Rafiq Shahadah
Director of Military Intelligence Directorate
In office
July 2012 – March 2015
Preceded byAbdel-Fatah Qudsiyeh
Succeeded byMohamed Mahala
Personal details
Born1956 (age 67–68)
Jableh, Latakia Governorate, Syria
Military service
AllegianceSyria Syria
Branch/serviceSyrian Army
Years of service1977–2018
Rank Major general
Battles/warsSyrian civil war

Rafiq Shahadah (Arabic: رفيق شحادة, born 1956) is a retired Syrian Army major general. He was head of the Military Intelligence Directorate and the chief of staff of the Syrian Army's operations in Eastern Syria.[1]

Early life

Shahadah was born in Jableh, Latakia Governorate, in 1956.[2]

Career

Shahadah was an adviser to President Bashar Al-Assad on strategic questions and military intelligence. At the initial phase of Syrian war Shahadah was serving as a security official in Homs.[3] During his tenure Marie Colvin, a war correspondent, was killed in an attack in February 2012 which was confirmed by Shahadah who stated "Marie Colvin was a dog and now she’s dead. Let the Americans help her now."[3]

Shahadah was appointed chief of the Military Intelligence Directorate in July 2012, replacing Abdul Fatah Qudsiya, who then became the deputy director of the National Security Bureau.[4][5]

In 2015, Shahadah was dismissed from his role as director of Military Intelligence Directorate, following a dispute with Lt. General Rustum Ghazaleh.[6] After him, Mohamed Mahala was appointed to the post.[7] Until 1 January 2018, Shahadah was head of the Military Security Committee in Deir Ezzor.[8] In July 2020, Shahadah was named as the head of the military office at the Syrian Presidency.[9]

Sanctions

On 24 August 2011, the European Union sanctioned Shahada and stated that he was the head of military intelligence's branch 293 which is charged with internal affairs in Damascus.[10][11] The EU accused him of being "directly involved in repression and violence against the civilian population."[12] The same day, the Treasury of the United Kingdom also froze his assets.[13] The Swiss government sanctioned him the following month based on the reasons given by the EU.[14] Canada banned him from the country in October 2011.[15]

References

  1. ^ Leith Aboufadel (28 June 2017). "Syrian military names new commander in eastern provinces". Archived from the original on 4 November 2018. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
  2. ^ "Asset Freeze Targets" (PDF). HM Treasury. 29 June 2022. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
  3. ^ a b Deb Riechmann (9 April 2018). "Slain reporter's family says Syrian forces targeted her". Associated Press. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  4. ^ "Bashar Assad's inner circle". BBC. 30 July 2012. Retrieved 17 December 2012.
  5. ^ "Assad reshuffles top security posts after bombing that killed four senior officials". The Times of Israel. Damascus. 24 July 2012. Retrieved 17 December 2012.
  6. ^ "The Death of Rustum Ghazaleh". Diwan. 30 April 2015.
  7. ^ "Assad Appoints New Head of Military Intelligence". The Syrian Observer. 26 March 2019. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  8. ^ "President al-Assad to army personnel in Deir Ezzor: You kept the promise and set great model for next generations". Syrian Arab News Agency. 5 September 2017. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  9. ^ @AymanDas1 (6 July 2020). "Major General #Rafiq_Shahada was appointed as a head of the Syrian president's office" (Tweet) – via Twitter. [user-generated source]
  10. ^ "List of natural and legal persons". Official Journal of the EU. 19 January 2012. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
  11. ^ "EU releases new Syrian blacklist". Ahram Online. Agence France-Presse. 24 August 2011. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  12. ^ "Council Implementing Decision 2011/515/CFSP of 23 August 2011 implementing Decision 2011/273/CFSP concerning restrictive measures against Syria". EURLex. Archived from the original on 9 January 2013. Retrieved 17 December 2012.
  13. ^ "Asset Freeze Targets". HM Treasury. 12 December 2012. Retrieved 17 December 2012.
  14. ^ "Ordinance instituting measures against Syria" (PDF). Federal Department of Economy. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 October 2013. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  15. ^ "Canada Expands Sanctions Against Syria". Government of Canada. Archived from the original on 2 October 2013. Retrieved 8 January 2013.

External links

Heads of the Military Intelligence Directorate of Syria
Categories