Political Security Directorate


Political Security Directorate is an intelligence service of the Syrian government. It is divided into an Internal Security Department and an External Security Department. It is active against the Syrian opposition. The PSD runs the detention centres of the Syrian regime. It monitors political dissent and all media outlets, as well as registered parties.

History and chiefs

From 1987 until the 1990s, it was headed by Adnan Badr Hassan, an Alawite from al-Mukharram near Homs. Ghazi Kanaan was its chief from 2002 to 2004. In 2004, Muhammad Manasra became its head. In 2011, its chief was Deeb Zaitoun, an Alawite.

Heads of Political Security Directorate