Position: Commander in Syrian Military Intelligence; Senior Officer in Air Force Intelligence
Association: The Assad Regime
Loyalty: Bashar al-Assad
Most Notorious Crimes:
- Directed counterinsurgency operations involving mass detentions, torture, and extrajudicial killings
- Played a key role in the Air Force Intelligence Directorate’s repression of opposition-held regions
- Oversaw interrogations and intelligence-gathering efforts that led to widespread human rights violations
Profile
Ammar Ahmad Issa (Abu Haidar) is a former senior officer in Syria’s Air Force Intelligence Directorate and a key figure within the Assad regime’s military-intelligence apparatus. He is infamous for his role in orchestrating mass detentions, systematic torture, and extrajudicial killings against civilians and opposition members. During the Syrian uprising and civil war, Issa oversaw operations in multiple provinces, coordinating raids, arbitrary arrests, and intelligence-gathering efforts that contributed to widespread human rights abuses. He was also directly involved in Sednaya Prison, where testimonies from survivors and defectors indicate that he personally selected detainees to be executed daily, enforcing terror and compliance through extrajudicial killings. Beyond civilian repression, he monitored and punished military personnel suspected of disloyalty, ensuring strict discipline and coordination with the Republican Guard and Iranian-backed militias. Issa’s actions exemplify the Assad regime’s use of intelligence and military power to crush dissent and maintain authoritarian control. Following the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024, his current whereabouts remain unknown.
Identity
Full Name: Ammar Issa (عمار عيسى)
Date of Birth: Unknown
Place of Birth: Syria
Nationality: Syrian
Career Timeline
Pre-2011: Senior officer in Air Force Intelligence, overseeing routine intelligence and surveillance operations.
2011–2018: Coordinated anti-opposition campaigns, raids, arbitrary detentions, and torture during the Syrian uprising and civil war.
2012–2018: Oversaw suppression of military dissent, working with Republican Guard and Iranian-backed militias.
Pre-December 2024: Operated in Sednaya prison, personally selecting detainees for execution.
Crimes & Responsibilities
- Arbitrary Detention: Oversaw mass arrests in opposition-controlled areas.
- Torture & Coerced Confessions: Directed interrogation units carrying out systematic abuse.
- Extrajudicial Killings: Personally involved in executions at Sednaya and other detention centers.
- Suppression of Military Defectors: Punished personnel suspected of disloyalty.
- Coordination with Militias: Worked with Republican Guard and Iranian-backed forces to maintain regime control.
Legal Proceedings & Sanctions
No publicly reported international sanctions or prosecutions specifically targeting Ammar Issa.
Current Status/Whereabouts
Following the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024, Ammar Issa’s current location is unknown.
