Director of the General Intelligence Service (Syria)

The Director of the General Intelligence Service (مدير جهاز المخابرات العامة) is the head of the General Intelligence Service (GIS), Syria's primary civilian intelligence agency responsible for national security intelligence, both domestically and internationally. The position was established on 26 December 2024 following the dissolution of the Ba'athist-era General Intelligence Directorate after the fall of the Assad regime.^[1] The director is appointed by the transitional president and oversees operations under the Ministry of Interior.

Director of the General Intelligence Service
مدير جهاز المخابرات العامة
Incumbent Hussein al-Salama since 4 May 2025
General Intelligence Service
Member of	National Security Council
Reports to	Minister Of Interior
Appointer	President of Syria
Term length	No fixed term
Formation	26 December 2024

The role encompasses directing intelligence gathering, counterintelligence, and security operations, with a mandate to reform previous repressive practices and focus on national stability during Syria's transitional period..^[2]

History

The origins of Syrian civilian intelligence trace back to the French Mandate period, where the Sûreté Générale served as the primary security apparatus. Post-independence in 1946, it evolved through various iterations, including the Department of General Security (1945–1958), Internal Security Forces Command (1961–1971), and the General Intelligence Directorate (1971–2024), which was notorious for domestic repression and human rights abuses under the Assad regime.

The GIS was created amid the 2024 Syrian revolution's success, aiming to dismantle the mukhabarat state's legacy of surveillance and torture.^[3] Initial director Anas Khattab pledged institutional reforms to prevent past abuses.^[4] The agency has since undergone leadership changes to align with transitional governance goals.

List of Directors

• Anas Khattab ( 26 December 2024 — 3 May 2025)
• Hussein al-Salama ( 3 May 2025 — present)