(Zaman al-Wasl)- War criminals will have the same shameful fate like their predecessors. With these statements, the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power described a group of regime army officers while she counts them in their names during a council session on Monday without revealing more details related to them.
Based on her message for justice and empowerment for freedom and dignity which those officers have stepped over, Zaman al-Wasl reviewed its data and analyzed the data to come up with official data that confirms the real names of those officers (with father and mother name), place of birth, and the posts they were appointed to along with the roles they performed.
Adib Salameh
His name came up in the official record obtained by Zaman al-Wasl under the name Adib son of Nimer and Janineh. He was born in Salamiye in 1953. In another archive, his name came up as Adib son of Nimer and Dabiya and born in Malta (a small farm in Salamiye area) in 1953.
The data revealed that Adib has brothers called Mujeeb (1947), Muneeb (1951) and Museeb (1955). Musseb’s register is different from his brothers. His register is in Taltut meaning Tal Taltut, an area subordinate to Salamiye region.
Salameh was known by the title “Abu Nimer” as one of the toughest Air Intelligence officers and security officers in general especially after the force was involved in suppressing, arresting, and torturing countless number of Syrians. He used his post to do that as he was chief of Air Intelligence Branch in Aleppo.
In Septmeber 2016, Bashar al-Assad appointed brigadier-general Iyad Mandou instead of major-general Adib Salameh in the post of Chief of Air Intelligence Branch in Aleppo. It has been said that Salameh was appointed to deputy Chief of Air Intelligence in all of Syria to become the right hand of the major-general Jamil Hassan, the head of administration.
Zaman al-Wasl had previously published reports backed up by official documents about the violations of gangs led by Museeb, the brother of Adib, in Salamiye region including murders, kidnapping, burning, cutting, and looting. Those crimes were even committed against regime loyalists including Alwaite loyalists.
Museeb committed all those violations without fear of being held accountable since he has his immunity given to his brother major general Adib.
Rafiq Shihadeh
His name was mentioned in official record by the name Rafiq Shihadeh, son of Mahmoud and Azize. He was born in Sharasher (Jableh) in 1956. Rafiq has many siblings. His most prominent sibling is Mueen (1961). He is brigadier-general serving in the presidential palace as commander of procession. He accompanies Bashar al-Assad in most of his tours like in the official visit of Bashar al-Assad to France beginning of 2010.
Rafiq has other siblings: Wafiq (1953), Bassam (1966), Tawfiq (1976). Zaman al-Wasl did not find any records indicating to Sharif Shihadeh (who used to appear in media defending the regime) and whether in reality he was a brother to major-general Rafiq Shihadeh.
The name of major-general Rafiq Shihadeh was listed in British sanction list against Bashar al-Assad regime. The list described him as former chief of Air Intelligence Branch and advisor to Bashar al-Assad in strategic and military intelligence issues.
Rafiq worked in the beginning of his service to the regime in the special protection team of Hafez al-Assad. Later, he was transferred to Political Security Branch in Maysat in Damascus. The transference was considered a disciplinary punishment before Bashar awarded him again giving him the post of Head of 293 Branch in Air Intelligence (Officers Branch). The branch is considered the strongest intelligence branch after 291 Branch.
In mid-2012, after the incident known as “crisis cell bomb”, Bashar al-Assad promoted him to Chief of Air Intelligence in conjunction with appointing Rustum Ghazali as Chief of Political Security Branch.
Shihadeh and Ghazali were appointed in the same date. They were also deposed at the same time in spring of 2015 as a consequence of a fight between them which led Ghazali to hospital before he dies of his injuries. He was announced dead on April 24, 2015. Since Bashar deposed Shihadeh, his whereabouts are unknown. It is not known if he has been appointed to another post, but certainly he has left Military Intelligence giving way to major-general Mohamed Mahla. Ghazali also gave way with his death to major-general Nazeeh Hasun to take Ghazali’s post in Political Security Branch.
Jawdat Mawas
Mawas was mentioned in official record as the son of Salibi and Milia. He was born in Rabah village in 1954 (Homs western countryside). He is ranked as major-general and not brigadier-general as it has been said in media reports.
Jawdat has a twin brother called Mures (1954). He is also major-general and currently head of Medical Services Administration in regime army. He used to serve as head of Tishreen Military Hospital.
Jawdat has an elder sibling as well called Naeem (1948) and two younger ones: Ghatas (1957) and Jaber (1964).
Mawas served in the 155 Brigade located in Quatiyfe area in Damascus countryside. The brigade is specialized in Ballistic missiles especially Russian Scuds. Mawas supervised the launch of Scud missiles on populated areas in Syrian north in a campaign that killed and majorly destroyed areas.
Adnan Hilweh
His name was mentioned in records as Adnan, son of Hilweh daughter of Aboud and Nazera. He was born in Jableh (Jub Yashout) in 1957. He has an elder sibling called Ali (1943) and younger sibling called Ayman (1965). His name was known as brigadier-general Hilweh as a partner for Jawdat Mawas in supervising preparation and launch of Scud missiles towards cities in the Syrian north.
Taher Khalil
Taher Khalil son of Hamed and Wajiha. He was born in Ayn Hafad village (Safita-Tartus region) in 1955. Some reports have wrongly mentioned his name as Hamed Khalil Taher. Taher has an elder brother called Mohamed.
Brigadier-general Khalil Taher served in missiles administration and there are different testimonies related to his involvement in launching destructive Scud missiles and his involvement and supervision of Chemical Massacre in Ghouta in August 2013.
At the end of October 2016, his name was mentioned in one of the most recent European sanction lists.
At the end of 2012 and beginning of 2013 and in conjunction with regime intensifying targeting of cities and towns in Syrian north with Scud missiles, Taher Khalil’s name was prominent as head of Missiles Administration in regime army and the direct official responsible for launch of missiles from their bases in 155 Brigade in Damascus countryside.
Before the regime perpetuated the horrific Chemical Massacre against population of Ghouta of Damascus, Khalil supervised transportation and storage of missiles prepared to carry chemical heads to place them in 155 Brigade headquarters in Damascus countryside, according to testimonies.
It is said that brigadier-general Khalil himself came in the dawn of the massacre day and precisely at 2:30 a.m. where missiles carrying Sarin gas were launched in front of his eyes and a group of regime army officers.
In general, Taher Khalil, Jawdat Mawas, Adnan Hilwh and others form one murderous circle which spread death and destruction in Syria using all their experience in missiles and chemical material against the Syrian population.
Shafiq Masa
His name was mentioned in the official records obtained by Zaman al-Wasl under the name Shafiq Masa son of Hasan and Abla. He was born in al-Zara (located in Hama southern countryside) in 1956. Shafiq Masa has younger siblings except for Mohamed. They are: Mihsen (1957), Jawdat (1959), Bahjat (1964), Habib (1965) and Madyan (1974).
The name of brigadier-general Shafiq Masa was listed in a British sanction list as the head of 215 Branch in Military Intelligence. The branch known as “the death branch” since many have been killed and tortured to death in this branch. Photos of “crime of the times” revealed via the defect Qaysar the horrific crimes committed in all security branches and especially 215. The regime tradition is known to write the name of the branch on the body of the victim killed under torture.
To see some photos of victims of torture in Assad detentions, press here. Warning: the photos are extremely very harsh graphic content.
Qusai Mihoub
His name was mentioned as Mihoub son of Ibrahim and Fatima. He was born in Dirghamou (Jableh-Latakia region) in 1961. He has an elder sibling called Jundub (1959) and two younger siblings: Mohamed (1963) and Sam (1973). His name was listed in European and British sanctions list as the head of Air Intelligence Branch in Daraa.
Mihoub took an advanced position from his peers in oppressing the Syrians’ revolution. When the revolution broke out in March 2011, Mihoub was appointed as deputy chief of southern region branch in Air Intelligence, the headquarter is in Harasta, Damascus countryside. he was assigned to prepare and lead a huge group including personnel from the special missions in Air Intelligence to go to Daraa and suppress the protests. He himself led the suppression campaign which ended in storming of al-Omari Mosque.
His name was mentioned in a report published by Human Rights Watch end of 2011 where an Air Intelligence personnel gave a testimony confirming that Mihoub gave orders to his unit to “stop the protesters in any way or form” including killing them.
In the summer of 2012, a recording was broadcasted for a faction from the Free Syrian Army (FSA) where the faction arrested a Mihoub agent and forced him to make a phone call with the brigadier-general.
During the phone call, the agent informed Mihoub that he killed one of the people they agreed to finish, and here Mihoub went happy with the news stressing that he will tell prominent names about the news. When the agent confirmed to him the news, Mihoub promised to send him a financial award.
Mihoub asked the agent about how many bullets were emptied in the victim’s body and whether in the head. He warned the agent to hide the matter or he will face a dark end.
In the fall of 2014, US Treasury Department added Mihoub to sanctions list where it accused him of issuing orders to his forces to the “necessity of stop of protests against the regime in 2011 in any possible way including use of force to kill.”
Approximately at the same time, regime loyalists accused Mihoub directly of kidnapping Mudar Hassan Khadour who launched a campaign called “where are they” to know the fate of Assad officers and soldiers in the 17 Army Division and Tabaqa Airport in Raqqa after ISIS captured them.
Mihoub’s name was mentioned in special official lists describing him as the “angel of air intelligence”. The lists were exclusively published by Zaman al-Wasl.
Abdul Salam Hamoud
His name was mentioned in the record obtained by Zaman al-Wasl under the name Abdul Salam Mahmoud son of Fajr and Shazinan. He was born in Fuaa (Idlib) in 1959. He has an elder brother called Ibrahim (1956) and two younger brothers: Ahmad (1963) and Yaser (1970).
His name Abdul Salam Mahmoud was listed in European and British sanction list as the head of Air Intelligence Branch in Damascus countryside located in Bab Tuma.
His name was also mentioned as the head of investigation branch in Air Intelligence in leaked lists published by Zaman al-Wasl.
Mahmoud was the head of the investigation branch located in Mezzeh Military Airport. It is one of the most barbaric branches in Air Intelligence. The branch is responsible for the killing and torturing of hundreds of thousands Syrians.
Mahmoud was head of the investigation branch when Saida Residential Massacre happened in April 2011 where hundreds were killed and arrested including child Hamza al-Khatib whose body was delivered to his family after he was killed under torture.
Hamze became one of the icons of the Syrian revolution. His killing under torture formed a turning point in the revolution where many peaceful rebels were convinced of the impossibility of resisting the regime peacefully.
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