Military Intelligence Directorate (Syria)

The Military Intelligence Directorate was under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Defense. The MID was also controlled by the former President Bashar al-Assad through the National Security Bureau of the Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party Central Command. It was divided into eleven branches: • Technical (Computers) Branch (Branch 211) • Raids and Storming Branch (Branch 215) • Patrols Branch (Branch 216) • Front Intelligence Branch (Branch 220) • Internal and External Communications Branch (Branch 225) • Palestine Branch (Branch 235) • Wireless Branch (Branch 237) • Political Guidance Branch (Branch 248) • External Security Branch (Branch 279) • Officers Affairs Branch (Branch 293) • Armed Forces Security Branch (Branch 294) Responsibility The MID was responsible for providing clandestine and covert operations, counterinsurgency, counterintelligence, counter-revolutionary, counterterrorism, executive protection, military intelligence gathering on foreign and internal threats to the deposed Government of Syria, the former Syrian Armed Forces or the national security of Syria, irregular warfare, and political warfare. The service also monitored opponents of the former government inside/outside Ba'athist Syria. MID was both a foreign intelligence gathering and a military security (counterintelligence) service. During the Syrian occupation of Lebanon, the Mukhabarat exercised political authority in Lebanon. After Cedar Revolution and Syrian withdrawal in 2005, it ended. It was suspected of providing logistic and material support to different Palestinian or Lebanese radical groups. == Directors ==

• Abdel Hamid al-Sarraj (1954–1958) • Salah Nasr (1958–1961) • Rashid al-Qutayni (1961–1963) • Ahmed Suidani (1963–1965) • Ali Zaza (1965–1970) :* Deputy Director: Hikmat al-Shihabi (1968–1970) • Hikmat al-Shihabi (1970–1973) :* Deputy Director: Ali Duba (1971–1973) • Ali Duba (1973–2000) :* Deputy Director: Hassan Khalil (1993–2000) • Hassan Khalil (2000–2005) • Assef Shawkat (2005–2009) :* Deputy Director: Saeed Sammour (2005–2009) • Abdel-Fatah Qudsiyeh (July 2009–July 2012) :* Head of Internal Affairs (branch 293): Rafiq Shahadah (2011) • Rafiq Shahadah (July 2012 – March 2015) • Mohamed Mahala (March 2015 – March 2019) :* Deputy Director: Kifah Moulhem (March 2015 – March 2019) • Kifah Moulhem (March 2019 – 18 January 2024) • Brig. Gen. Kamal Hassan (2020–2023) • Damascus (Branch 215): • Brig. Gen. Sha'afiq (2012) accused of ordering or committing crimes against humanity. • Brig. Gen. Majid Ibrahim (2020–2024) • Damascus (Branch 248): Brig. Gen. Yousef Abdou (2012) accused of ordering or committing crimes against humanity. • Damascus (Branch 291): Brig. Gen. Burhan Qadour (past–2012) accused of ordering or committing crimes against humanity. • Tartus city branch: • Brig. Gen. Emad Mayhoub (2018–2020) • Daraa (Branch 245): • Brig. Gen. Louay al-Ali (2011–8 December 2024), the European Union sanctioned him for being responsible for the violence against protesters in Daraa during the Syrian uprising. • Brig. Gen. Wafiq Nasser (2011–2017) • Aleppo (Branch 290): • Muhammad Duba (1974–1979) • Brig. Gen. Wafiq Nasser (2020–2024) • Tadmur (Branch 221) • Al-Hasakah (Branch 222) == Paramilitary units ==

• Military Security Shield Forces • Military Security Falcons • Southern Shield Brigade • Al-Assad Shield Forces • Desert Commandos Regiment • Lions of Hamidiya • Forces of the Fighters of the Tribes • Popular Resistance of the Eastern Region • Syrian Resistance • Falcons of the Jazira and Euphrates == Other Syrian intelligence agencies ==

• National Security Bureau • Air Force Intelligence Directorate • General Intelligence Directorate • Political Security Directorate == References ==