Years of service 1977- Rank Major General Service/branch Syrian Army | Battles/wars Syrian civil war Allegiance Syria Name Rafiq Shahadah | |
Unit Military Intelligence Directorate | ||
Battles and wars Syrian civil war | ||
Rafiq Shahadah (Arabic: رفيق شحادة) is a Syrian major general and the Chief of Staff of the Syrian Arab Army's operations in Deir ez-Zor.
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Career
Shahadah is a major general in the Syrian armed forces, who served as adviser to President Bashar Al-Assad for strategic questions and military intelligence. He was appointed chief of military intelligence in July 2012 and replaced Abdul Fatah Qudsiya who became the deputy director of the National Security Bureau.
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. The EU accused him of being "directly involved in repression and violence against the civilian population." The British Treasury also froze his assets along with other Syrian officials on 24 August 2011. The Swiss government sanctioned him in September 2011 based on the reasons given by the EU. Canada also put travel ban on him in October 2011.
Personal life
Shahadah is originally from Bitgramo, Jableh District.