{{Short description|Syrian intelligence officer (born 1946)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2025}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = | name = Ali Mamlouk | honorific_suffix = | native_name = {{Script/Arabic|علي مملوك}} | native_name_lang = ar | image = | caption = | office = Deputy Vice President for Security Affairs | president = Bashar al-Assad | prime_minister = Imad Khamis<br>Hussein Arnous<br>Mohammad Ghazi al-Jalali | term_start = 9 July 2019 | term_end = 8 December 2024 | predecessor = Mohammed Nasif Kheirbek | successor = | office1 = National Security and Military Advisor to the Presidency of the Syrian Arab Republic | president1 = Bashar al-Assad | term_start1 = 18 January 2024 | term_end1 = 8 December 2024 | predecessor1 = Ali Aslan | successor1 = | office2 = Director of the National Security Bureau of<br>the Regional Command | 1blankname2 = Regional Secretary<br>Deputy | 1namedata2 = Bashar al-Assad<br>Abdel-Fatah Qudsiyeh | term_start2 = 25 July 2012 | term_end2 = 9 July 2019 | predecessor2 = Hisham Ikhtiar | successor2 = Mohammed Dib Zaitoun | office3 = Director of the General Security Directorate | president3 = Bashar al-Assad | term_start3 = June 2005 | term_end3 = July 2010 | predecessor3 = Hisham Ikhtiar | successor3 = Zouheir Hamad | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1946|02|19|df=y}} | death_date = | birth_place = Damascus, Syria | death_place = | nickname = Abu Ayham | birth_name = | party = Ba'ath Party | allegiance = {{flag|Ba'athist Syria}} | branch = {{flagicon image|Flag of the Syrian Arab Armed Forces (1980–2024).svg}} Syrian Arab Armed Forces | service_years = 1970s–2005 | rank = 35px Major General | servicenumber = | unit = | commands = General Security Directorate (2005–2010) <br/> National Security Bureau (2012–2019) | battles_label = | awards = | relations = | laterwork = | signature = }}
'''Ali Mamlouk''' ({{langx|ar|علي مملوك}}; born 19 February 1946) is a Syrian intelligence officer who served as a special security and military advisor to former president Bashar al-Assad. He is reportedly one of Assad's most trusted associates. From 2012 to 2019, Mamlouk served as the head of the National Security Bureau of the Ba'ath Party. On 9 July 2019, Mamlouk was appointed as the Syrian Deputy Vice President for Security Affairs.<ref name="Am01">{{Cite web|url=https://en.majalla.com/node/309096/opinion/al-assad-about-have-his-very-own-%E2%80%98sadat-moment%E2%80%99|title=Is al-Assad about to have his very own 'Sadat Moment'?|author=Ibrahim Hamidi|publisher=Al Majalla|date=24 January 2024|access-date=25 January 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.middleeasteye.net/opinion/why-did-assad-restructure-syrias-military-security-apparatus |title=Syria war: Why did Assad restructure the military-security apparatus?|publisher=Middle East Eye|author=Paul Khalifeh|date=17 July 2019|access-date=30 December 2023}}</ref>
==Early life== Ali Mamlouk was born in Al-Bahsa, Damascus into a Sunni family on 19 February 1946.<ref name=syrianobserver>{{cite news|title=Who's who: Government: Ali Mamlouk|url=http://78.138.104.166/Who/Gov_Who/Whos+who+Government+Ali+Mamlouk|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130219091447/http://78.138.104.166/Who/Gov_Who/Whos+who+Government+Ali+Mamlouk|url-status=dead|archive-date=19 February 2013|access-date=4 February 2013|newspaper=The Syrian Observer|date=3 January 2013}}</ref><ref name=officialjournal/> There is another report giving his birth year as 1945.<ref name=lbc11>{{cite news|title=Who is Ali Mamlouk indicted by the Lebanese Judiciary?|url=http://www.lbcgroup.tv/news/42483/who-is-ali-mamlouk-indicted-by-the-lebanese-judici|access-date=4 February 2013|newspaper=LBC|date=11 August 2012}}</ref><ref name="Bashar al-Assad's inner circle"/> His family history goes back to Ahmed Pasha Al-Mamlouk a hundred years ago, who is buried in the Al-Mamlouk family graves in Al-Dahdah cemetery in Damascus.<ref>[http://www.kurdistanabinxete.com/Siyaset/Suri/Mecliseledla/ALlwaMamluk.htm دمشق ، باريس 19 حزيران / يونيو 2005_اللواء علي مملوك :<!-- عنوان مولد بالبوت -->] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170521030331/http://www.kurdistanabinxete.com/Siyaset/Suri/Mecliseledla/ALlwaMamluk.htm |date=21 مايو 2017}}</ref> His family also has branches in Lebanon, Palestine and Egypt.
==Career== Mamlouk is said to be one of the founding officers of the Syrian Air Force Intelligence in the 1970s. He was deputy director there,<ref name=lbc11/><ref name=anud18july>{{cite news|last=Kaphie|first=Anud|title=Who's who in Bashar al-Assad's inner circle?|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/blogpost/post/whos-who-in-bashar-al-assads-inner-circle/2012/07/18/gJQAd5BftW_blog.html|access-date=10 March 2013|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=18 July 2012}}</ref> when in June 2005 President Bashar al-Assad appointed him head of the General Security Directorate.<ref name=Rabil>{{cite book|last=Phares|first=Robert G. Rabil; foreword by Walid|title=Syria, the United States, and the war on terror in the Middle East|year=2006|publisher=Praeger security international|location=Westport (Conn.)|isbn=9780275990152|pages=215|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=M18Jj0bMMl0C&q=%22Ali+Mamlouk%22&pg=PA215}}</ref> In 2010, Gen. Mamlouk discussed efforts to increase co-operation between Washington, D.C. and Damascus on terrorism issues at a surprise meeting with US diplomats. He said the GID had been more successful at fighting terrorism in the region because "we are practical and not theoretical".<ref name=BBC>{{cite news| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-13216195|work=BBC News|title=Bashar al-Assad's inner circle| date=12 August 2012}}</ref>
Mamlouk was said to be on good terms with all of Syria's intelligence agencies; the heads of the Air Force Intelligence Directorate and the Political Security Directorate were once his assistants.<ref name="Bashar al-Assad's inner circle"/> In July 2012 following the Damascus security HQ bombing, it was reported that Mamlouk would become the head of the National Security Bureau with the rank of minister overseeing the entire security apparatus, and that former military intelligence chief Abdel-Fatah Qudsiyeh would become his assistant.<ref>[https://archive.today/20130223041928/http://main.omanobserver.om/node/104133 New chief named in security reshuffle] ''Oman Daily Observer,'' 25 July 2012</ref><ref name=naharnet24>{{cite news|title=Rustom Ghazali Named Chief of Political Security|url=http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/47652|access-date=4 February 2013|newspaper=Naharnet|date=24 July 2012}}</ref>
===Syrian Civil War=== Mamlouk is one of many officials sanctioned by the European Union for their alleged actions against protesters participating in the Syrian revolution.<ref>[http://www.upi.com/Top_News/Special/2010/10/21/Syrias-Assad-reshuffles-security-chiefs/UPI-89111287688825/ Syria's Assad 'reshuffles security chiefs'] ''UPI,'' 21 October 2010</ref><ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20131212105846/http://youkal.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=27056:-13-&catid=34:2009-11-15-22-46-13&Itemid=110 List of 13 Syrian officials blacklisted by the EU]}} ''Youkal'' Retrieved 21 July 2012 (Arabic)</ref><ref>[http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2012/Jul-21/181395-state-funeral-for-three-syrian-officials-as-assads-inner-circle-shrinks.ashx#axzz21Caiqz6Z State funeral for three Syrian officials as Assad’s inner circle shrinks] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161009144644/http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2012/Jul-21/181395-state-funeral-for-three-syrian-officials-as-assads-inner-circle-shrinks.ashx#axzz21Caiqz6Z |date=9 October 2016 }} ''The Daily Star'' 21 July 2012</ref> His agency had "repressed internal dissent, monitored individual citizens, and had been involved in the Syrian government's Siege of Daraa, where protesters were killed by Syrian security services".<ref name="Bashar al-Assad's inner circle">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-13216195|work=BBC|title=Bashar al-Assad's inner circle|date=18 May 2011}}</ref> In addition, he was added to the European Union's sanction list on 9 May 2011 on the grounds that he "involved in violence against demonstrators" during the war.<ref name=officialjournal>{{cite news|title=List of natural and legal persons|url=http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2012:016:0001:0032:EN:PDF|access-date=9 February 2013|newspaper=Official Journal of the EU|date=19 January 2012}}</ref> Swiss government also put him into sanction list in September 2011.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ordinance instituting measures against Syria |url=http://www.baselgovernance.org/fileadmin/docs/news/09.09.2011.Ordinance__amedment__Syria_ENG.draft.pdf |publisher=Federal Department of Economy |access-date=24 February 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002044324/http://www.baselgovernance.org/fileadmin/docs/news/09.09.2011.Ordinance__amedment__Syria_ENG.draft.pdf |archive-date=2 October 2013 }}</ref> On 23 April 2012, the US government imposed sanctions on him, saying he had been responsible for human rights abuses, including the use of violence against civilians.<ref>{{cite web|title=Armed Conflict in Syria: Background and U.S. Response|url=https://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/mideast/RL33487.pdf|work=Congressional Research Service|access-date=14 September 2013|author=Jeremy M. Sharp|author2=Christopher M. Blanchard|date=6 September 2013}}</ref> Additionally, he was also sanctioned by Australia, Canada, Japan, Monaco, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/10/15/world/middleeast/president-assad-syria-officials.html |title=The Missing Enforcers of the Assad Regime |publisher=The New York Times |date=15 October 2025 }}</ref>
In August 2012, Mamlouk was accused of trying to blow up the situation in Lebanon in agreement with Lebanese Minister Michel Samaha, who admitted to transporting explosives in his car to carry out assassinations of a list of people in agreement with Syria.<ref name=meo20feb>{{cite news|title=Lebanon military court seeks death penalty for Samaha, Mamlouk|url=http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=57089|accessdate=20 February 2013|newspaper=Middle East Online|date=20 February 2013|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304000835/http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=57089|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>[http://www.lebanonfiles.com/videos/play/151 من هو علي مملوك؟؟<!-- عنوان مولد بالبوت -->] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180103203816/http://www.lebanonfiles.com/videos/play/151 |date=03 يناير 2018}}</ref> Samaha with the help of the former Lebanese Security Chief Jamil Al Sayyed "tried to carry out assassination" of Samir Geagea, Saad Hariri and Wissam al-Hassan.<ref name=nleb21>{{cite news|title=Gemayel says Hassan killing linked to Samaha case, Syria|url=http://www.nowlebanon.com/NewsArticleDetails.aspx?ID=449016|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130208152250/http://www.nowlebanon.com/NewsArticleDetails.aspx?ID=449016|url-status=dead|archive-date=8 February 2013|accessdate=21 October 2012|newspaper=NOW Lebanon|date=21 October 2012}}</ref>
In May 2015, concern mounted regarding Mamlouk's whereabouts and health after not having been seen for some time, leading to comparisons with Rustum Ghazaleh who recently met a violent and unclear death.<ref>{{cite news | url= http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2015/May-04/296678-syria-denies-rumors-on-national-security-chief.ashx |title= Syria denies rumors on National Security chief |newspaper= The Daily Star |location=Lebanon |date= 4 May 2015 |access-date= 4 May 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150505195943/http://dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2015/May-04/296678-syria-denies-rumors-on-national-security-chief.ashx |archive-date=5 May 2015}}</ref> In July 2015, Mamlouk visited Jeddah in Saudi Arabia and Muscat in Oman and met with Saudi and GCC officials to discuss proposals for ending the Syrian Civil War.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Bowen|first1=Andrew|last2=McInnis|first2=J. Matthew|title=The Saudi-Syrian Back Channel to End the War|url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2015/08/17/the-saudi-syrian-back-channel-to-end-the-war-iran/|access-date=17 August 2015|work=Foreign Policy|date=17 August 2015}}</ref> In August 2015, Mamlouk visited Cairo and met President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, senior security officials. Mamlouk and his Egyptian counterparts reportedly discussed the fight against Islamic State, and against other Islamist factions, including the Muslim Brotherhood.<ref>[https://www.timesofisrael.com/egypt-said-to-renew-diplomatic-relations-with-assad/ Egypt said to renew diplomatic relations with Assad]</ref>
In 2018, Maj. Gen. Mamlouk made a rare visit to Cairo to meet with his Egyptian counterpart, Abbas Kamel, director of the GIS with discussing “political, security and counterterrorism issues”.<ref>[https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20181224-syria-intelligence-chief-ali-mamlouk-makes-rare-visit-to-cairo/ Syria intelligence chief Ali Mamlouk makes rare visit to Cairo]</ref> Between 2021 and 2023, he held meetings with Saudi intelligence chief Khalid bin Ali Al Humaidan, the first such since the outbreak of the civil war.<ref>{{cite news|work=The Guardian|date=4 May 2021|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/may/04/meeting-between-saudi-and-syrian-intelligence-chiefs-hints-at-detente|title=Meeting between Saudi and Syrian intelligence chiefs hints at detente}}</ref> On 18 January 2024, President Bashar al-Assad appointed Mamlouk as a national security advisor,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://sana.sy/?p=2090533|title=وفد سورية برئاسة المهندس عرنوس يصل إلى طهران للمشاركة في مراسم تشييع الرئيس الإيراني ورفاقه}}</ref> and deputy vice president of the Syrian Arab Republic for security and military affairs.<ref>[https://www.alquds.co.uk/%D8%AA%D8%B1%D9%81%D9%8A%D8%B9-%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%8A-%D9%85%D9%85%D9%84%D9%88%D9%83-%D9%88%D9%83%D9%81%D8%A7%D8%AD-%D9%85%D9%84%D8%AD%D9%85-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B5%D9%86%D9%81%D9%8A%D9%86-%D8%B6%D9%85/ ترفيع علي مملوك وكفاح ملحم المصنفين ضمن قائمة العقوبات الأمريكية]</ref><ref name="Am01" />
Mamlouk learned of the regime's collapse from a phone call around 4 a.m. As he tried to flee toward the airport, his convoy was ambushed, though he escaped unharmed. He then sought refuge at the Russian Embassy, where Russian officials later guarded him to the Hmeimim base and helped him reach Russia safely.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/16/world/middleeast/assad-regime-syria-exodus.html |title=The Vanishing Act: How Assad’s Top Henchmen Fled Syria, and Justice |publisher=The New York Times |date=16 October 2025 }}</ref>{{efn|Other reports alleged that he fled Syria to Lebanon with Hezbollah's assistance and eventually settled in Dahieh, Beirut.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/report-senior-syrian-officials-fled-to-lebanon-with-help-of-hezbollah-after-fall-of-assad/ |title=Report: Senior Syrian officials fled to Lebanon with help of Hezbollah after fall of Assad |work=The Times of Israel |date=10 December 2024 }}</ref>}}
==Criminal investigations==
=== Lebanon === On 11 August 2012, Lebanon indicted Ali Mamlouk in absentia and former Lebanese Information Minister Michel Samaha for their alleged plots to assassinate Lebanese political and religious figures.<ref name=mroue>{{cite news|last=Mroue|first=Bassem|title=Lebanon Issues Arrest Warrant for Syrian Official|url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/lebanon-issues-arrest-warrant-syrian-official-18397963|access-date=4 February 2013|work=ABC News|date=4 February 2013|agency=AP|location=Beirut}}</ref> Lebanese judicial officials issued a warrant for Mamlouk's arrest on 4 February 2013.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2013/02/20132414472566777.html|title=Lebanon issues warrant for Syrian spy chief|date=4 February 2013|work=Al Jazeera English|access-date=4 February 2013}}</ref>
=== France === In November 2018, French prosecutors issued international arrest warrants for three senior Syrian intelligence and government officials: Ali Mamlouk, Abdel Salam Mahmoud and Jamil Hassan. The warrants brought charges including collusion in torture, forced disappearances, crimes against humanity and war crimes.<ref>[https://www.reuters.com/article/us-syria-crisis-france/france-issues-arrest-warrants-for-senior-syrian-officials-idUSKCN1NA11L "France issues arrest warrants for senior Syrian officials“] Reuters November 2018</ref> Four days of hearings at the Paris Cour d'assises started on 21 May 2024,<ref name="AlMonitor_1st_warcrimes_trial_SY">{{cite Q|Q126010156|url-status=live}}</ref> and on May 25 all three men were convicted ''in absentia'' of involvement in the torture and killing of two French citizens in Syria.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.lemonde.fr/en/france/article/2024/05/25/torture-in-syria-paris-court-sentences-three-senior-officials-from-assad-s-regime-to-life-imprisonment_6672623_7.html|newspaper=Le Monde|date=25 May 2024|first=Christophe|last=Ayad|title=Torture in Syria: Paris court sentences three senior officials from Assad's regime to life imprisonment}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-05-24 |title=French court sentences 3 Syrian officials to life in prison in absentia for war crimes |url=https://apnews.com/article/france-syria-war-crimes-trial-28812234653070e6f563dcf5c2b702e7 |access-date=2024-05-26 |website=AP News |language=en}}</ref>
==Notes== {{notelist}}
==References== {{Reflist|33em}}
{{Heads of National Security Bureau of the Regional Command of the Syrian Regional Branch}} {{Heads of Syrian GID}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mamlouk, Ali}} Category:1946 births Category:Fugitives wanted by France Category:Living people Category:People convicted in absentia Category:People of the Syrian civil war Category:Syrian generals Category:Syrian mass murderers Category:Syrian Sunni Muslims Category:Syrian individuals subject to European Union sanctions Category:Syrian individuals subject to U.S. Department of the Treasury sanctions Category:Politicide perpetrators Category:Syrian war criminals