(Zaman Al Wasl)- Syrian regime President Bashar al-Assad has extended the military duty of Jamil al-Hassan, his close advisor for another year, delaying the retirement the head of the Syrian Air Force Intelligence Directorate for the seventh time, sources told Zaman al-Wasl.
Maj Gen al-Hassan, 65, was sanctioned by the European Union on 9 May 2011 over his war crimes against the Syrian people since the revolution erupted seven years ago. On 29 June 2011, the United States also sanctioned him due to his involvement in human rights abuses in Syria.
Al Hassan replaced Abdul Fatah Qudsiya as head of Air Force Intelligence in 2009.
Though smaller than Military Intelligence, AFI is seen by some as the elite agency of Syria's intelligence empire, according to BBC. The agency owes its power to Hafez al-Assad, who was air force chief before coming to power in a coup. It plays a leading role in operations against Islamist opposition groups, as well as covert actions abroad, and has a reputation for brutality.
Gen Hassan, an Alawite, previously served as a security official in the eastern province of Deir al-Zour.
Although Bashar al-Assad inherited Syria's presidency on his father's death in 2000, analysts say he does not have Hafez al-Assad's absolute grip on power. He is surrounded by military and intelligence figures, most of whom are either related to the president or are members of his minority Alawite community. (With BBC)
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