Rustum Ghazaleh facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rustum Ghazaleh
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|---|---|
| Commander of the Syrian National Police | |
| In office 2005 – 24 April 2015 |
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| Leader | Bashar al-Assad |
| Head of Political Security Directorate | |
| In office July 2012 – 24 April 2015 |
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| President | Bashar al-Assad |
| Prime Minister | Riyad Farid Hijab Wael Nader al-Halqi |
| Preceded by | Mohammed Dib Zaitoun |
| Succeeded by | Nasser Ali |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 3 May 1953 Qarfa, Daraa Governorate, Syria |
| Died | 24 April 2015 (aged 61) Damascus, Syria |
| Political party | Syrian Regional Branch of the Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Syria |
| Branch/service | Syrian Arab Army |
| Years of service | 1973–2015 |
| Rank |  Lt. General |
| Unit | 112 Mechanized Brigade Military Intelligence Political Security Directorate |
| Commands | Syrian Forces in Lebanon |
| Battles/wars | 1982 Lebanon War Syrian civil war |
Rustum Ghazaleh (Arabic: رستم غزالة) was a Syrian military and intelligence officer. He was also known as Rostom Ghazale or Rustom Ghazalah. He was born on May 3, 1953, and passed away on April 24, 2015.
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Who Was Rustum Ghazaleh?
Rustum Ghazaleh was an important figure in the Syrian government. He held several high-ranking positions. These roles included leading parts of the Syrian military and intelligence services.
Early Life
Rustum Ghazaleh was born on May 3, 1953. His family was Sunni Muslim. He grew up in a village called Qarfa. This village is located in the Daraa Governorate in Syria.
Military Career
Ghazaleh joined the Syrian Arab Army in 1973. He started as a first lieutenant. He commanded a unit of mechanized infantry. He also trained in artillery and military intelligence. This training took place in the Soviet Union.
Later, he served as an artillery spotter. He also commanded a mechanized battalion. This was during the Lebanese Civil War. In December 2002, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad appointed him. He became the head of Syrian military intelligence in Lebanon. His headquarters were in Anjar.
Syria's Withdrawal from Lebanon
In 2005, Syria faced pressure to withdraw its army from Lebanon. This happened after the killing of Rafik Hariri. Syria eventually pulled out its 15,000 soldiers. Ghazaleh then moved back to Syria.
He was questioned by a United Nations investigator. This was about the Hariri assassination. Some people claimed Syria still influenced Lebanese politics. Syria denied these claims.
Role in Syria
After returning to Syria, Ghazaleh's public role was quieter. However, when protests began in Daraa, he was sent there. President Bashar al-Assad sent him to speak with local people. He aimed to reassure them about the president's plans. He mentioned that some arrested teenagers had been released. These teens were arrested for writing anti-government messages.
In May 2011, the European Union stated his new role. Ghazaleh was head of military intelligence in Rif Dimashq governorate. This area borders Daraa. He was involved in efforts to control protests in the region. He was considered close to President Assad.
On July 24, 2012, Ghazaleh received a new appointment. He became the chief of political security. He reportedly disagreed with the large role played by some foreign groups. These groups were involved in the Syrian civil war. This disagreement led to an incident where he was attacked.
His Final Days
Rustum Ghazaleh was severely injured in early 2015. This happened after a disagreement with another military officer. The disagreement was about the involvement of certain groups in the 2015 Southern Syria offensive.
News emerged two months later about his death. Rustum Ghazaleh passed away on April 24, 2015. His death was due to complications from his injuries. Syrian government media did not report his death.
