Lieutenant GeneralAli Mahmoud Abbas(Arabic:علي محمود عباس;born 2 November 1964) is a Syrian seniormilitary officerand politician who served as the 18thMinister of DefenseofSyria,succeedingAli Abdullah Ayyoub.[2]He is aSunni Muslim.[3]
Ali Mahmoud Abbas | |
|---|---|
علي محمود عباس | |
 Ali Mahmoud Abbas in 2022. | |
| 18thMinister of Defense | |
| In office 28 April 2022 – 8 December 2024 | |
| President | Bashar al-Assad |
| Prime Minister | Hussein Arnous Mohammad Ghazi al-Jalali |
| Preceded by | Ali Abdullah Ayyoub |
| Succeeded by | Murhaf Abu Qasra |
| Member of theCentral Command of theBa'ath Party | |
| In office 4 May 2024 – 11 December 2024 | |
| Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Army and the Armed Forces | |
| In office 18 March 2021 – 28 April 2022 | |
| Defense Minister | Ali Abdullah Ayyoub |
| Chief of Staff | Salim Harba |
| Preceded by | Wasel al-Samir |
| Succeeded by | Mufid Hassan |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 2 November 1964 Efra,[1]Rif Dimashq,Ba'athist Syria |
| Political party | Ba'ath Party |
| Education | Homs Military Academy RCDS |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Ba'athist Syria |
| Branch/service |  Syrian Army |
| Years of service | 1985–2024 |
| Rank |  Lieutenant general |
| Unit | Internal Security Brigade Armored Military College |
| Battles/wars | Syrian Civil War |
Early life and education
editAbbas was born in 1964 inEfra,Rif Dimashq.[4]He joined theHoms Military Academy,specialization of armored vehicles in 1983. He graduated with the rank of lieutenant on October 7, 1985.[4]He first studied higher command in Pakistan in 1997. Between 2000 and 2001, he attendedRoyal College of Defence StudiesinLondon,UK for postgraduate studies in national defense.[4]
He also attended academic international crisis management course at theRoyal Swedish Army Staff College,Stockholmin 2003. In 2004, he participated at the course in directing the state's defense in theRoyal College,Breda,the Netherlands.[4]
Military career
editHe was promoted to the rank ofmajor generalon 1 January 2018 and the rank oflieutenant generalon 30 April 2022. Upon his promotion to lieutenant general, he commanded the Internal Security Brigade for two years.[4]Following his promotions, he assumed the command of the Military Academy for three years. He has occupied a number of high posts, the latest of which asDeputy Chief of the General Staffon 18 March 2021.[5]
Minister of Defense
editOn 28 April 2022, Presidential Decree No. 115 was issued naming General Ali Mahmoud Abbas as Minister of Defense replacingAli Abdullah Ayyoub.[6]During the2023 Homs drone strikeAbbas was in attendance at the graduation ceremony but left before the attack.[7]He later visited the Abdul-Qader Shaqfa Military Hospital where several of the casualties were brought.[8]
Sanctions
editIn June 2023, Abbas was sanctioned by the UK for “the systematic use of sexual and gender-based violence against civilians.”[9]
References
edit- ^"وزير الدفاع الجديد ينحدر من ريف دمشق من هو اللواء علي عباس؟".28 April 2022.
- ^"Syria names new defense minister: Presidency".Al Arabiya English.28 April 2022.
- ^Lund, Aron (23 May 2022)."Can Assad's New Military Appointments Help Rebuild His Regime?".The Century Foundation.Retrieved7 April2023.
- ^abcdePrime Minister's Office."Prime Minister's Office – Syrian Arab News Agency".Syrian Arab News Agency.Sana.sy.Retrieved21 October2021.
- ^"Syria names new defence minister -presidency".Reuters.28 April 2022.Retrieved5 May2022.
- ^"الرئيس الأسد يصدر مرسوماً بتسمية اللواء علي محمود عباس وزيراً للدفاع".مجلس الشعب السوري.Archived fromthe originalon 21 January 2022.Retrieved14 August2022.
- ^"At least 100 killed in drone attack on Syrian military academy".Reuters.5 October 2023.
- ^"Funerals held in Syria for dozens of victims killed in deadliest attack in years".Associated Press.6 October 2023.
- ^"UK imposes sanctions on Syrian and Congolese officials accused of sexual violence".Financial Times.19 June 2023.Retrieved20 June2023.