Syrian General Intelligence Directorate (GID) Branch 251 ( ar, إدارة المخابرات العامة الفرع الداخلي (251)), also known as internal branch or ''Al-Khatib'' branch, is the unit of the Syrian General Intelligence Directorate concerned with internal security. It has been responsible for security in the

Damascus )), is an adjective which means "spacious". , motto = , image_flag = Flag of Damascus.svg , image_seal = Emblem of Damascus.svg , seal_type = Seal , map_caption = , ...

region. Branch 251 operates

Al-Khatib prison Al-Khatib prison is a detention and torture center in the Muhajreen neighborhood of central Damascus, Syria. It is operated by Branch 251 of the Syrian General Intelligence Directorate. Al-Khatib, like many prisons under the regime of Bashar al ...

, a detention and torture center located in the

Muhajreen Muhajreen ( ar, المهاجرين, al-Muhajreen) is a municipality and a neighborhood in the central part of Damascus, Syria, on the slopes of Mount Qasioun. The name means 'the immigrants'. It contains Abu Rummaneh, Al-Haboubi, Al-Maliki, Al-Mara ...

neighborhood in central Damascus. Anwar Raslan, the former Syrian colonel who was convicted of crimes against humanity and sentenced to life in prison in Germany, commanded a unit in Branch 251.

United States Department of Treasury Sanctions

The

Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic was set up by the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) on 22 August 2011 to investigate human rights violations during the Syrian Civil War to establish the facts ...

identified Branch 251 and Al-Khatib prison as a facility controlled by the Syrian General Intelligence Directorate where death in detention and torture have occurred. Branch 251 was designated pursuant to

Executive Order 13572 Executive ( exe., exec., execu.) may refer to: Role or title * Executive, a senior management role in an organization ** Chief executive officer (CEO), one of the highest-ranking corporate officers (executives) or administrators ** Executive dire ...

(E.O. 13572), which blocks property of certain properties with respect to Human Rights Abuses in Syria, as being owned or controlled by the Syrian General Intelligence Directorate. The head of Branch 251, Ahmed Al-Dib, was designated pursuant to E.O. 13572 for being a senior official of the Syrian GID and subject to US Treasury sanctions.

List of heads

Mohammed Nasif Kheirbek Mohammed Nasif Kheirbek ( ar, محمد ناصيف خيربك, 10 April 1937 – 28 June 2015) known as ''Mohammed Nasif'' or ''Abu Wael'', was the former Deputy Vice-President for Security Affairs in Syria. He was a close adviser of Syrian Presi ...

(?–1999) *

Bahjat Suleiman Bahjat Suleiman ( ar, بهجت سليمان; 194925 February 2021), also known as Bahjat Sulayman, was a Syrian Ambassador to Jordan and head of the internal branch of the Syrian General Intelligence Directorate (GID), also known as Branch 251, ...

(1999–June 2005) * Fouad Nasif Kheir Bek (June 2005–?) *

Tawfiq Younes Tawfiq Younes ( ar, توفيق يونس), also known as ''Tawfik Yunes'', is a retired Major General who was head of the internal branch of the Syrian General Intelligence Directorate (GID), also known as Branch 251 from 2011 to 2016. In 2011, ...

(2011-2016), the European Union sanctioned him for "being involved in violence against the civilian population during the Syrian uprisings". * Ahmed Al-Dib (? - Present), Sanctioned by the United States Treasury for leading Syrian General Intelligence Directorate Branch 251, has been implicated in reports of arbitrary detention and torture of detainees since at least 2011.

References

{{Syria-stub Syrian intelligence agencies