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Internal Security Command (Syria)

(Redirected from General Security Forces)

The Internal Security Command (Arabic: قيادة الأمن الداخلي, romanized: Qiadat al-ʾAmn ad-Dāḵilī;; abbr.: ISC)[2], also known as the Internal Security Forces (Arabic: قوى الأمن الداخلي, romanized: Quwā al-ʾAmn ad-Dāḵilī; abbr.: ISF)[3] is the national police service and internal security force of Syria.

Internal Security Command
قيادة الأمن الداخلي
Agency overview
Formed2019 (General Security Service)[1]
2024 (current form)
Preceding agencies
Employees50,000
Jurisdictional structure
National agencySyrian Arab Republic
Operations jurisdictionSyrian Arab Republic
Population18,437,288
Governing bodySyria
General nature
Operational structure
Overseen byGovernment of Syria
HeadquartersDamascus, Syria
Agency executives
Parent agencyMinistry of Interior

It is primarily responsible for law enforcement, protecting civilians and properties alongside investigating crimes with assistance from the General Intelligence Service, and for drug-related cases, the Drug Enforcement Administration. It also performs other routine police functions, including traffic control. It is administered and controlled by the Ministry of Interior.

History

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The Internal Security Command, or known as the General Security Service at the time, was the police force of Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which controlled areas in Northern Syria, replacing the Free Syrian Police before it was transferred to the interior ministry of the Syrian Salvation Government in April 2024.[1][4] Its roots could be traced to 1945 when the Public Security Police was formed. A police academy was opened in September 2023 and produced its first batch of graduates in August 2024.[5][6]

The Ba'athist-led Public Security Police collapsed in 2024 with the fall of the Assad regime. HTS brought the General Security Service from Idlib to maintain order and security in recently captured areas in the country. In January 2025, the new de facto rulers of Syria, the Syrian caretaker government, made preparations to reorganize the General Security Service as Syria's police force, including Sharia as part of the police training.[7][8]

On 29 November 2025, the Syrian Ministry of Interior presented several new police vehicles. The vehicles, all Hyundai models, include:

  • Armoured variants assigned to the Diplomatic Security and Officials Protection units;
  • Vehicles for the Criminal Investigations Department;
  • Patrol cars for the Road Security (traffic police) branch.[9]

On 30 November 2025, the Syrian Arab News Agency published images of several new vehicle designs for the Ministry of Interior's vehicles, including the vehicles of the General Security Service.[10]

Involvement in the 2025 massacres of Alawites

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In March 2025, members of the General Security Service were accused of taking part in the 2025 massacres against Alawite civilians along Syria's coastal regions.[11][12][13]: 44, 49, 50 

Equipment

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Protective gear

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Name Photo Origin Notes
Ruyin-5
Iran Standard issue.
Future Assault Shell Technology
 United States Standard issue.

Small arms

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Pistols

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Name Photo Origin Cartridge Notes
Makarov
Soviet Union 9×18mm Makarov

Battle and semi-auto rifles

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Name Photo Origin Cartridge Notes
SKS
Soviet Union 7.62×39mm Gold-plated variant. Used for ceremonial purposes.
Heckler & Koch G3
Germany 7.62×51mm NATO Donated by Turkey.

Assault rifles

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Name Photo Origin Cartridge Notes
AK-47
Soviet Union 7.62×39mm Standard issue. Also used by special forces.
AKM
Soviet Union 7.62×39mm Standard issue.
M4 carbine
 United States 5.56×45mm NATO Seen during clashes with Islamic State forces.


Vehicles

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Name Photo Origin Notes
Hyundai Tucson
South Korea
Mitsubishi Pajero Sport
Japan Seen in use by traffic security police.
Chevrolet Suburban
 United States Seen in use by diplomatic security forces.
Mitsubishi Triton
Japan
Nissan Patrol
Japan Seen in use by traffic security police.
Hyundai Staria
South Korea
Toyota Land Cruiser Prado
Japan Seen in use by special forces.
Fengon 580
China Used by the Tourist Police.

References

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  1. 1 2 al-Aswad, Harun (16 January 2019). "Syrian Free Police disband following HTS militant takeover in Idlib". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 7 February 2025.
  2. ↑ "Internal Security Command tracks individual for deliberate national flag desecration". 21 March 2026. Retrieved 17 April 2026.
  3. ↑ "Syrian Defense Minister Announces Comprehensive Ceasefire with SDF - SANA". 7 October 2025. Retrieved 7 October 2025.
  4. ↑ "Reforms in Idlib: Charting a Path Forward". Levant24. 7 April 2024. Retrieved 2 December 2024.
  5. ↑ "SSG Ministry of Interior Opens First Police College in Greater Idlib". Levant24. 30 September 2023. Retrieved 2 December 2024.
  6. ↑ "Police Academy Graduation Marks New Milestone in Northern Syria's Development". Levant24. 15 August 2024. Retrieved 2 December 2024.
  7. ↑ Ismail, Amina; Ashawi, Khalil (23 January 2025). "Syria's new leaders turn to Islamic law in effort to rebuild Assad's police". Reuters. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
  8. ↑ "Syria's rulers spark concern as they bring from Idlib sharia-based police training". The Arab Weekly. Retrieved 7 February 2025.
  9. ↑ "Ministry of Interior". 29 November 2025. Retrieved 30 November 2025.
  10. ↑ "Interior Ministry to launch new visual identity for its vehicles tomorrow". 29 November 2025. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  11. ↑ "Syria: Security forces accused of executing dozens of Alawites". www.bbc.com. Archived from the original on 8 March 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
  12. ↑ Maggie Michael (30 June 2025), Syrian forces massacred 1,500 Alawites. The chain of command led to Damascus., Reuters, Wikidata Q136531860{{citation}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  13. ↑ United Nations Human Rights Council (11 August 2025), Violations against civilians in the coastal and western- central regions of the Syrian Arab Republic (January–March 2025) (PDF), Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Wikidata Q136531873, archived (PDF) from the original on 28 September 2025

See also

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