Air Force Intelligence Directorate

The Air Force Intelligence Directorate (إدارة المخابرات الجوية) is an intelligence service of Syria, possibly the country's most powerful agency, owing its importance to Hafez al-Assad's role as the Air Force commander. Despite its name, it is mainly involved with issues other than air force intelligence, and took an active part in the suppression of the Muslim Brotherhood rebellion in the 1980s. Agents of this service have frequently been stationed in Syrian embassies or branch offices of the national airline.

History
The service was headed for nearly thirty years by Maj. Gen. Muhammad al-Khuli, who was trusted by Hafez al-Assad and had an office adjacent to the president's in the presidential palace. Between 1987 and 2002, it was headed by Ibrahim Huwayji. The service also took part in the efforts to put down the 2011 Syrian uprising against Bashar al-Assad's government. It is known to have been active in the town of Talkalakh near the Lebanese border. From 2009 until July 2019, the agency was headed by Major General Jamil Hassan, who is from Alawite sect.

As of 2023, it is headed by Major General Ghassan Jaoudat Ismail since 2019. Ghassan Jaoudat Ismail previously served as a security official in the eastern governorate of Deir ez-Zor. He is a part of Bashar al-Assad's inner circle, though he has criticized "the decision of the leadership" to not immediately crush the 2011 Syrian uprising in its very beginning, making him a hardliner in the Syrian leadership.

Directors

 * Muhammad al-Khuli (1963–1987)
 * Ibrahim Huwayji (1987–2002)
 * Iz a-Din Isma'il (2002 – 2005)
 * Deputy Director: Ali Mamlouk (2003 – June 2005)
 * Abdel-Fatah Qudsiyeh (2005 – 1 July 2009)
 * Jamil Hassan (1 July 2009–7 July 2019) was sanctioned by the European Union for being "involved in violence against the civilian population."
 * Deputy Director: Ghassan Jaoudat Ismail (2012–2019)
 * Deputy Director: Fu'ad Tawil (2012) was sanctioned by European Union for "the use of violence across Syria and intimidation and torture of protestors."
 * Head of Investigative Branch: Maj. Gen. Abdulsalam Fajer Mahmoud (2011), accused of ordering or committing crimes against humanity by Human Rights Watch.
 * Head of Special Operations Branch: Maj. Gen. Ghassan Jaoudat Ismail (2011).
 * Head of Operations Branch: Col. Suheil Hassan (2011).
 * Ghassan Jaoudat Ismail (8 July 2019–present)
 * Deputy Director: Malik Ali Habib (July 2023–present)
 * Head of Special Operations Branch: Brig. Gen. Mohammed Nafie Bilal (May 2024–present)

Regional Directors

 * Damascus branch: Brig. Gen. Ahmed Shaaban Muhammad (2024–present)
 * Eyad Mandou (2012)
 * Aleppo branch: Maj. Gen. Adib Salameh (2012–2016)
 * Hama branch: Col. Duraid Awad (2024–present)
 * Homs branch: Brig. Gen. Radwan Saqqar (2024–present)
 * Brig. Gen. Jawdat al-Ahmed (2012) accused of "ordering or committing crimes against humanity".
 * Latakia branch: Brig. Gen. Rami Ismail (2024–present)
 * Col. Suhail Al-Abdullah (2012) accused of "ordering or committing crimes against humanity".
 * Qamishli branch: Brig. Gen. Fouad Suleiman (2024–present)
 * Daraa branch: Col. Qusay Mihoub (2012) accused of "ordering or committing crimes against humanity".

Paramilitary units

 * Guardians of the Dawn (disbanded in 2017)
 * Lions of the Cherubim
 * Earthquake of Jobar
 * Ararat Group
 * Lions of the Valley
 * Intervention Regiment
 * Lions of Dwel’a
 * Khaybar Brigade (disbanded in 2017)
 * Fawj Nusur (Leopards) of Homs (disbanded in 2018)
 * Kata'ib al-Jabalawi of Homs (disbanded in 2018)

Other Syrian intelligence agencies

 * General Intelligence Directorate
 * Political Security Directorate
 * Military Intelligence Directorate