New pro-Iranian official to address security issue in southern Syria
DARAA, Syria (North Press) – A defected officer, who made a settlement in 2018 in Daraa, said on Saturday, that a new official was named to address the security issue in southern Syrian under Iranian guidance.
Abdulsalam Mahmoud, Deputy President of the General Air Force Intelligence of the Syrian government was assigned for the security issue of southern Syria.
This coincided with security tension in Daraa after the Syrian government sent reinforcements to the governorate.
Recently, Daraa witnessed an increase in killing, assassination, and kidnapping against civil and human rights activists as well as former opposition heads.
“Major General Abdulsalam Mahmoud was assigned to succeed Major General Hussam Luqa, head of the security committee in the southern region,” a security official, who preferred not to be named, told North Press.
“The new assignment was based on Iranian decision and instruction to face the Russian expansion in Daraa through the Russian-backed Fifth Corps,” he added.
Confirmed information stated that the Major General Mahmoud “paid a secret visit to Iran last week and returned on November 19. However, the assignment was sealed and ready,” the official added.
The Shiite Mahmoud, from Foa’a region, southern Idlib, was the head of the Investigation Branch of the Air Force Intelligence at the Mezza Military Airport from 2010 to 2019, according to the source.
“Mahmoud committed the most dreadful torture and killing operations against civil and anti-government activists in the Investigation Branch,” the source confirmed.
The security official feared that assassinations and detentions against anti-government people may increase after the new officer assignment in Daraa.