Ali Habib Mahmud | |
|---|---|
علي حبيب محمود | |
 Mahmud in 1990 | |
| 14thMinister 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 |
| 19thChief of Staff of the Syrian Army | |
| In office 12 May 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 |
| Died | 20 March 2020(2020-03-20) (aged 81) |
| Political party | Ba'ath Party |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United Arab Republic (1959–1961) Second Syrian Republic (1961–1963)Ba'athist Syria (1963–2011) |
| Branch/service | Syrian Arab Army |
| Years of service | 1959–2011 |
| Rank |  Colonel General |
| Commands | 1st Armoured Division 7th Mechanized Division 14th Special Forces Division |
| Battles/wars | |
Ali Habib Mahmud (Arabic:علي حبيب محمود; 1 January 1939 – 20 March 2020) was aSyrian 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 PresidentBashar al-Assad's inner circle.[2]
Mahmud was born into anAlawite family on 1 January 1939 inTartus[3][4] and joined the army in 1959.[5] In 1962, he graduated from the military academy.[3]
Mahmud fought inYom Kippur War againstIsrael. As a commander of the1st Division, he also led forces against Israeli troops invading Lebanon in 1982, including theBattle of Sultan Yacoub.[6] He commanded 7th mechanized infantry in 1985.[4] In 1986, Mahmud became a general.[7] He also participated in theGulf War as part of the international coalition that liberatedKuwait fromSaddam Hussein'sIraq in 1991.[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 replacedHasan Turkmani, who was appointed defense minister.[8] In addition, Mahmud was a member ofthe Baath Party.[7]
On 3 June 2009,PresidentBashar al-Assad appointed Mahmud as defense minister, replacing again Hasan Turkmani.[3][9] Mahmud's term ended on 8 August 2011, and he was replaced byDawoud 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]
In May 2011, theUnited States accused Habib of human rights abuses, and announced a travel ban and asset freeze.[2]
On 20 March 2020, Mahmud died inAl Assad University Hospital,Damascus.[11]
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Deputy Chief of Staff of Army 2002–2004 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Chief of Staff of Army 2004–2009 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Minister of Defense 2009–2011 | Succeeded by |
| Arab Kingdom of Syria (1920) | |
|---|---|
| French Mandate of Syria (1920–1946) post established 1932 |  |
| First and Second Syrian Republic (1946–1958) | |
| United Arab Republic (1958–1961) | %2c_Flag_of_Syria_(1980%25E2%2580%25932024).svg) |
| Second Syrian Republic (1961–1963) | .svg) |
| Ba'athist Syria (1963–2024) post-1963 Syrian coup d'état | |
| Transitional period (2024–present) | .svg) |
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