Ali Habib Mahmud

Ali Habib Mahmud (Arabic: علي حبيب محمود‎‎; 1 January 1939 – 20 March 2020) was a Syrian military officer who served as Syria's minister of defense from June 2009 to August 2011. As one of Syria's most celebrated generals,[1] he was part of President Bashar al-Assad's inner circle.[2]

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	(1939-01-01)1 January 1939 Tartus, Syria
Died	20 March 2020(2020-03-20) (aged 81) Damascus, Syria
Political party	Syrian Regional Branch of the Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party
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

Early life and education

Mahmud was born into an Alawite family on 1 January 1939 in Tartus[3][4] and joined the army in 1959.[5] In 1962, he graduated from the military academy.[3]

Career

Mahmud fought in the 1973 October War against Israel. He also led forces against Israeli troops invading Lebanon in 1982, including the Battle of Sultan Yacoub.[6] He commanded 7th mechanized infantry in 1985.[4] 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.[2] In 1994, he was appointed commander of the special forces.[5] 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.[3][8] He replaced Hasan Turkmani, who was appointed defense minister.[8] In addition, Mahmud was a member of the Baath Party.[7]

On 3 June 2009, President Bashar Assad appointed Mahmud as defense minister, replacing again Hasan Turkmani.[3][9] Mahmud's term ended on 8 August 2011, and he was replaced by Dawoud Rajha in the post.[5]

On 4 September 2013, the opposition wrongly claimed that Mahmud had defected and escaped to Turkey.[10] In fact, he remained in Syria.[1]

Sanctions

In May 2011, the United States accused Habib of human rights abuses, and announced a travel ban and asset freeze.[2]

Death

On 20 March 2020, Mahmud died in Al Assad University Hospital, Damascus.[11]

References

1. Kamal Alam (23 January 2019). "Kissinger's Prophecy Fulfilled in Syria". War on the Rocks. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
2. "Bashar al-Assad's inner circle". BBC News. 18 May 2011.
3. وزير جديد للدفاع في سورية (in Arabic). BBC Arabic. 3 June 2009. Retrieved 15 December 2010.
4. 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.
5. "Ex-Syrian DefMin Opposition to Hama crackdown led to firing – Sources". Asharq Alawsat. Damascus, London. 9 August 2011. Retrieved 5 April 2013.
6. سوريا تنعى وزير الدفاع الأسبق علي حبيب.. قائد معركة "السلطان يعقوب". almayadeen.net (in Arabic). 20 March 2020.
7. "Who is Defence Minister Ali Habib Mahmoud?". Gulf News. 17 June 2011. Archived from the original on 9 October 2017. Retrieved 8 March 2013.
8. 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.
9. "Syria names former army chief new defence minister". Syria Today. July 2009. Archived from the original on 30 November 2010. Retrieved 15 December 2010.
10. Exclusive: Former Syria defense minister defects in break with Assad. Reuters. Retrieved on 2013-09-06.
11. "Former Syrian army chief Ali Habib dies aged 81". alaraby.co.uk. 20 March 2020.

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