Ali Habib Mahmud
| Ali Habib Mahmud علي حبيب محمود | |
|---|---|
| Minister of Defense | |
|
In office 3 June 2009 – 8 August 2011 | |
| President | Bashar al-Assad |
| Prime Minister |
Mohammad Najji Outri Adel Safar |
| Preceded by | Hasan Turkmani |
| Succeeded by | Dawoud Rajiha |
| Chief of Staff of the Syrian Army | |
|
In office 3 June 2004 – 3 June 2009 | |
| President | Bashar al-Assad |
| Preceded by | Hasan Turkmani |
| Succeeded by | Dawoud Rajiha |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
1 January 1939 Tartus, Syria |
| Political party | Syrian Regional Branch of the Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party |
| Religion | Alawite |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Army of Syria |
| Years of service | 1959–2011 |
| Rank |
 Colonel General |
| Commands | 7th Mechanized Division |
| Battles/wars |
Yom Kippur War Lebanese Civil War Gulf War |
Ali Habib Mahmud (Arabic: علي حبيب محمود) (born 1 January 1939) is a Syrian military officer who served as Syria's minister of defense from June 2009 to August 2011. He was part of Assad's inner circle.[1] In September 2013, the Syrian opposition claimed that he defected and is now staying in Turkey.[2][3]
Early life and education
Mahmud was born into an Alawite family on 1 January 1939 in Tartus[4][5] and joined the army in 1959.[6] In 1962, he graduated from the military academy.[4]
Career
Mahmud fought in the 1973 October War against Israel. He also led forces against Israeli troops invading Lebanon in 1982. He commanded 7th mechanized infantry in 1985.[5] In 1986, Mahmud became a general.[7] He also participated in the Gulf War as part of the international coalition to liberate Kuwait from Saddam Hussein's Iraq in 1990.[1] In 1994, he was appointed commander of the special forces.[6] In 1998, he was promoted to the rank of major general.[7] He was appointed deputy chief of staff in 2002. On 12 May 2004, he was appointed chief of general staff of the Syrian army and the armed forces.[4][8] He replaced Hasan Turkmani, who was appointed defense minister.[8] In addition, Mahmud is a member of the Baath Party.[7]
On 3 June 2009, president Bashar Assad appointed Mahmud as defense minister, replacing again Hasan Turkmani.[4][9] Mahmud's term ended on 8 August 2011, and he was replaced by Dawoud Rajha in the post.[6]
On 4 September 2013, opposition claimed that Mahmud had defected to the opposition and escaped to Turkey.[10]
Sanctions
In May 2011, the United States accused Habib of human rights abuses, and announced a travel ban and asset freeze.[1]
References
- 1 2 3 "Bashar al-Assad's inner circle". BBC. 18 May 2011.
- ↑ News Flash. Ynet.co.il. Retrieved on 2013-09-06.
- ↑ Ex-Syria Defense Chief Defection Hurts Assad: Opposition. Businessweek. Retrieved on 2013-09-06.
- 1 2 3 4 وزير جديد للدفاع في سورية. BBC Arabic (in Arabic). 3 June 2009. Retrieved 15 December 2010.
- 1 2 Hanna Batatu (1999). Syria's Peasantry, the Descendants of Its Lesser Rural Notables, and Their Politics. Princeton University Press. p. 228. ISBN 978-0-691-00254-5. Retrieved 27 March 2013.
- 1 2 3 "Ex-Syrian DefMin Opposition to Hama crackdown led to firing – Sources". Asharq Alawsat. Damascus, London. 9 August 2011. Retrieved 5 April 2013.
- 1 2 3 "Who is Defence Minister Ali Habib Mahmoud?". Gulf News. 17 June 2011. Retrieved 8 March 2013.
- 1 2 Flynt Lawrence Leverett (1 January 2005). Inheriting Syria: Bashar's Trial by Fire. Brookings Institution Press. p. 190. ISBN 978-0-8157-5206-6. Retrieved 12 March 2013.
- ↑ "Syria names former army chief new defence minister". Syria Today. July 2009. Retrieved 15 December 2010.
- ↑ Exclusive: Former Syria defense minister defects in break with Assad. Reuters. Retrieved on 2013-09-06.
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Hasan Turkmani |
Deputy Chief of Staff of Army 2002–2004 |
Succeeded by Dawoud Rajiha |
| Preceded by Hasan Turkmani |
Chief of Staff of Army 2004–2009 |
Succeeded by Dawoud Rajiha |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by Hasan Turkmani |
Minister of Defense 2009–2011 |
Succeeded by Dawoud Rajiha |
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