The Political Security Directorate (PSD, Arabic: إدارة الأمن السياسي, romanized: 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.[1] Intelligence division is affiliated to the Ministry of Interior. Its activities involve the surveillance of the satellite parties of National Progressive Front and is active against the Syrian opposition.[2][3] It monitors literature, print publications, political dissent, and all media outlets.[1][4][5] This intelligence service has been headed by Major General Ghaith Shafeeq Deeb since February 5, 2021.[6]
| إدارة الأمن السياسي Idarat al-Amn al-Siyasi | |
 | |
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1971 |
| Jurisdiction | Government of Syria |
| Headquarters | Kafr Sousa, Damascus, Syria |
| Agency executive |
|
| Parent agency | Ministry of Interior |
Organization
editThe Political Intelligence Directorate is supervised by the Ministry of Interior.[7] The PSD is also controlled by President Bashar al-Assad through the National Security Bureau of the Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party Central Command.[8] It is divided into two departments:[9]
- Internal Security Department (ISD)
- External Security Department (ESD)
- Arab Affairs Branch
- Refugee Affairs Branch
- Zionist and Jewish Affairs Branch
Directors
edit- Ahmad Sa'id Salih (past—1987)[9]
- Adnan Badr Hassan (1987–2002)[10]
- Ghazi Kanaan (2002–2004)[11]
- Muhammad Mansoura (2004–2009)[12][13]
- Mohammed Dib Zaitoun (2009 – 25 July 2012)[14][15]
- Rustum Ghazali (25 July 2012 – 24 April 2015)
- 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–present)
Regional Directors
edit- 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
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "Herzliya Conference Bashar's Syria" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 July 2011. Retrieved 8 March 2013.
- ^ "Syria, Intelligence and Security". Espionageinfo. Archived from the original on 13 October 2008. Retrieved 8 March 2013.
- ^ "Bashar al-Assad's inner circle". BBC News. 30 July 2012. Archived from the original on 27 March 2022.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Bashar al-Assad's inner circle". BBC News. 30 July 2012. Archived from the original on 27 March 2022.
- ^ "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.
- ^ John Pike. "Syria Intelligence and Security Agencies". Globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 21 July 2012.
- ^ 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
- ^ a b Rathmell, Andrew (1996). "Syria's Intelligence Services: Origins and Development". The Journal of Conflict Studies. 16 (2). Retrieved 8 March 2013.
- ^ Worldwide, Keesings (2002). The Annual Register: A Record of World Events 2002 - Keesings Worldwide. ISBN 9781886994461. Retrieved 8 March 2013.
- ^ "A rather convenient suicide". The Economist. 12 October 2005. Retrieved 8 March 2013.
- ^ "Bahjat Suleiman Moved along with Other Security Chiefs". Syria Comment. 19 June 2005. Retrieved 8 March 2013.
- ^ "Political security department". Cablegatesearch. Archived from the original on 2 October 2013. Retrieved 8 March 2013.
- ^ Ahed Al Hendi (3 May 2011). "The Structure of Syria's Repression". Foreign Affairs. Retrieved 8 March 2013.
- ^ "Bashar al-Assad's inner circle". BBC. 30 July 2012. Retrieved 8 March 2013.
- ^ a b c "By all means necessary" (PDF). Human Rights Watch. Retrieved 8 March 2013.
- ^ a b Jihad Yazigi (24 September 2019). "Who's Who: Major General Husam Muhammad Louka". The Syrian Observer. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
- ^ "Syria Regime Appoints Ghaith Shafiq Fayyad Head of Political Security". The Syrian Observer. 2 December 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
- ^ Brigadier Sameer al-Sheikh from Idlib was serving in political security branch in Damascus countryside governorate circa 1993-2005
- ^ "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.