Rafiq Shahadah

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Rafiq Shahadah
BornBtigramo, Jableh District, Latakia Governorate, Syria
AllegianceSyria Syria
Service/branchSyrian Army
Years of service1977–2018
RankSyria-Liwa.jpg Major general
UnitMilitary Intelligence Directorate (2012–2015)
Battles/warsSyrian civil war

Rafiq Shahadah (Arabic: رفيق شحادة) is a Syrian Army major general. He is head of the Military Intelligence Directorate and the Chief of Staff of the Syrian Army's operations in eastern Syria.[1]

Career[]

Shahadah was an adviser to President Bashar Al-Assad on strategy and military intelligence. At the initial phase of Syrian war Shahadah was serving as a security official in Homs.[2] 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."[2]

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.[3][4]

In 2015, Shahadah was dismissed from his role as director of Military Intelligence Directorate, following a dispute with Lt. General Rustum Ghazaleh.[5]

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.[6][7] The EU accused him of being "directly involved in repression and violence against the civilian population."[8] The same day, the Treasury of the United Kingdom also froze his assets.[9] The Swiss government sanctioned him the following month based on the reasons given by the EU.[10] Canada banned him from the country in October 2011.[11]

References[]

  1. ^ Aboufadel, Leith (28 June 2017). "Syrian military names new commander in eastern provinces".
  2. ^ a b Deb Riechmann (9 April 2018). "Slain reporter's family says Syrian forces targeted her". Associated Press. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  3. ^ "Bashar Assad's inner circle". BBC. 30 July 2012. Retrieved 17 December 2012.
  4. ^ "Assad reshuffles top security posts after bombing that killed four senior officials". The Times of Israel. Damascus. 24 July 2012. Retrieved 17 December 2012.
  5. ^ "The Death of Rustum Ghazaleh". Diwan. 30 April 2015.
  6. ^ "List of natural and legal persons". Official Journal of the EU. 19 January 2012. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
  7. ^ "EU releases new Syrian blacklist". Ahram Online. Agence France-Presse. 24 August 2011. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  8. ^ "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.
  9. ^ "Asset Freeze Targets". HM Treasury. 12 December 2012. Retrieved 17 December 2012.
  10. ^ "Ordinance instituting measures against Syria" (PDF). Federal Department of Economy. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 October 2013. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  11. ^ "Canada Expands Sanctions Against Syria". Government of Canada. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
Retrieved from ""