reportsfromabroad/macdonald/wah2.pdf|newspaper=CBC|accessdate=11 February 2013|date=3 October 2008}}</ref><ref name=Al-Akhbar/>


In 2010 U.N. investigators from the [[Special Tribunal for Lebanon]] suspected that al-Hassan was involved in the assassination of Hariri. The investigators considered his alibi to be "weak and inconsistent."<ref name=Al-Akhbar /> However, Rafic Hariri's son, [[Saad Hariri]], said he had always had full confidence in al-Hassan. Al-Hassan was not among those [[Special Tribunal for Lebanon#Indictment|indicted]] by the tribunal in January 2011. The tribunal's prosecutors are instead seeking the arrest of four members of the pro-Syrian [[Shi'a Islam in Lebanon|Shi'a Muslim]] group [[Hezbollah]].<ref name=BBC-profile /> Reportedly, the U.N. investigators decided not to proceed with investigations to al-Hassan's involvement for fear of damaging relations with the ISF.<ref name=Al-Akhbar />
In 2010, the U.N. investigators from the [[Special Tribunal for Lebanon]] suspected that al-Hassan was involved in the assassination of Hariri and recommended that he warranted a further detailed investigation,<ref name=cbc/> since they considered his alibi to be "weak and inconsistent."<ref name=Al-Akhbar/> However, Hariri's son, [[Saad Hariri]], said he had always had full confidence in al-Hassan. Al-Hassan was not among those [[Special Tribunal for Lebanon#Indictment|indicted]] by the tribunal in January 2011. The tribunal's prosecutors are instead seeking the arrest of four members of the pro-Syrian [[Shi'a Islam in Lebanon|Shia Muslim]] group [[Hezbollah]].


=== Head of Information Branch at ISF ===
==Head of information branch at ISF==
In the aftermath of the death Rafik Hariri, the intelligence-oriented Information Branch was formed within the [[Internal Security Forces]] (ISF), the national police and security force of Lebanon. Al-Hassan was named as the head of the Information Branch in 2006, and tasked with leading the investigation to Rafic Hariri's death.<ref name=TDS-profile/><ref name=Al-Akhbar/> Al-Hassan served under the ISF's director-general, [[Ashraf Rifi]], who is one of the board members of the Prince Nayef University for Security Studies.<ref name=abukhalil>{{cite news|last=AbuKhalil|first=Asad|title=The Michel Samaha Affair|url=http://english.al-akhbar.com/node/11067|accessdate=20 October 2012|newspaper=Al Akhbar|date=13 August 2012}}</ref> Al-Hassan achieved significant improvements in the capabilities of the information branch in terms of both domestic criminal matters and security issues.<ref name=lwarj>{{cite news|last=Radin|first=CD|title=Beirut car bomb kills anti-Syrian intelligence general|url=http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2012/10/beirut_car_bombing_k.php?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+LongWarJournalSiteWide+%28The+Long+War+Journal+%28Site-Wide%29%29|accessdate=22 October 2012|newspaper=Long War Journal|date=21 October 2012}}</ref>
Al-Hassan was named as the head of the information branch of the ISF on 19 January 2006,<ref name=cbc/> and tasked with leading the investigation to Hariri's death.<ref name=Al-Akhbar/><ref name=TDS-profile/> Al-Hassan served under the ISF's director-general, [[Ashraf Rifi]], who is one of the board members of the Prince Nayef University for Security Studies.<ref name=abukhalil>{{cite news|last=AbuKhalil|first=Asad|title=The Michel Samaha Affair|url=http://english.al-akhbar.com/node/11067|accessdate=20 October 2012|newspaper=Al Akhbar|date=13 August 2012}}</ref> Al-Hassan achieved significant improvements in the capabilities of the information branch in terms of both domestic criminal matters and security issues.<ref name=lwarj>{{cite news|last=Radin|first=CD|title=Beirut car bomb kills anti-Syrian intelligence general|url=http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2012/10/beirut_car_bombing_k.php|accessdate=22 October 2012|newspaper=Long War Journal|date=21 October 2012}}</ref>


His intelligence unit was seen as being backed by the [[March 14 alliance]], acting as a counterweight to the [[Lebanese Armed Forces]]'s intelligence unit that is considered to have close links to [[Syria]].<ref name=Al-Akhbar /> The members of his organization have been subject of repeated assassinations and assassination attempts. One of the Information Branch's tasks was dismantling the network of Israeli spies in Lebanon, and this led to the arrest of over 100 individuals suspected of collaborating with Israel.<ref name=TDS-profile/>
His intelligence unit was seen as being backed by the [[March 14 alliance]], acting as a counterweight to the [[Lebanese Armed Forces]]'s intelligence unit that is considered to have close links to [[Syria]].<ref name=Al-Akhbar/> The members of his organization have been subject of repeated assassinations and assassination attempts. One of the information branch's tasks was dismantling the network of Israeli spies in Lebanon, and this led to the arrest of over 100 individuals suspected of collaborating with Israel.<ref name=TDS-profile/>


As the chief of the Intelligence Branch, al-Hassan was criticized by members of the [[March 8 Alliance]] for allegedly focusing his investigations on pro-Syrian figures and members of the March 8 Alliance. In August 2012, al-Hassan made headlines as the key player in an investigation that led to the arrest of former Information Minister [[Michel Samaha]],<ref name=nleb201012>{{cite news|title=Charbel: Hassan threatened before revealing Samaha case|url=http://www.nowlebanon.com/NewsArticleDetails.aspx?ID=448505|accessdate=20 October 2012|newspaper=NOW Lebanon|date=20 October 2012}}</ref> who was charged with transporting explosives into Lebanon with the help of the Syrian Security Chief [[Ali Mamlouk]], in an alleged attempt to destabilize the country.<ref name=TDS-profile>{{cite news|url=http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Local-News/2012/Oct-20/192094-hasans-pivotal-security-role.ashx|title=Hasan’s pivotal security role|last=Taylor|first=Alex|date=20 October 2012|work=The Daily Star|accessdate=20 October 2012}}</ref><ref name=lwarj/> Lebanese Interior Minister [[Marwan Charbel]] reported that al-Hassan was threatened in relation to the arrest of Samaha.<ref name=nleb201012/> Imad Othman succeeded al-Hassan as the head of the Internal Security Forces Intelligence Bureau on 21 October 2012.<ref name=nnet>{{cite news|title=Imad Othman Succeeds Hasan as ISF Intelligence Bureau Head|url=http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/57908-imad-othman-succeeds-hasan-as-isf-intelligence-bureau-head|accessdate=22 October 2012|newspaper=Naharnet|date=22 October 2012}}</ref>
As the chief of the intelligence branch, al-Hassan was criticized by members of the [[March 8 Alliance]] for allegedly focusing his investigations on pro-Syrian figures and members of the March 8 Alliance. In August 2012, al-Hassan made headlines as the key player in an investigation that led to the arrest of former information minister [[Michel Samaha]],<ref name=nleb201012>{{cite news|title=Charbel: Hassan threatened before revealing Samaha case|url=http://www.nowlebanon.com/NewsArticleDetails.aspx?ID=448505|accessdate=20 October 2012|newspaper=NOW Lebanon|date=20 October 2012}}</ref> who was charged with transporting explosives into Lebanon with the help of the Syrian Security Chief [[Ali Mamlouk]], in an alleged attempt to destabilize the country.<ref name=TDS-profile>{{cite news|url=http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Local-News/2012/Oct-20/192094-hasans-pivotal-security-role.ashx|title=Hasan's pivotal security role|last=Taylor|first=Alex|date=20 October 2012|newspaper=The Daily Star|accessdate=20 October 2012}}</ref><ref name=lwarj/> Al-Hassan had evidence of direct links between Samaha and senior Syrian political and intelligence aides, including top adviser to President Assad, Butheina Shaban.<ref name=alsharif>{{cite news|last=Al Sharif|first=Osama|title=Lebanon at the edge of precipice|url=http://english.alarabiya.net/views/2012/10/24/245615.html|accessdate=24 October 2012|newspaper=Al Arabiya|date=24 October 2012|archive-date=24 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024191340/http://english.alarabiya.net/views/2012/10/24/245615.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Lebanese Interior Minister [[Marwan Charbel]] reported that al-Hassan was threatened in relation to the arrest of Samaha.<ref name=nleb201012/> Colonel Imad Othman succeeded al-Hassan as the head of ISF's intelligence bureau on 21 October 2012.<ref name=nnet>{{cite news|title=Imad Othman Succeeds Hasan as ISF Intelligence Bureau Head|url=http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/57908-imad-othman-succeeds-hasan-as-isf-intelligence-bureau-head|accessdate=22 October 2012|newspaper=Naharnet|date=22 October 2012}}</ref><ref name=paul23oct>{{cite journal|last=Salem|first=Paul|title=Lebanon's Fragile Peace Will Hold Despite Blow|journal=Carnegie Middle East|date=23 October 2012|url=http://carnegie-mec.org/2012/10/23/lebanon-s-fragile-peace-will-hold-despite-blow/e4nl|accessdate=21 April 2013}}</ref>


==Political activities==
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He was also named as a possible negotiation partner by the [[Free Syrian Army]] after the Syrian insurgency fighters kidnapped 11 Lebanese Shi'a pilgrims in August.<ref name=Al-Akhbar/>
Al-Hassan acted as a mediator between Saad Hariri and [[Hezbollah]].<ref name=muh22oct>{{cite news|last=Muhanna|first=Elias|title=The Many Faces of Wissam Al-Hassan|url=http://latitude.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/22/the-many-faces-of-wissam-al-hassan/|accessdate=17 March 2013|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=22 October 2012}}</ref> In addition, al-Hassan supported the [[Syrian opposition]] in the [[Syrian civil war]] as it is alleged that he facilitated the flow of money and arms from the [[Arab States of the Persian Gulf|Gulf states]] and the [[Western Bloc|West]] to the Syrian opposition through Lebanon.<ref name="Stewart">{{Cite news|author=Stewart, Scott|date=15 November 2012|title=Lebanon: Lessons from Two Assassinations|newspaper=[[Stratfor]]: Global Intelligence|location=Austin, Texas|url=http://www.stratfor.com/weekly/lebanon-lessons-two-assassinations|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121117210906/http://www.stratfor.com/weekly/lebanon-lessons-two-assassinations|archivedate=17 November 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> Although al-Hassan was not directly involved in operations, his actions permitted the smuggling of arms destined for opposition forces from Lebanon to Syria, provided a safe haven for Syrian defectors in Lebanon, and resulted in the Syrian opposition using bases in Lebanon as staging areas for attacks into Syria.<ref name="Stewart"/>


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Al-Hassan was named as a possible negotiation partner by the [[Free Syrian Army]] after the Syrian insurgency fighters kidnapped 11 Lebanese Shi'a pilgrims in August.<ref name=Al-Akhbar/> Al-Hassan was considered an ally of the United States.<ref>[https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052970204005004578080991749875804 ''In Beirut Blast, U.S. Loses a Top Ally''] ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'', 26 October 2012</ref>
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===Death and funeral===
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{{main|2012 Beirut bombing}}
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On 19 October 2012, al-Hassan died in a massive [[car bomb|car bombing]] near his residence in the [[Achrafieh]] neighborhood of [[Beirut]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/oct/19/lebanon-divide-assassination-security-chief|title=Lebanon's great divide exposed by assassination of security chief|last=Chulov|first=Martin|date=19 October 2012|work=The Guardian|accessdate=19 October 2012}}</ref> Seven other people including his driver also died and nearly eighty people were wounded in the huge blast.<ref name=euro>{{cite news|title=Protests in Lebanon follow murder of intelligence chief|url=http://www.euronews.com/2012/10/20/protests-in-lebanon-follow-murder-of-intelligence-chief/|accessdate=20 October 2012|newspaper=Euronews|date=20 October 2012}}</ref><ref name=dstar211012/> Al-Hassan is believed to have been the target of the attack.<ref name="CNN">{{cite news|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2012/10/19/world/meast/lebanon-beirut-blast/index.html?hpt=hp_t1|title=Anti-Syrian official killed when car bomb rocks Beirut|last=Walsh|first=Nick Paton|coauthors=Jamjoom, Mohammed and Sterling, Joe|date=19 October 2012|work=CNN|accessdate=19 October 2012}}</ref> He returned to Beirut from abroad on 18 October 2012.<ref name=samia2212/>


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==Death and funeral==
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A state funeral ceremony for him was organized in Beirut on 21 October with the attendance of significant political figures and thousands of people.<ref name=dstar211012>{{cite news|title=Siniora demands Cabinet resign at Hasan's funeral in Beirut|url=http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Politics/2012/Oct-21/192178-lebanon-prepares-to-bury-intelligence-chief-hasan.ashx#axzz29m2blrIw|accessdate=21 October 2012|newspaper=The Daily Star|date=21 October 2012|location=Beirut}}</ref><ref name=samia2212>{{cite news|last=Nakhoul|first=Samia|title=Analysis: Killing of security chief raises fears for Lebanon|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/22/us-lebanon-explosion-turmoil-idUSBRE89L06T20121022|accessdate=22 October 2012|newspaper=Reuters|date=22 October 2012|location=Beirut}}</ref> Lebanese president [[Michel Suleiman]] awarded al-Hasan the National Order of the Cedar in Grade of Grand Officer at the ceremony.<ref name=naharnet22>{{cite news|title=Suleiman Asks Govt. Not to Provide Cover for Criminals|url=http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/57839-suleiman-asks-govt-not-to-provide-cover-for-criminals-urges-speedy-indictments-in-samaha-nahr-al-bared-cases|accessdate=22 October 2012|newspaper=Naharnet|date=22 October 2012}}</ref> Al-Hassan was laid to rest alongside former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in a cemetery near the Mohammad Amin Mosque.<ref name=dstar211012/>
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{{main|October 2012 Beirut bombing}}
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On 19 October 2012, al-Hassan died in a massive [[car bomb]]ing near the [[Achrafieh]] neighborhood of [[Beirut]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/oct/19/lebanon-divide-assassination-security-chief|title=Lebanon's great divide exposed by assassination of security chief|last=Chulov|first=Martin|date=19 October 2012|newspaper=The Guardian|accessdate=19 October 2012}}</ref> Seven other people including his driver also died and nearly eighty people were wounded in the huge blast.<ref name=alsharif/><ref name=euro>{{cite news|title=Protests in Lebanon follow murder of intelligence chief|url=http://www.euronews.com/2012/10/20/protests-in-lebanon-follow-murder-of-intelligence-chief/|accessdate=20 October 2012|newspaper=Euronews|date=20 October 2012|archive-date=22 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022221040/http://www.euronews.com/2012/10/20/protests-in-lebanon-follow-murder-of-intelligence-chief|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=dstar211012/> Al-Hassan is believed to have been the target of the attack for his part in the investigations about Hariri's assassination by Hezbollah.<ref name="CNN">{{cite news|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2012/10/19/world/meast/lebanon-beirut-blast/index.html?hpt=hp_t1|title=Anti-Syrian official killed when car bomb rocks Beirut|last=Walsh|first=Nick Paton |author2=Jamjoom, Mohammed |author3=Sterling, Joe|date=19 October 2012|newspaper=CNN|accessdate=19 October 2012}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=DC (ACW) |first=Arab Center Washington |date=2024-03-01 |title=The Limits of Justice in Lebanon—and What It Means for the Future of the Country |url=https://arabcenterdc.org/resource/the-limits-of-justice-in-lebanon-and-what-it-means-for-the-future-of-the-country/ |access-date=2024-11-18 |website=Arab Center Washington DC |language=en-US}}</ref> Later his assassination was linked to Unit 121 that is responsible of several politic assassinations since the late 80's.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Abedine |first=Greg Botelho,Saad |date=2012-10-19 |title=Assassination of lauded, ‘polarizing’ intelligence official rocks Lebanon |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2012/10/19/world/meast/lebanon-bombing-al-hassan/index.html |access-date=2024-11-24 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Ramadan |first=Tala |date=2021 |title=Lebanon’s growing list of assassinations: A historical perspective |url=https://english.alarabiya.net/features/2021/02/07/Lebanon-crisis-Lebanon-s-growing-list-of-assassinations-a-historical-perspective}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Chulov |first=Martin |date=2012-10-19 |title=Lebanon's great divide exposed by assassination of security chief |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/oct/19/lebanon-divide-assassination-security-chief |access-date=2024-11-24 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> He returned to Beirut from abroad on 18 October 2012.<ref name=samia2212/>

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A state funeral ceremony for him was organized in Beirut on 21 October with the attendance of significant political figures and thousands of people.<ref name=dstar211012>{{cite news|title=Siniora demands Cabinet resign at Hasan's funeral in Beirut|url=http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Politics/2012/Oct-21/192178-lebanon-prepares-to-bury-intelligence-chief-hasan.ashx#axzz29m2blrIw|accessdate=21 October 2012|newspaper=The Daily Star|date=21 October 2012|location=Beirut}}</ref><ref name=samia2212>{{cite news|last=Nakhoul|first=Samia|title=Analysis: Killing of security chief raises fears for Lebanon|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-lebanon-explosion-turmoil-idUSBRE89L06T20121022|accessdate=22 October 2012|newspaper=Reuters|date=22 October 2012|location=Beirut}}</ref> Lebanese president [[Michel Suleiman]] awarded al-Hassan the National Order of the Cedar in Grade of Grand Officer at the ceremony.<ref name=naharnet22>{{cite news|title=Suleiman Asks Govt. Not to Provide Cover for Criminals|url=http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/57839-suleiman-asks-govt-not-to-provide-cover-for-criminals-urges-speedy-indictments-in-samaha-nahr-al-bared-cases|accessdate=22 October 2012|newspaper=Naharnet|date=22 October 2012}}</ref> Al-Hassan was buried alongside former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in a cemetery near [[Mohammad Al-Amin Mosque|the Mohammad Amin Mosque]].<ref name=dstar211012/>


==Personal life==
==Personal life==
Al-Hassan was married to Anna al-Hassan and had two sons, Majd and Mazen.<ref name=ahramap>{{cite news|title=Thousands gather for al-Hassan's funeral in Beirut|url=http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/2/8/56150/World/Region/Thousands-gather-for-alHassans-funeral-in-Beirut-.aspx|accessdate=22 October 2012|newspaper=Ahram Online|date=21 October 2012|agency=AP}}</ref>
Al-Hassan was married to Anna al-Hassan and had two sons, Majd and Mazen.<ref name=ahramap>{{cite news|title=Thousands gather for al-Hassan's funeral in Beirut|url=http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/2/8/56150/World/Region/Thousands-gather-for-alHassans-funeral-in-Beirut-.aspx|accessdate=22 October 2012|newspaper=Ahram Online|date=21 October 2012|agency=AP}}</ref>


== See also ==
==See also==
* [[Future Movement]]
* [[Lebanese–Syrian Security Apparatus]]
* [[Lebanese–Syrian Security Apparatus]]
* [[2011–2012 conflict in Lebanon]]
* [[2011–2012 conflict in Lebanon]]
* [[Future Movement]]
* [[Lebanese Information Branch]]
* [[List of assassinated Lebanese politicians]]
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* [[March 14 alliance]]


== References ==
== References ==
{{Reflist|2}}
{{Reflist|30em}}


{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
⚫
| NAME =al-Hassan, Wissam
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = Lebanese security official
| DATE OF BIRTH = 1965
| PLACE OF BIRTH =Tripoli, Lebanon
| DATE OF DEATH =October 19, 2012
| PLACE OF DEATH =Beirut, Lebanon
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hassan, Wissam al}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hassan, Wissam al}}
[[Category:1965 births]]
[[Category:1965 births]]
[[Category:2012 deaths]]
[[Category:2012 deaths]]
[[Category:Lebanese Sunni Muslims]]
[[Category:Lebanese Sunni Muslims]]
[[Category:Assassinated Lebanese politicians]]
[[Category:Lebanese terrorism victims]]
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[[Category:March 14 Alliance]]
[[Category:Deaths by car bomb in Lebanon]]
[[Category:Deaths by car bomb in Lebanon]]
[[Category:People murdered in Lebanon]]
[[Category:Terrorism deaths in Lebanon]]
[[Category:Terrorism deaths in Lebanon]]
[[Category:Lebanese terrorism victims]]
[[Category:Syrian civil war spillover in Lebanon]]
[[Category:People murdered in Lebanon]]
[[Category:Assassinated Lebanese people]]
[[Category:March 14 alliance]]
[[Category:Hezbollah attacks]]
[[Category:Assassinated military personnel]]

[[Category:Road incident deaths in Lebanon]]
[[ar:وسام الحسن]]
[[de:Wissam al-Hassan]]
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[[pl:Wissam al-Hassan]]

Latest revision as of 12:52, 24 November 2024

In this Lebanese name, the father's name is Adnan and the family name is al-Hassan.
Wissam al-Hassan
وسام الحسن
Personal details
Born(1965-04-11)11 April 1965
Btouratige, Koura District, Lebanon
Died19 October 2012(2012-10-19) (aged 47)
Achrafieh, Beirut, Lebanon
Manner of deathAssassinated
SpouseAnna al-Hassan
ChildrenMajd
Mazen
OccupationChief of Information Branch
Military service
Allegiance Lebanon
Branch/serviceInternal Security Forces
RankBrigadier general

Wissam Adnan al-Hassan (Arabic: وسام عدنان الحسن, romanized: Wisām ‘Adnān al-Ḥasan; 11 April 1965 – 19 October 2012) was a brigadier general at the Lebanese Internal Security Forces (ISF) and the head of its intelligence-oriented Information Branch. Seen as a leading Sunni figure in Lebanon, he was also a key player in the opposition March 14 alliance without having a political position.

Early life

[edit]

Al-Hassan was born into a Sunni family in the northern Lebanese city of Btouratige, Koura District, Lebanon, on 11 April 1965.[1][2] However, the UN report cites his birthplace as Tripoli.[3]

From 1992 to 1995 al-Hassan was official guard of the late Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.[3] During this period, he was an internal security officer under Ali Al Hajj.[3] In 1995, he was appointed Hariri's chief of protocol and served in this post until 1998.[3] Then he was named as the head of the Hariri office (1998 - 2000).[3] He worked as Hariri's head guard detachment from June 2001 to Summer 2004,[4] and also, promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel in this period.[3] Then he began to work for Saad Hariri as head of his office from 2004 to January 2006, and resigned from the ISF during this period.[3]

Rafik Hariri Assassination

[edit]
Main article: Assassination of Rafic Hariri

Rafik Hariri was killed in a massive car bomb in Beirut on 14 February 2005. As Hariri's chief of protocol, al-Hassan would have normally been in the motorcade that was hit by the attack, but he had taken the day off to undergo a university exam.[1][3][4]

In 2010, the U.N. investigators from the Special Tribunal for Lebanon suspected that al-Hassan was involved in the assassination of Hariri and recommended that he warranted a further detailed investigation,[3] since they considered his alibi to be "weak and inconsistent."[4] However, Hariri's son, Saad Hariri, said he had always had full confidence in al-Hassan. Al-Hassan was not among those indicted by the tribunal in January 2011. The tribunal's prosecutors are instead seeking the arrest of four members of the pro-Syrian Shia Muslim group Hezbollah.

Head of information branch at ISF

[edit]

Al-Hassan was named as the head of the information branch of the ISF on 19 January 2006,[3] and tasked with leading the investigation to Hariri's death.[4][5] Al-Hassan served under the ISF's director-general, Ashraf Rifi, who is one of the board members of the Prince Nayef University for Security Studies.[6] Al-Hassan achieved significant improvements in the capabilities of the information branch in terms of both domestic criminal matters and security issues.[7]

His intelligence unit was seen as being backed by the March 14 alliance, acting as a counterweight to the Lebanese Armed Forces's intelligence unit that is considered to have close links to Syria.[4] The members of his organization have been subject of repeated assassinations and assassination attempts. One of the information branch's tasks was dismantling the network of Israeli spies in Lebanon, and this led to the arrest of over 100 individuals suspected of collaborating with Israel.[5]

As the chief of the intelligence branch, al-Hassan was criticized by members of the March 8 Alliance for allegedly focusing his investigations on pro-Syrian figures and members of the March 8 Alliance. In August 2012, al-Hassan made headlines as the key player in an investigation that led to the arrest of former information minister Michel Samaha,[8] who was charged with transporting explosives into Lebanon with the help of the Syrian Security Chief Ali Mamlouk, in an alleged attempt to destabilize the country.[5][7] Al-Hassan had evidence of direct links between Samaha and senior Syrian political and intelligence aides, including top adviser to President Assad, Butheina Shaban.[9] Lebanese Interior Minister Marwan Charbel reported that al-Hassan was threatened in relation to the arrest of Samaha.[8] Colonel Imad Othman succeeded al-Hassan as the head of ISF's intelligence bureau on 21 October 2012.[10][11]

Political activities

[edit]

Al-Hassan acted as a mediator between Saad Hariri and Hezbollah.[12] In addition, al-Hassan supported the Syrian opposition in the Syrian civil war as it is alleged that he facilitated the flow of money and arms from the Gulf states and the West to the Syrian opposition through Lebanon.[13] Although al-Hassan was not directly involved in operations, his actions permitted the smuggling of arms destined for opposition forces from Lebanon to Syria, provided a safe haven for Syrian defectors in Lebanon, and resulted in the Syrian opposition using bases in Lebanon as staging areas for attacks into Syria.[13]

Al-Hassan was named as a possible negotiation partner by the Free Syrian Army after the Syrian insurgency fighters kidnapped 11 Lebanese Shi'a pilgrims in August.[4] Al-Hassan was considered an ally of the United States.[14]

Death and funeral

[edit]
Main article: October 2012 Beirut bombing

On 19 October 2012, al-Hassan died in a massive car bombing near the Achrafieh neighborhood of Beirut.[15] Seven other people including his driver also died and nearly eighty people were wounded in the huge blast.[9][16][17] Al-Hassan is believed to have been the target of the attack for his part in the investigations about Hariri's assassination by Hezbollah.[18][19] Later his assassination was linked to Unit 121 that is responsible of several politic assassinations since the late 80's.[20][21][22] He returned to Beirut from abroad on 18 October 2012.[23]

A state funeral ceremony for him was organized in Beirut on 21 October with the attendance of significant political figures and thousands of people.[17][23] Lebanese president Michel Suleiman awarded al-Hassan the National Order of the Cedar in Grade of Grand Officer at the ceremony.[24] Al-Hassan was buried alongside former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in a cemetery near the Mohammad Amin Mosque.[17]

Personal life

[edit]

Al-Hassan was married to Anna al-Hassan and had two sons, Majd and Mazen.[25]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Profile: Wissam al-Hassan". BBC News. 19 October 2012. Retrieved 19 October 2012.
  2. ^ Follath, Erich (5 November 2012). "Was Murdered Intelligence Chief a Hero or Double Agent?". Der Spiegel. Retrieved 5 November 2012.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Wissam Al Hassan" (PDF). CBC. 3 October 2008. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
  4. ^ a b c d e f "Who Was Wissam Al-Hassan?". Al Akhbar. 19 October 2012. Archived from the original on 21 October 2012. Retrieved 19 October 2012.
  5. ^ a b c Taylor, Alex (20 October 2012). "Hasan's pivotal security role". The Daily Star. Retrieved 20 October 2012.
  6. ^ AbuKhalil, Asad (13 August 2012). "The Michel Samaha Affair". Al Akhbar. Retrieved 20 October 2012.
  7. ^ a b Radin, CD (21 October 2012). "Beirut car bomb kills anti-Syrian intelligence general". Long War Journal. Retrieved 22 October 2012.
  8. ^ a b "Charbel: Hassan threatened before revealing Samaha case". NOW Lebanon. 20 October 2012. Retrieved 20 October 2012.
  9. ^ a b Al Sharif, Osama (24 October 2012). "Lebanon at the edge of precipice". Al Arabiya. Archived from the original on 24 October 2012. Retrieved 24 October 2012.
  10. ^ "Imad Othman Succeeds Hasan as ISF Intelligence Bureau Head". Naharnet. 22 October 2012. Retrieved 22 October 2012.
  11. ^ Salem, Paul (23 October 2012). "Lebanon's Fragile Peace Will Hold Despite Blow". Carnegie Middle East. Retrieved 21 April 2013.
  12. ^ Muhanna, Elias (22 October 2012). "The Many Faces of Wissam Al-Hassan". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 17 March 2013.
  13. ^ a b Stewart, Scott (15 November 2012). "Lebanon: Lessons from Two Assassinations". Stratfor: Global Intelligence. Austin, Texas. Archived from the original on 17 November 2012.
  14. ^ In Beirut Blast, U.S. Loses a Top Ally The Wall Street Journal, 26 October 2012
  15. ^ Chulov, Martin (19 October 2012). "Lebanon's great divide exposed by assassination of security chief". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 October 2012.
  16. ^ "Protests in Lebanon follow murder of intelligence chief". Euronews. 20 October 2012. Archived from the original on 22 October 2012. Retrieved 20 October 2012.
  17. ^ a b c "Siniora demands Cabinet resign at Hasan's funeral in Beirut". The Daily Star. Beirut. 21 October 2012. Retrieved 21 October 2012.
  18. ^ Walsh, Nick Paton; Jamjoom, Mohammed; Sterling, Joe (19 October 2012). "Anti-Syrian official killed when car bomb rocks Beirut". CNN. Retrieved 19 October 2012.
  19. ^ DC (ACW), Arab Center Washington (1 March 2024). "The Limits of Justice in Lebanon—and What It Means for the Future of the Country". Arab Center Washington DC. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
  20. ^ Abedine, Greg Botelho,Saad (19 October 2012). "Assassination of lauded, 'polarizing' intelligence official rocks Lebanon". CNN. Retrieved 24 November 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  21. ^ Ramadan, Tala (2021). "Lebanon's growing list of assassinations: A historical perspective".
  22. ^ Chulov, Martin (19 October 2012). "Lebanon's great divide exposed by assassination of security chief". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 24 November 2024.
  23. ^ a b Nakhoul, Samia (22 October 2012). "Analysis: Killing of security chief raises fears for Lebanon". Reuters. Beirut. Retrieved 22 October 2012.
  24. ^ "Suleiman Asks Govt. Not to Provide Cover for Criminals". Naharnet. 22 October 2012. Retrieved 22 October 2012.
  25. ^ "Thousands gather for al-Hassan's funeral in Beirut". Ahram Online. AP. 21 October 2012. Retrieved 22 October 2012.
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