Political Security Directorate
إدارة الأمن السياسي
Idarat al-Amn al-Siyasi
Agency overview
Formed1971
JurisdictionGovernment of Syria
HeadquartersGrand Serail, Kafr Sousa, Damascus, Syria
Agency executive
  • Maj. Gen. Ghaith Shafeeq Deeb, Director
Parent agencyMinistry of Interior

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]

Organization

The General Intelligence Directorate is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Interior.[7] It is divided into two branches:

Directors

  • Head of Investigative branch: Brig. Gen. Makhmoud al-Khattib (2011).[15]
  • Head of Operations branch: Brig. Gen. Mohamed Heikmat Ibrahim (2011).[15]

Regional Directors

Other Syrian intelligence agencies

References

  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. ^ Rathmell, Andrew (1996). "Syria's Intelligence Services: Origins and Development". The Journal of Conflict Studies. 16 (2). Retrieved 8 March 2013.
  9. ^ Worldwide, Keesings (2002). The Annual Register: A Record of World Events 2002 - Keesings Worldwide. ISBN 9781886994461. Retrieved 8 March 2013.
  10. ^ "A rather convenient suicide". The Economist. 12 October 2005. Retrieved 8 March 2013.
  11. ^ "Bahjat Suleiman Moved along with Other Security Chiefs". Syria Comment. 19 June 2005. Retrieved 8 March 2013.
  12. ^ "Political security department". Cablegatesearch. Archived from the original on 2 October 2013. Retrieved 8 March 2013.
  13. ^ Ahed Al Hendi (3 May 2011). "The Structure of Syria's Repression". Foreign Affairs. Retrieved 8 March 2013.
  14. ^ "Bashar al-Assad's inner circle". BBC. 30 July 2012. Retrieved 8 March 2013.
  15. ^ a b c "By all means necessary" (PDF). Human Rights Watch. Retrieved 8 March 2013.
  16. ^ a b Jihad Yazigi (24 September 2019). "Who's Who: Major General Husam Muhammad Louka". The Syrian Observer. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
  17. ^ "Syria Regime Appoints Ghaith Shafiq Fayyad Head of Political Security". The Syrian Observer. 2 December 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
  18. ^ "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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