Rafiq Shahadah
رفيق شحادة
Head 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 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] Mohamed Mahala was appointed to the post.[7]

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.[8][9] The EU accused him of being "directly involved in repression and violence against the civilian population."[10] The same day, the Treasury of the United Kingdom also froze his assets.[11] The Swiss government sanctioned him the following month based on the reasons given by the EU.[12] Canada banned him from the country in October 2011.[13]

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. 1 2 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. ↑ Hugo (26 March 2019). "Assad Appoints New Head of Military Intelligence". The Syrian Observer. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  8. ↑ "List of natural and legal persons". Official Journal of the EU. 19 January 2012. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
  9. ↑ "EU releases new Syrian blacklist". Ahram Online. Agence France-Presse. 24 August 2011. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  10. ↑ "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.
  11. ↑ "Asset Freeze Targets". HM Treasury. 12 December 2012. Retrieved 17 December 2012.
  12. ↑ "Ordinance instituting measures against Syria" (PDF). Federal Department of Economy. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 October 2013. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  13. ↑ "Canada Expands Sanctions Against Syria". Government of Canada. Archived from the original on 2 October 2013. Retrieved 8 January 2013.


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