Religion Sunni Islam Rank Colonel General Awards Hero of the Republic Name Hikmat al-Shihabi | Allegiance Syria Service/branch Syrian Army Years of service 1952-1998 | |
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Born 1 July 1931
Al-Bab, Aleppo Governorate, Syria ( 1931-07-01 ) Political party Syrian Regional Branch of the Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party Died March 5, 2013, California, United States Battles and wars Six-Day War, Yom Kippur War | ||
Hikmat Shihabi (Arabic: حكمت الشهابي 8 January 1931 – 5 March 2013) was a Syrian career military officer, who served as the chief of staff of the Syrian Army between 1974 and 1998.
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Early life and education
Shihabi was born into a Sunni family in 1931 in Al-Bab, Aleppo province. He attended Homs military academy and then had advanced military training in the United States.
Career
Shihabi began his career in aviation, training in the Soviet Union and the United States. From 1968 to 1971 he served as deputy head of the military security department. In 1970, he earned a Soviet degree in intelligence services. In April 1971, he was named head of intelligence services of the (military intelligence), assisted by Colonel Ali Duba. He was promoted to a general the following year, and supervised the department of military security. After the 1973 Yom Kippur War, he led the Syrian delegation to the United States in April 1974, negotiating the conditions of the Syrian–Israeli disengagement. On 12 August 1974, he was appointed chief of staff of the Syrian Army, replacing Yusuf Shakkur, who was promoted to deputy defense minister. In December 1983, while President Hafez Assad was ill, Shihabi was part, along with General Mustafa Tlass and Ali Duba, of the committee in charge of running the country. From 1994 to 1995 he was part of a delegation that traveled to the United States to discuss peace negotiations with Israel. His term as chief of staff lasted until 1998.
Shihabii was also one of Ba'ath Party's four-member “old guard” members of the Regional Command.
Resignation
On 8 July 1998, after 24 years as army chief of staff, Shihabi resigned his post prior to Hafez Assad's death and was succeeded by Ali Aslan. Shihabi cited health reasons and a heart condition when asked about his resignation by president Assad who wanted to extend his service. In 2000, rumors surfaced in Syrian newspapers, which proved false, claiming that Shihabi would soon be indicted on corruption charges.
Alliances
Shihabi was one of the senior Syrian officials who were close to late Rafik Hariri, former prime minister of Lebanon, and Lebanon's Druze leader Walid Jumblatt.
Death
Shihabi died on 5 March 2013.