Minister of Interior (Syria)
The Minister of the Interior () is a cabinet position in the Government of Syria responsible for public security, law enforcement, and internal affairs. The minister heads the Ministry of the Interior, which oversees police forces, civil defense, and border security within the country.
Responsibilities
The Minister of the Interior is tasked with maintaining internal security, coordinating with security agencies, and enforcing laws across Syria. The role has been particularly prominent during periods of political instability, including the Syrian civil war.
History
The position was established in 1920 during the French Mandate for Syria. It has undergone numerous changes reflecting Syria's turbulent political history, including multiple coups and regime changes. Following the fall of the Ba'athist Syria in late 2024, the position was restructured in the transitional government, with Anas Khattab appointed in March 2025.
List of officeholders
No. |
Name |
Took office |
Left office |
Party |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
Rashid Tali'a |
30 September 1918 |
8 March 1920 |
|
2 |
Reda Al Solh |
9 March 1920 |
3 May 1920 |
|
Vacant 3 May 1920 – 5 May 1920 |
||||
2 |
Reda Al Solh |
5 May 1920 |
25 July 1920 |
|
3 |
Ata Bey al-Ayyubi |
25 July 1920 |
28 June 1922 |
|
4 |
Mustafa Nemat |
28 June 1922 |
21 December 1924 |
|
5 |
Nasri Bakhash |
21 December 1924 |
21 December 1925 |
|
6 |
Husni al-Barazi |
4 May 1926 |
12 June 1926 |
|
7 |
Wathiq Moayad al-Azm |
12 June 1926 |
2 December 1926 |
|
8 |
Raouf Al Ayoubi |
2 December 1926 |
8 February 1928 |
|
9 |
Said Mahasin |
15 February 1928 |
19 November 1931 |
|
10 |
Badie Moayad al-Azm |
19 November 1931 |
11 June 1932 |
|
11 |
Haqqi al-Azm |
15 June 1932 |
17 March 1934 |
|
12 |
Taj al-Din al-Hasani |
17 May 1934 |
23 February 1936 |
|
13 |
Ata Bey al-Ayyubi |
23 February 1936 |
21 December 1936 |
|
14 |
Saadallah al-Jabiri |
21 December 1936 |
18 February 1939 |
|
15 |
Nasuhi al-Bukhari |
5 April 1939 |
8 July 1939 |
|
16 |
Khalid al-Azm |
3 April 1941 |
12 September 1941 |
|
17 |
Husni al-Barazi |
18 April 1942 |
8 January 1943 |
|
18 |
Jamil al-Ulshi |
8 January 1943 |
25 March 1943 |
|
19 |
Ata Bey al-Ayyubi |
25 March 1943 |
19 August 1943 |
|
20 |
Lutfi al-Haffar |
19 August 1943 |
14 October 1944 |
|
21 |
Fares al-Khoury |
14 October 1944 |
14 March 1945 |
|
22 |
Sabri al-Asali |
14 March 1945 |
23 August 1945 |
|
23 |
Lutfi al-Haffar |
26 August 1945 |
25 April 1946 |
|
24 |
Sabri al-Asali |
25 April 1946 |
27 December 1946 |
|
25 |
Jamil Mardam Bey |
28 December 1946 |
2 October 1947 |
|
26 |
Muhsin al-Barazi |
6 October 1947 |
19 August 1948 |
|
27 |
Sabri al-Asali |
23 August 1948 |
2 December 1948 |
|
28 |
Adel al-Azma |
16 December 1948 |
29 March 1949 |
|
29 |
Husni al-Za'im |
16 April 1949 |
26 June 1949 |
|
30 |
Muhsin al-Barazi |
26 June 1949 |
14 August 1949 |
|
31 |
Rushdi al-Kikhya |
14 August 1949 |
12 December 1949 |
|
32 |
Ahmad Qanbar |
24 December 1949 |
27 December 1949 |
|
33 |
Sami Kabbara |
27 December 1949 |
4 June 1950 |
|
34 |
Rashad Barmada |
4 June 1950 |
27 March 1951 |
|
35 |
Sami Kabbara |
28 March 1951 |
8 August 1951 |
|
36 |
Rashad Barmada |
9 August 1951 |
28 November 1951 |
|
37 |
Ahmad Qanbar |
28 November 1951 |
1 December 1951 |
|
38 |
Fawzi Selu |
9 June 1952 |
11 July 1953 |
|
39 |
Nuri al-Aybash |
19 July 1953 |
1 March 1954 |
|
40 |
Ali Bozo |
1 March 1954 |
19 June 1954 |
|
41 |
Ismail Quly |
19 June 1954 |
29 October 1954 |
|
42 |
Ahmad Qanbar |
29 October 1954 |
13 February 1955 |
|
43 |
Sabri al-Asali |
13 February 1955 |
13 September 1955 |
|
44 |
Abdul-Hasib Arslan |
13 September 1955 |
14 September 1955 |
|
45 |
Ali Bozo |
14 September 1955 |
14 June 1956 |
|
46 |
Ahmad Qanbar |
14 June 1956 |
31 December 1957 |
|
47 |
Sabri al-Asali |
31 December 1956 |
6 March 1958 |
|
48 |
Abdel Hamid al-Sarraj |
6 March 1958 |
28 September 1961 |
|
49 |
Adnan al-Quwatli |
29 September 1961 |
20 November 1961 |
|
50 |
Abdul-Salam al-Tarmanini |
20 November 1961 |
22 December 1961 |
|
51 |
Ahmad Qanbar |
22 December 1961 |
27 March 1962 |
|
52 |
Abdel Halim Qaddur |
16 April 1962 |
17 September 1962 |
|
53 |
Aziz Abdul Karim |
17 September 1962 |
8 March 1963 |
|
54 |
Amin al-Hafiz |
9 March 1963 |
4 August 1963 |
|
55 |
Nureddin al-Atassi |
4 August 1963 |
14 May 1964 |
|
56 |
Mohamed Fahmy Achouri |
14 May 1964 |
3 October 1964 |
|
57 |
Abd al-Karim al-Jundi |
3 October 1964 |
24 December 1964 |
|
58 |
Mohammed Khair Badawi |
24 December 1964 |
23 September 1965 |
|
59 |
Mohammed Eid Achaoui |
23 September 1965 |
27 December 1965 |
|
60 |
Mohamed Fahmy Achouri |
1 January 1966 |
23 February 1966 |
|
61 |
Mohammed Eid Achaoui |
1 March 1966 |
28 October 1968 |
|
62 |
Mohammed Rabah Al-Tawil |
28 October 1968 |
21 November 1970 |
|
63 |
Abdul Rahman Khalafawi |
21 November 1970 |
4 March 1971 |
|
64 |
Ali Zaza |
4 March 1971 |
8 July 1976 |
|
65 |
Adnan Dabbagh |
8 July 1976 |
14 January 1980 |
|
66 |
Nasser al-Din Nasser |
14 January 1980 |
8 April 1985 |
|
67 |
Mohammad Ghobash |
8 April 1985 |
11 January 1987 |
|
68 |
Muhammad Harba |
11 January 1987 |
12 December 2001 |
|
69 |
Ali Hammoud |
13 December 2001 |
7 October 2004 |
|
70 |
Ghazi Kanaan |
7 October 2004 |
12 October 2005 |
|
71 |
Bassam Abdel Majeed |
12 February 2006 |
23 April 2009 |
|
72 |
Said Sammour |
23 April 2009 |
14 April 2011 |
|
73 |
Mohammad al-Shaar |
14 April 2011 |
26 November 2018 |
|
74 |
Mohammad Khaled al-Rahmoun |
26 November 2018 |
8 December 2024 |
|
75 |
Mohammad Abdul Rahman |
10 December 2024 |
19 January 2025 |
|
76 |
Ali Keda |
19 January 2025 |
29 March 2025 |
|
77 |
Anas Khattab |
29 March 2025 |
Incumbent |
|