Assef Shawqat
Encyclopedia
General Assef Shawkat (born 1950) is the deputy Minister of Defense of Syria since September 2011. He is married to Bashar Assad's sister Bushra
and is from the Sunni sect. He previously served as the army's deputy chief of staff from July 2009 to September 2011. He then bypassed the position of chief of staff to become deputy Minister of Defense. Shawkat was considered one of the president's top security chiefs, however, he was replaced in 2010 as head of Military Intelligence and made deputy chief-of-staff of the armed forces. Although he was also promoted, opposition figures said he was seen to have been at fault in the 2008 assassination of Hezbollah military commander Imad Mughniyeh in an area of Damascus
that fell under his responsibility. He is a member of President Bashar al-Assad
's inner circle. Since the appointment of General Dawoud Rajiha
to head the Ministry of Defense, Shawkat is an important figure in the Ministry of Defense, though the army is under the de facto control of Maher al-Assad
, the president's brother.
. By the mid-1980s, Shawkat had risen to prominence among officers of his generation, yet he still had no official status in the Syrian state.
. Studying pharmacy at the time at Damascus University and ten years his junior, Bushra had been noted for being intelligent and well mannered. Bushra was considered the most eligible female in Damascus, and some commentators express their surprise at her choice, given that Shawkat was a young officer of modest means whose only asset was his university education. It is not known how the two were introduced but it has been reported that Bushra's younger brother Basil al-Assad
was strongly opposed to their relationship. He considered Shawkat as being too old for her, and lustful for her money. Basil pointed out that although an Alawite, Shawkat was of inferior standing and should never become an in-law of the Assad family
. When Shawkat insisted, Basil had him arrested. Basil Assad put Shawkat behind bars four times to prevent the couple from meeting. On January 21, 1994, however, Basil died in a car crash en route to Damascus Airport.
One year later, Bushra eloped with Shawkat, married him, and they rented a residence in the Mezzeh district of Damascus. She did not obtain her father's blessing nor that of the Assad family. A few days later, President Assad stationed a guard at their door, presumably for their protection. When rumors of their marriage began to spread, Assad decided to summon the couple back to the Palace. He gave them his blessing and Shawkat became Assad's only son-in-law. To meet the demands of his new position, he was promoted in rank to Major-General.
During this time, while Shawkat was increasing his familiarity with the family, he began to befriend Bushra's brother Bashar al-Assad
(now president of Syria
), an ophthalmologist who recently returned from London to fill in his late brother's position as heir apparent
. The two men became good friends and with time, Bashar began to rely heavily on Shawkat for companionship and security.
retired from office in January 1998, Shawkat's friend General Ali Aslan
took his place as chief of staff.
After receiving the blessing of Hafez, he was welcomed into the family and built a close relationship with Bashar. Bushra reportedly nurtured the relationship through her influential role as the president's secretary. Former Vice-President Abdul Halim Khaddam said Gen Shawkat was a "smart, cultivated, and courageous officer with great ambitions", who had established ties with intelligence chiefs and other powerbrokers.
On June 10, 2000, Hafez al-Assad
suddenly died after a heart attack. Since then, Bashar al-Assad
, who succeeded his father as President of Syria, has relied heavily on Shawkat to strengthen the regime. For months, rumors had circulated that Shawkat was the strong-man of Syria behind the scenes, and they were confirmed when he stood by Bashar's side at the funeral service, accepting condolences for the late President. Ultimately, however, Shawkat's power is derived from the Assad family. He has no power base of his own.
In 2001, Assef was named Deputy Director of Syrian Military Intelligence, one of the main branches of the Syrian intelligence apparatus. After the 11 September 2001 attacks, Gen Shawkat was one of the president's main liaisons to intelligence agencies in the US and Europe and helped set up a US intelligence operation in Syria, which was later shut down after relations between the two countries soured. In 2005, Maher and Shawkat were both mentioned in a preliminary report by UN investigators as one of the people who might have planned the assassination of the former Lebanese Prime Minister, Rafik Hariri. The next year, Gen Shawkat was named a Specially Designated National (SDN) by the US, allowing his assets to be frozen. It said he had "been a key architect of Syria's domination of Lebanon, as well as a fundamental contributor to Syria's long-standing policy to foment terrorism". From 2005 to 2009, he assumed control of the entire Military Intelligence apparatus. In July 2009 he was upgraded to the rank of General and named as deputy Chief of Staff.
Bushra al-Assad
Bushra al-Assad is the first child and only daughter of Hafez al-Assad, who was the president of Syria from 1971 to 2000. She is the sister of current Syrian President Bashar al-Assad...
and is from the Sunni sect. He previously served as the army's deputy chief of staff from July 2009 to September 2011. He then bypassed the position of chief of staff to become deputy Minister of Defense. Shawkat was considered one of the president's top security chiefs, however, he was replaced in 2010 as head of Military Intelligence and made deputy chief-of-staff of the armed forces. Although he was also promoted, opposition figures said he was seen to have been at fault in the 2008 assassination of Hezbollah military commander Imad Mughniyeh in an area of Damascus
Damascus
Damascus , commonly known in Syria as Al Sham , and as the City of Jasmine , is the capital and the second largest city of Syria after Aleppo, both are part of the country's 14 governorates. In addition to being one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, Damascus is a major...
that fell under his responsibility. He is a member of President Bashar al-Assad
Bashar al-Assad
Bashar al-Assad is the President of Syria and Regional Secretary of the Ba'ath Party. His father Hafez al-Assad ruled Syria for 29 years until his death in 2000. Al-Assad was elected in 2000, re-elected in 2007, unopposed each time.- Early Life :...
's inner circle. Since the appointment of General Dawoud Rajiha
Dawoud Rajiha
General Dawoud Rajiha , forename sometimes transliterated Dawood or Daoud, surname sometimes transliterated Rajha, is the Minister of Defense of the Syrian Arab Republic and a former chief of staff of the Syrian Arab Army....
to head the Ministry of Defense, Shawkat is an important figure in the Ministry of Defense, though the army is under the de facto control of Maher al-Assad
Maher al-Assad
Maher al-Assad is the brother of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad and the commander of the Republican Guard and the army's elite Fourth Armored Division, which together with Syria's secret police form the core of the country's security forces...
, the president's brother.
Early life
Assef Shawkat was born in al-Madehleh village of Tartus in 1950 and grew up in modest comfort. In the late 1970s, he volunteered for service in the Syrian armySyrian Army
The Syrian Army, officially called the Syrian Arab Army, is the land force branch of the Syrian Armed Forces. It is the dominant military service of the four uniformed services, controlling the senior most posts in the armed forces, and has the greatest manpower, approximately 80 percent of the...
. By the mid-1980s, Shawkat had risen to prominence among officers of his generation, yet he still had no official status in the Syrian state.
Marriage to Bushra al-Assad
In the mid 1980s Assef Shawkat was introduced to Hafez Assad's daughter Bushra al-AssadBushra al-Assad
Bushra al-Assad is the first child and only daughter of Hafez al-Assad, who was the president of Syria from 1971 to 2000. She is the sister of current Syrian President Bashar al-Assad...
. Studying pharmacy at the time at Damascus University and ten years his junior, Bushra had been noted for being intelligent and well mannered. Bushra was considered the most eligible female in Damascus, and some commentators express their surprise at her choice, given that Shawkat was a young officer of modest means whose only asset was his university education. It is not known how the two were introduced but it has been reported that Bushra's younger brother Basil al-Assad
Basil al-Assad
Bassel al-Assad was a son of Syrian President Hafez al-Assad .- Biography :...
was strongly opposed to their relationship. He considered Shawkat as being too old for her, and lustful for her money. Basil pointed out that although an Alawite, Shawkat was of inferior standing and should never become an in-law of the Assad family
Assad family
The Assad family has ruled Syria, since Hafez al-Assad became Syrian President in 1971 and established an authoritarian regime under the control of the Baath party. After his death in 2000, his son Bashar al-Assad succeeded him....
. When Shawkat insisted, Basil had him arrested. Basil Assad put Shawkat behind bars four times to prevent the couple from meeting. On January 21, 1994, however, Basil died in a car crash en route to Damascus Airport.
One year later, Bushra eloped with Shawkat, married him, and they rented a residence in the Mezzeh district of Damascus. She did not obtain her father's blessing nor that of the Assad family. A few days later, President Assad stationed a guard at their door, presumably for their protection. When rumors of their marriage began to spread, Assad decided to summon the couple back to the Palace. He gave them his blessing and Shawkat became Assad's only son-in-law. To meet the demands of his new position, he was promoted in rank to Major-General.
During this time, while Shawkat was increasing his familiarity with the family, he began to befriend Bushra's brother Bashar al-Assad
Bashar al-Assad
Bashar al-Assad is the President of Syria and Regional Secretary of the Ba'ath Party. His father Hafez al-Assad ruled Syria for 29 years until his death in 2000. Al-Assad was elected in 2000, re-elected in 2007, unopposed each time.- Early Life :...
(now president of Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
), an ophthalmologist who recently returned from London to fill in his late brother's position as heir apparent
Heir apparent
An heir apparent or heiress apparent is a person who is first in line of succession and cannot be displaced from inheriting, except by a change in the rules of succession....
. The two men became good friends and with time, Bashar began to rely heavily on Shawkat for companionship and security.
Political career
Having faith in his abilities, President Assad instructed Shawkat to support Bashar and "never part his side." Shawkat complied, and by 1998, was rumored to have become the strongest man in Syria. When General Hikmat al-ShihabiHikmat al-Shihabi
Hekmat AlShehabi is a former Syrian career military officer who served as the chief of staff of the Syrian Army between 1974–1998.-Career:...
retired from office in January 1998, Shawkat's friend General Ali Aslan
Ali Aslan
Ali Aslan is a former chief of staff of the Syrian Army, a member of the Central Command of the Baath Party and a close confidant of the late Syrian president Hafez al-Assad.-Career:...
took his place as chief of staff.
After receiving the blessing of Hafez, he was welcomed into the family and built a close relationship with Bashar. Bushra reportedly nurtured the relationship through her influential role as the president's secretary. Former Vice-President Abdul Halim Khaddam said Gen Shawkat was a "smart, cultivated, and courageous officer with great ambitions", who had established ties with intelligence chiefs and other powerbrokers.
On June 10, 2000, Hafez al-Assad
Hafez al-Assad
Hafez ibn 'Ali ibn Sulayman al-Assad or more commonly Hafez al-Assad was the President of Syria for three decades. Assad's rule consolidated the power of the central government after decades of coups and counter-coups, such as Operation Wappen in 1957 conducted by the Eisenhower administration and...
suddenly died after a heart attack. Since then, Bashar al-Assad
Bashar al-Assad
Bashar al-Assad is the President of Syria and Regional Secretary of the Ba'ath Party. His father Hafez al-Assad ruled Syria for 29 years until his death in 2000. Al-Assad was elected in 2000, re-elected in 2007, unopposed each time.- Early Life :...
, who succeeded his father as President of Syria, has relied heavily on Shawkat to strengthen the regime. For months, rumors had circulated that Shawkat was the strong-man of Syria behind the scenes, and they were confirmed when he stood by Bashar's side at the funeral service, accepting condolences for the late President. Ultimately, however, Shawkat's power is derived from the Assad family. He has no power base of his own.
In 2001, Assef was named Deputy Director of Syrian Military Intelligence, one of the main branches of the Syrian intelligence apparatus. After the 11 September 2001 attacks, Gen Shawkat was one of the president's main liaisons to intelligence agencies in the US and Europe and helped set up a US intelligence operation in Syria, which was later shut down after relations between the two countries soured. In 2005, Maher and Shawkat were both mentioned in a preliminary report by UN investigators as one of the people who might have planned the assassination of the former Lebanese Prime Minister, Rafik Hariri. The next year, Gen Shawkat was named a Specially Designated National (SDN) by the US, allowing his assets to be frozen. It said he had "been a key architect of Syria's domination of Lebanon, as well as a fundamental contributor to Syria's long-standing policy to foment terrorism". From 2005 to 2009, he assumed control of the entire Military Intelligence apparatus. In July 2009 he was upgraded to the rank of General and named as deputy Chief of Staff.