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{{Short description|Syrian intelligence service}}
{{Short description|Syrian intelligence service}}
{{Infobox government agency
{{Infobox government agency
|agency_name = Political Security Directorate
| agency_name = Political Security Directorate
|nativename =
| nativename =
|nativename_a = {{lang|ar|إدارة الأمن السياسي}}
| nativename_a = {{lang|ar|إدارة الأمن السياسي}}
|nativename_r = ''Idarat al-Amn al-Siyasi''
| nativename_r = ''Idarat al-Amn al-Siyasi''
|logo =
| logo =
|logo_width =
| logo_width =
|logo_caption =
| logo_caption =
|seal = Coat of arms of Syria.svg
| seal =
|seal_width = 100px
| seal_width = 100px
|seal_caption =
| seal_caption = )
|formed =
| formed = {{start date and age|1971}}
|preceding1 =
| preceding1 =
|preceding2 =
| preceding2 =
|dissolved =
| dissolved = {{Start date and age|2024|12}}
|superseding =
| superseding =
|jurisdiction = [[Government of Syria]]
| jurisdiction = [[Government of Syria]]
|headquarters = Damascus, Syria
| headquarters = [[Kafr Sousa]], [[Damascus]], [[Syria]]
|employees =
| employees =
|budget =
| budget =
|minister1_name =
| minister1_name =
|minister1_pfo =
| minister1_pfo =
|minister2_name =
| minister2_name =
|minister2_pfo =
| minister2_pfo =
|chief1_name = Maj. Gen. Ghaith Shafeeq Deeb
| chief1_name = Ghaith Shafeeq Deeb
|chief1_position = Director
| chief1_position = Director
|chief2_name =
| chief2_name =
|chief2_position =
| chief2_position =
|parent_agency = [[Ministry of Interior (Syria)|Ministry of Interior]]
| parent_agency = [[Ministry of Interior (Syria)|Ministry of Interior]]
|child1_agency =
| child1_agency =
|child2_agency =
| child2_agency =
|website =
| website =
|footnotes =
| footnotes =
}}
}}


The '''Political Security Directorate''' ('''PSD''', {{lang-ar|إدارة الأمن السياسي|translit=Idarat al-Amn al-Siyasi}}) is an intelligence service of the [[Syrian government]]. It is divided into an Internal Security Department and an External Security Department.<ref name="herzliyaconference1">{{cite web|url=http://www.herzliyaconference.org/_Uploads/2590Bashars.pdf|title=Herzliya Conference Bashar's Syria|accessdate=8 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723214138/http://www.herzliyaconference.org/_Uploads/2590Bashars.pdf|archive-date=23 July 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> Intelligence division is affiliated to the [[Ministry of Interior (Syria)|Ministry of Interior]]. It's activities involve the surveillance of the satellite parties of [[National Progressive Front (Syria)|National Progressive Front]] and is active against the [[Syrian opposition]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espionageinfo.com/Sp-Te/Syria-Intelligence-and-Security.html|title=Syria, Intelligence and Security|publisher=Espionageinfo|accessdate=8 March 2013|archive-date=13 October 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081013023339/http://www.espionageinfo.com/Sp-Te/Syria-Intelligence-and-Security.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=30 July 2012 |title=Bashar al-Assad's inner circle |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-13216195 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220327062345/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-13216195 |archive-date=27 March 2022}}</ref> It monitors literature, print publications, political dissent, and all media outlets.<ref name="herzliyaconference1"/><ref name=ToddBloch2003>{{cite book|author1=Paul Todd|author2=Jonathan Bloch|title=Global Intelligence: The World's Secret Services Today|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_95QPEm3RcEC&pg=PA167|accessdate=8 March 2013|date=8 November 2003|publisher=Zed Books|isbn=978-1-84277-113-6|pages=167}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=30 July 2012 |title=Bashar al-Assad's inner circle |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-13216195 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220327062345/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-13216195 |archive-date=27 March 2022}}</ref> This intelligence service has been headed by Major General Ghaith Shafeeq Deeb since February 5, 2021.<ref>{{cite news|url = https://syria-today.org/2021/12/02/%d8%aa%d8%ab%d8%a8%d9%8a%d8%aa-%d8%a7%d9%84%d9%84%d9%88%d8%a7%d8%a1-%d8%ba%d9%8a%d8%ab-%d8%b4%d9%81%d9%8a%d9%82-%d9%81%d9%8a%d8%a7%d8%b6-%d8%af%d9%8a%d8%a8-%d8%b1%d8%a6%d9%8a%d8%b3%d8%a7%d9%8b-%d9%84/
The '''Political Security Directorate''' ('''PSD''', {{langx|ar|إدارة الأمن السياسي|translit=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.<ref name="herzliyaconference1">{{cite web|url=http://www.herzliyaconference.org/_Uploads/2590Bashars.pdf|title=Herzliya Conference Bashar's Syria|accessdate=8 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723214138/http://www.herzliyaconference.org/_Uploads/2590Bashars.pdf|archive-date=23 July 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> Intelligence division was affiliated to the [[Ministry of Interior (Syria)|Ministry of Interior]]. Its activities involved the surveillance of the satellite parties of [[National Progressive Front (Syria)|National Progressive Front]] and was active against the [[Syrian opposition]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espionageinfo.com/Sp-Te/Syria-Intelligence-and-Security.html|title=Syria, Intelligence and Security|publisher=Espionageinfo|accessdate=8 March 2013|archive-date=13 October 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081013023339/http://www.espionageinfo.com/Sp-Te/Syria-Intelligence-and-Security.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=30 July 2012 |title=Bashar al-Assad's inner circle |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-13216195 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220327062345/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-13216195 |archive-date=27 March 2022}}</ref> It monitors literature, print publications, political dissent, and all media outlets.<ref name="herzliyaconference1"/><ref name=ToddBloch2003>{{cite book|author1=Paul Todd|author2=Jonathan Bloch|title=Global Intelligence: The World's Secret Services Today|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_95QPEm3RcEC&pg=PA167|accessdate=8 March 2013|date=8 November 2003|publisher=Zed Books|isbn=978-1-84277-113-6|pages=167}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=30 July 2012 |title=Bashar al-Assad's inner circle |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-13216195 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220327062345/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-13216195 |archive-date=27 March 2022}}</ref> This intelligence service was headed by Major General Ghaith Shafeeq Deeb from February 5, 2021 until December 2024.<ref>{{cite news|url = https://syria-today.org/2021/12/02/%d8%aa%d8%ab%d8%a8%d9%8a%d8%aa-%d8%a7%d9%84%d9%84%d9%88%d8%a7%d8%a1-%d8%ba%d9%8a%d8%ab-%d8%b4%d9%81%d9%8a%d9%82-%d9%81%d9%8a%d8%a7%d8%b6-%d8%af%d9%8a%d8%a8-%d8%b1%d8%a6%d9%8a%d8%b3%d8%a7%d9%8b-%d9%84/
|title=Installing Major General Ghaith Shafiq Fayyad Deeb as Head of Political Security
|title=Installing Major General Ghaith Shafiq Fayyad Deeb as Head of Political Security
|archive-date = 2021-12-02
|archive-date = 2021-12-02
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|lang = ar
|lang = ar
|date = 2022-05-01
|date = 2022-05-01
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211202204753/https://syria-today.org/2021/12/02}}</ref>
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211202204753/https://syria-today.org/2021/12/02/%d8%aa%d8%ab%d8%a8%d9%8a%d8%aa-%d8%a7%d9%84%d9%84%d9%88%d8%a7%d8%a1-%d8%ba%d9%8a%d8%ab-%d8%b4%d9%81%d9%8a%d9%82-%d9%81%d9%8a%d8%a7%d8%b6-%d8%af%d9%8a%d8%a8-%d8%b1%d8%a6%d9%8a%d8%b3%d8%a7%d9%8b-%d9%84/}}</ref>

== Organization ==
The Political Intelligence Directorate was supervised by the [[Ministry of Interior (Syria)|Ministry of Interior]].<ref>{{cite web|author=John Pike |url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/intell/world/syria/index.html |title=Syria Intelligence and Security Agencies |publisher=Globalsecurity.org |access-date=2012-07-21}}</ref> The PSD was also controlled by former [[President of Syria|President]] [[Bashar al-Assad]] through the [[National Security Bureau (Syria)|National Security Bureau]] of the [[Central Command of the Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party – Syria Region|Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party Central Command]].<ref>[[Robert G. Rabil]] [https://books.google.com/books?id=2jvac2R5Z_cC&pg=PA214 Syria, the United States, and the war on terror in the Middle East] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160518165908/https://books.google.com/books?id=2jvac2R5Z_cC&pg=PA214 |date=18 May 2016 }}, Greenwood Publishing Group, 2006, {{ISBN|0-275-99015-X}} p.214</ref> It was divided into two departments:<ref name=rath1996/>
*Internal Security Department (ISD)
**Investigative Branch
**Operations Branch
*External Security Department (ESD)
**Arab Affairs Branch
**Refugee Affairs Branch
**Zionist and Jewish Affairs Branch


== Directors ==
== Directors ==
* Ahmad Sa'id Salih (past—1987)<ref name=rath1996>{{cite journal|last=Rathmell|first=Andrew|title=Syria's Intelligence Services: Origins and Development|journal=The Journal of Conflict Studies|year=1996|volume=16|issue=2|url=http://journals.hil.unb.ca/index.php/jcs/article/view/11815/12636|accessdate=8 March 2013}}</ref>
* Ahmad Sa'id Salih (Early 80s —1987)<ref name=rath1996>{{cite journal|last=Rathmell|first=Andrew|title=Syria's Intelligence Services: Origins and Development|journal=The Journal of Conflict Studies|year=1996|volume=16|issue=2|url=http://journals.hil.unb.ca/index.php/jcs/article/view/11815/12636|accessdate=8 March 2013}}</ref>
* [[Adnan Badr Hassan]] (1987–2002)<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wqZmAAAAMAAJ&q=Adnan+Badr+Hasan|title=The Annual Register: A Record of World Events 2002 - Keesings Worldwide|year=2002|isbn=9781886994461|accessdate=8 March 2013|last1=Worldwide|first1=Keesings}}</ref>
* [[Adnan Badr Hassan]] (1987–2002)<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wqZmAAAAMAAJ&q=Adnan+Badr+Hasan|title=The Annual Register: A Record of World Events 2002 - Keesings Worldwide|year=2002|isbn=9781886994461|accessdate=8 March 2013|last1=Worldwide|first1=Keesings}}</ref>
* [[Ghazi Kanaan]] (2002–2004)<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.economist.com/node/5016428|title=A rather convenient suicide|newspaper=The Economist|date=12 October 2005|accessdate=8 March 2013}}</ref>
* [[Ghazi Kanaan]] (2002–2004)<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.economist.com/node/5016428|title=A rather convenient suicide|newspaper=The Economist|date=12 October 2005|accessdate=8 March 2013}}</ref>
Line 53: Line 63:
:*Head of Investigative branch: Brig. Gen. Makhmoud al-Khattib (2011).<ref name=hrwmarch>{{cite web|title=By all means necessary|url=https://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/reports/syria1211webwcover_0.pdf|publisher=Human Rights Watch|accessdate=8 March 2013}}</ref>
:*Head of Investigative branch: Brig. Gen. Makhmoud al-Khattib (2011).<ref name=hrwmarch>{{cite web|title=By all means necessary|url=https://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/reports/syria1211webwcover_0.pdf|publisher=Human Rights Watch|accessdate=8 March 2013}}</ref>
:*Head of Operations branch: Brig. Gen. Mohamed Heikmat Ibrahim (2011).<ref name=hrwmarch/>
:*Head of Operations branch: Brig. Gen. Mohamed Heikmat Ibrahim (2011).<ref name=hrwmarch/>
* [[Nasser Muhammad Al-Ali]] (24 April 2015–2017)
* Nasser Muhammad Al-Ali (24 April 2015–2017)
* [[Mohammad Khaled al-Rahmoun]] (2017–26 November 2018)<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |author=Jihad Yazigi |title=Who's Who: Major General Husam Muhammad Louka |url=https://syrianobserver.com/who/53132/whos-who-major-general-husam-muhammad-louka.html |website=The Syrian Observer |date=2019-09-24 |access-date=2023-03-08}}</ref>
* [[Mohammad Khaled al-Rahmoun]] (2017–26 November 2018)<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |author=Jihad Yazigi |title=Who's Who: Major General Husam Muhammad Louka |url=https://syrianobserver.com/who/53132/whos-who-major-general-husam-muhammad-louka.html |website=The Syrian Observer |date=2019-09-24 |access-date=2023-03-08}}</ref>
* [[Hossam Louka]] (26 November 2018–July 2019)<ref name=":0" />
* [[Hossam Louka]] (26 November 2018–July 2019)<ref name=":0" />
* [[Nasser Muhammad Al-Ali]] (July 2019–5 February 2021)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://syrianobserver.com/security/71714/syria-regime-appoints-ghaith-shafiq-fayyad-head-of-political-security.html|access-date=19 January 2024|date=2 December 2021|title=Syria Regime Appoints Ghaith Shafiq Fayyad Head of Political Security|publisher=The Syrian Observer}}</ref>
* Nasser Muhammad Al-Ali (July 2019–5 February 2021)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://syrianobserver.com/security/71714/syria-regime-appoints-ghaith-shafiq-fayyad-head-of-political-security.html|access-date=19 January 2024|date=2 December 2021|title=Syria Regime Appoints Ghaith Shafiq Fayyad Head of Political Security|publisher=The Syrian Observer}}</ref>
* [[Ghaith Shafeeq Deeb]] (5 February 2021–present)
* Ghaith Shafeeq Deeb (5 February 2021–December 2024)
=== Regional Directors ===
=== Regional Directors ===
*[[Rif Dimashq]] branch: Brig. Gen. Sameer al-Sheikh (1993–2005)<ref>[https://x.com/putintintin1/status/1813302032876380440?t=yscr0b2pSjG4TRBtT6AZQA&s=19 Brigadier Sameer al-Sheikh from Idlib was serving in political security branch in Damascus countryside governorate circa 1993-2005]</ref>
⚫
*[[Daraa]] branch: [[Atef Najib]] (2011), the [[European Union]] sanctioned him for "being responsible for the violence against protesters in Daraa during the Syrian uprising".<ref name=EUsanctions3>{{cite journal|title=Joint Proposal for a COUNCIL REGULATION concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Syria and repealing Regulation (EU) No 442/2011|journal=EuroLex|year=2011|volume=52011PC0887|url=http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=COM:2011:0887:FIN:EN:HTML|accessdate=10 March 2012}}</ref> He was replaced by Brig. Gen. Nasser Al-Ali.<ref name=hrwmarch/>
*[[Aleppo]] branch: Brig. Gen. [[Akram Ali Muhammad]] (2009–2013)<ref>[https://alwatan.sy/archives/388953الرئيس الأسد يصدر مرسومين بتعيين أربعة محافظين جدد]</ref>
⚫
*[[Daraa Governorate|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".<ref name=EUsanctions3>{{cite journal|title=Joint Proposal for a COUNCIL REGULATION concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Syria and repealing Regulation (EU) No 442/2011|journal=EuroLex|year=2011|volume=52011PC0887|url=http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=COM:2011:0887:FIN:EN:HTML|accessdate=10 March 2012}}</ref> He was replaced by Brig. Gen. Nasser Al-Ali.<ref name=hrwmarch/>



== Other Syrian intelligence agencies ==
== Other Syrian intelligence agencies ==
*[[General Security Directorate (Syria)|General Security Directorate]]
*[[General Intelligence Directorate (Syria)|General Intelligence Directorate]]
*[[Military Intelligence Directorate (Syria)|Military Intelligence Directorate]]
*[[Military Intelligence Directorate (Syria)|Military Intelligence Directorate]]
*[[Air Force Intelligence Directorate]]
*[[Air Force Intelligence Directorate]]

Latest revision as of 06:51, 25 December 2024

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

[edit]

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

[edit]
  • 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

[edit]


Other Syrian intelligence agencies

[edit]

References

[edit]
  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. ^ الأسد يصدر مرسومين بتعيين أربعة محافظين جدد
  21. ^ "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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