Position: Commander of the militia “Liwa al-Quds”
Association: The Assad Regime
Loyalty: Bashar al-Assad
Most Notorious Crimes:
- Founded and commanded Liwa al-Quds, a pro-regime militia involved in severe human rights abuses.
- Oversaw arbitrary detentions and torture of civilians, including Palestinians in Aleppo camps.
- Ordered and participated in extrajudicial killings, including the 2015 Ratyan massacre.
- Recruited and deployed child soldiers in combat operations.
- Coordinated with Iranian-backed forces and Syrian Air Force Intelligence to suppress opposition.
- Engaged in looting, property theft, and sexual exploitation of civilians under his control
Profile
Muhammad Ahmad al-Saeed, also known as Abu Ahmad, served as commander of Liwa al-Quds (Jerusalem Brigade), a militia aligned with the Assad regime. Born in the Bab al-Nayrab Camp in Aleppo, al-Saeed became deeply involved in regime security operations during the Syrian uprising. Leveraging support from the Syrian Air Force Intelligence Directorate and Iranian-backed forces, he transformed Liwa al-Quds from a local militia into a disciplined armed force, actively participating in major campaigns across Aleppo, rural Damascus, and Deir ez-Zor. His operations were marked by widespread abuses, including mass arbitrary detentions, torture, extrajudicial killings, and the recruitment of child soldiers. Civilians under his command were frequently subjected to forced displacement, property theft, and even sexual exploitation. Al-Saeed also oversaw the suppression of dissent within military ranks, ensuring loyalty to Assad and coordinating closely with pro-regime militias and Iranian forces. Following the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024, Muhammad Ahmad al-Saeed’s current whereabouts remain unknown.
Identity
Full Name: Muhammad Ahmed al-Saeed (محمد أحمد السعيد)
Date of Birth: Unknown
Place of Birth: Bab al-Nayrab Camp, Aleppo, Syria
Nationality: Syrian
Career Timeline
Pre-2011: Worked as an engineer in construction and contracting, establishing connections with Syrian regime officials, particularly within the Air Force Intelligence Directorate in northern Syria.
2011–2013: Played a role in organizing and funding local militia groups in refugee camps in Aleppo, including Bab al-Nayrab and Handarat, to suppress anti-regime protests and opposition activities.
2013: Founded Liwa al-Quds with support from the Syrian Air Force Intelligence Directorate, transitioning the group from a local militia to a fully armed force.
2013–2024: Led Liwa al-Quds in various military operations, including the siege of Aleppo, operations in rural Damascus, and the battle for Deir ez-Zor. The militia was involved in numerous human rights violations, including arbitrary detentions, torture, and extrajudicial killings.
Post-2024: Following the fall of the Assad regime, al-Saeed’s current whereabouts are unknown.
Crimes & Responsibilities
- Arbitrary Detention: Oversaw the detention of over 4,000 individuals, including more than 400 Palestinians, in areas under Liwa al-Quds control.
- Torture & Coerced Confessions: Directed interrogation units that subjected detainees to systematic abuse.
- Extrajudicial Killings: Ordered and participated in executions, including the 2015 massacre in the village of Ratyan, where 47 civilians were killed.
- Child Soldiers: Recruited and deployed minors under the age of 18 in combat operations.
- Looting & Property Theft: Engaged in the theft of property and assets from civilians in areas under Liwa al-Quds control.
Legal Proceedings & Sanctions
Sanctions: In 2019, the United States imposed sanctions on Muhammad Ahmad al-Saeed under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act for his involvement in gross human rights abuses.
Current Status/Whereabouts
After the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024, precise location unknown.