The highest authority for GIP is theKing of Saudi Arabia,King Salman. In accordance with Article 60 of the Basic Law, he has the authority to dismiss and appoint the directors.
From 2005 to 2012,Prince Muqrin was the Director General of the GIP and Prince Faisal ibn Abdullah ibn Muhammed Al Saud was his deputy.
The role of intelligence was recognized by KingAbdulaziz Al Saud who had used it in hisunification of Saudi Arabia. His interest in modern communication increasingly grew when he set up the first radio communications system in Saudi Arabia. The kingdom started the intelligence service in 1955 under the name ofAl-Mabahith Al Aammah.
During the reign of KingSaud bin Abdulaziz, the General Intelligence was separated from theMabahith (General Investigation Directorate). Intelligence was established as an independent security service with the issuing of the Royal Decree 11 in 1957 that ordered the setting up of a special department under the title ofMaslahat Al-Istikhbarat Al-Aammah or (General Intelligence Department).[2] During this period two branches of the Presidency were set up locally, the western branch inJeddah, and eastern one inDhahran.[2]
The GIP expanded under KingFaisal bin Abdulaziz, with the opening of offices abroad. The agency expanded its monitoring of internal threats after the 1979 capture of theGrand Mosque in Mecca.[3]
The GIP's charter was changed by KingKhaled bin Abdulaziz in 1982, by Royal Decree M-5, dated 19 December 1982, which set out its responsibilities, duties, and the limits of its activities. This established the internal organization of the agency with a General Department for Operations, the General Department for Administration and Finance, the General Department for Training and Planning, and the General Department for Technical Affairs. Along with the National Research Center, and the Center for Media and International Communications (previously Center for Translation and Media).[2]
In 1997, the Office for External Communications was transferred to the Presidency from the Presidency of the Council of Ministers. Its name was also changed to the General Department for External Communications, and it was strengthened with the addition of high-tech equipment and specialists in radio surveillance. This period saw the expansion of the activities of the agency abroad with the establishment and development of more offices in other countries, and through more effort to organize its work.
During the reign of KingFahd bin Abdulaziz the Higher Committee for Development was set up and was chaired by the President of the General Intelligence Presidency; its membership consisted of the heads of the various departments of the GIP. Also during the tenure of King Fahd, the administrative structuring of the Information Center was approved.
In late January 2013, interior minister PrinceMuhammad bin Nayef announced that Saudi women would be allowed to work at the directorate.[4]
The Soviet–Afghan War lasted over nine years, from December 1979 to February 1989. Insurgent groups known collectively as themujahideen, as well as smallerMaoist groups, fought aguerrilla war against theSoviet Army and theDemocratic Republic of Afghanistan government, mostly in the rural countryside. The mujahideen groups were backed primarily by the United States, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan, making it aCold Warproxy war. Saudi Arabia would continue to support certain factions of the Mujahedeen against theAfghan government ofMohammad Najibullah following the withdrawal of Soviet forces from the country.
On 29 October 2010, two packages, each containing a bomb consisting of 300 to 400 grams (11–14 oz) ofplastic explosives and a detonating mechanism, were found on separate cargo planes. The bombs were discovered as a result of intelligence received from Saudi Arabia's security chief. They were bound fromYemen to the United States, and were discovered at en route stop-overs, one atEast Midlands Airport in the UK and one inDubai in theUnited Arab Emirates.
One week later,al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) took responsibility for the plot, and for the crash ofUPS Airlines Flight 6.[6] American and British authorities believedAnwar al-Awlaki of AQAP was behind the bombing attempts, and that the bombs were most likely constructed by AQAP's main explosives expert,Ibrahim Hassan al-Asiri.[7][8] The bombs were probably designed to detonate mid-air, with the intention of destroying both planes over Chicago or another city in the U.S.[9][10] Each bomb had already been transported on passenger andcargo planes at the time of discovery.
Saudi Arabia's involvement in the Syrian War involved the large-scale supply ofweapons andammunition to various rebel groups inSyria during theSyrian civil war.
TheFinancial Times reported in May 2013 thatQatar was becoming a larger provider of arms to the various groups.[11] In the summer of 2013 Saudi Arabia emerged as the main group financing and arming the rebels.[12] Saudi Arabia financed a large purchase of infantry weapons, such as Yugoslav-made recoilless guns and theM79 Osa, an anti-tank weapon, fromCroatia via shipments shuttled throughJordan.[13] The weapons began reaching rebels in December 2012 which allowed rebels' small tactical gains against the Syrian army.[13] This shipment was said to be to counter shipments of weapons fromIran to aid the Syrian government.[13]
Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Qatar have received criticism from the Western Media for backing certain Syrian rebels associated with theArmy of Conquest, which includes theal-Nusra front, an al-Qaeda affiliated group.[14]
In August 2017, the Syrian opposition was informed by the Saudi foreign minister that the Kingdom was disengaging from them.[15] Subsequently, Saudi Arabia has taken a more conciliatory stance towards the Syrian government.[16]
Timber Sycamore was a classified weapons supply and training program run by the United StatesCentral Intelligence Agency (CIA) and supported by Arab intelligence services, including the security service in Saudi Arabia. Launched in 2012 or 2013, it supplied money, weaponry and training to rebel forces fighting Syrian PresidentBashar al-Assad in theSyrian civil war. According to US officials, the program trained thousands of rebels.[17][18]
Turki Al-Faisal (1979-2001):Turki Al Faisal served as the president of Al Mukhabarat Al A'amah until 2001.[21] Prince Turki resigned abruptly from his post tens days before the9/11 attacks in 2001 (in which 14 Saudi nationals hijacked and crashed US commercial airliners) despite having had his appointment extended in May 2001 for another four years.[22]
Nawaf bin Abdulaziz (2001-2005) replaced Prince Turki on 1 September 2001. The organization was renamed "The General Intelligence Presidency" during Nawwaf's tenure.[23] Nawwaf was relieved of his duty as the head of GIP by Crown PrinceAbdullah on 25 January 2005. For nine months, nobody was appointed to head the presidency.[24][25]
Deputy Director: Additionally, King Abdullah relieved PrinceSaud bin Fahd Al Saud of his duties as vice president of GIP.[26][27]
Deputy Director: Another Saudi royal,Prince Abdulaziz bin Bandar, who had been Deputy Director of the directorate, was relieved from his post.
Deputy Director: Youssef bin Ali Al Idrisi replaced him as vice head in October 2012.[30]
Youssef bin Ali Al Idrissi (2014): On 15 April 2014 Prince Bandar bin Sultan was removed from his position "at his own request" according to the announcement in the Saudi state media.[31][32] It was reported that Prince Bandar would be replaced by his deputy, Youssef bin Ali Al Idrissi.[33]
Khalid bin Bandar Al Saud (2014-2015): However, Khalid bin Bandar Al Saud became the director general of the Al Mukhabarat Al A'amah on 30 June 2014.[34] His term ended on 29 January 2015 whenKhalid bin Ali Al Humaidan replaced him in the post.[35]
^Anthony Cordesman. (2006).Saudi Arabia: National Security in a Troubled Region. Center for Strategic and International Studies. p. 234.ISBN9780313380761.
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