Position: Commander of the 15th Special Forces Division; Head of Military and Security Committee in Suweida Governorate
Association: The Assad Regime
Loyalty: Bashar al-Assad
Most Notorious Crimes:
- Oversaw military operations in Daraa, including the storming of the Lajat area, with direct attacks on civilians.
- Commanded Regiment 127 of the 15th Special Forces Division, responsible for firing on protesters and opposition populations.
- Withdrew weapons from residents in Suweida before the ISIS attack in July 2018, facilitating a massacre of 200+ people, wounding 300+, and abducting 40+ civilians.
- Responsible for abuses and human rights violations by the 15th Division, including detention, repression, and forced displacement.
- Participated in internal military disputes, enforcing regime control and consolidating authority over operations.
Profile
Ali Ahmed Asa‘ad is a former Major General in the Syrian Arab Army and a senior officer closely trusted by Bashar al-Assad, partly due to his connections with the High Alawite Council. At the outbreak of the peaceful protest movement in March 2011, Asa‘ad held a command position in the 15th Special Forces Division deployed in Suweida under Major General Mohieddin Mansour. Leveraging his sectarian background, he participated in military operations in Daraa province, including the storming of the Lajat area in the northeastern countryside alongside units from the Ninth and Fifth Divisions. Asa‘ad oversaw operations conducted by Regiment 127 of the 15th Division, which fired directly on civilians, as confirmed by testimonies collected by Human Rights Watch and statements from defectors.
In 2013, he was appointed commander of the 15th Division, taking responsibility for all crimes committed by its members, including abuses at the Hamida al-Tahir checkpoint in Daraa al-Mahata. In 2016, he became head of the Military and Security Committee in Suweida province, coordinating between regime authorities and pro-regime militias. In 2017, during battles in al-Manshiyeh district, Asa‘ad’s division fought alongside Hezbollah and the Fourth Division; he clashed with Brigadier General Wafiq Nasser over operational command, threatening to withdraw his forces until threatened with lethal consequences.
In 2018, Asa‘ad played a direct role in the Suweida massacre carried out by ISIS. As head of the Military and Security Committee, he withdrew weapons from local residents days before the attack, leaving them defenseless. He further delayed regime military support to villages under siege, enabling ISIS to kill approximately 215 people, wound over 300, and abduct around 40 civilians, including women and children. Throughout his career, Asa‘ad was responsible for widespread human rights abuses, including the targeting of civilians, forced displacement, detention, and repression of opposition communities. Following the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024, he no longer holds any official military position, and his current whereabouts are unknown.
Identity
Full Name: Ali Ahmed Asa‘ad (علي أحمد أسعد)
Place of Birth: Tartous Governorate, Syria
Nationality: Syrian
Career Timeline
2011: Serving in leadership roles within the 15th Special Forces Division of the Syrian Arab Army.
2013: Commander of the 15th Special Forces Division.
2016: Head of the Military and Security Committee in Suweida Governorate, overseeing coordination of military and security operations.
2017: Involved in internal disputes over operational control with Brigadier General Wafiq Nasser in al-Manshiyeh district, highlighting factional tensions within the regime’s military leadership.
2018: Oversaw actions in Suweida that left civilians vulnerable to ISIS attacks in July, contributing to a massacre with over 200 deaths and numerous abductions.
2011–2024: Played a continuous role in the Syrian conflict, particularly in operations targeting opposition-held areas.
Post-December 2024: With the fall of the Assad regime, Asa‘ad no longer holds any official military position; current whereabouts are unknown.
Crimes & Responsibilities
- Violence Against Civilians: Oversaw military operations in Daraa and Lajat, where units under his command fired on civilians.
- Command Responsibility: Held authority over 15th Special Forces Division operations that committed widespread abuses.
- Internal Military Repression: Participated in military campaigns that suppressed opposition groups and enforced regime control.
Legal Proceedings & Sanctions
No publicly reported international sanctions or prosecutions specifically targeting Ali Assad.
Current Status/Whereabouts
Following the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024, Asaad’s current location is unknown.