Founding father of Syrian Special Forces: Who is Ali Haydar?

Ali Haydar, a close confidant of Father Assad, held a key position within the Baath party, sided with Hafez against coups during his 20-year tenure as leader of the Syrian Special Forces, and played a critical role in the Lebanese Civil War and the Hama Massacre.

Born in 1932, Ali Haydar met the Baath Party early in his life, when Michel Aflak was the leader of the movement. After Homs Military Academy, he served in the Syrian army as an infantry officer in 1952 and was undoubtedly present in the Baath coup in 1963. Ali Haydar, who was appointed head of the Syrian Special Forces in 1968 after his training in the Soviets, played a key role here.

Ali Haydar (1932 – 5 August 2022), known as the "Father of the Syrian Special Forces", was a Syrian military officer who was the commander of the Syrian Special Forces for 26 years. He was a close confidant to President Hafez al-Assad and one of the members of Assad's inner circle. Born in the village of Hallet Ara, Haydar was a member of the Ba'ath Party from his youth. He was commissioned into the Syrian Army in 1952 after a stint studying at the Homs Military Academy. 

Ali Haydar, who was the head of the Syrian Special Forces during the time of Father Assad, became one of the most loyal names of the regime. Ali Haydar, himself an Alawite, made efforts to establish Hafez Assad's power over some tribes. It intervened in Lebanon with its force of up to 25 thousand during the Lebanese Civil War in 1976 and was at the forefront in the bloody suppression of the 1982 Hama Incidents.

It was in 1984 that Ali Haydar proved himself to the regime. Hafez Assad, who had some health problems in November 1983, was in danger of a coup attempt by his younger brother Rif'at Assad. Ali Haydar, who stood against Rif'at Assad, who had a serious military force, showed that he was not in favor of the coup attempt against Hafez Assad.

After the Ba'ath Party seized power in a 1963 coup d'état, Haydar was put in charge of Syria's special forces and supported al-Assad in his rise to the presidency. During this time he was deployed to Lebanon during their civil war. Haydar opposed the 1984 coup d'état attempt led by Rifaat al-Assad, instead remaining loyal to Hafez al-Assad. After suffering an aneurysm and leaving his post in 1988, he returned to lead the special forces again in the early 1990s. At the time a Major General, he was formally removed from his position and then imprisoned in August 1994, though he was treated well during his brief prison stay and was released without a trial or public humiliation. Haydar died in Latakia at the age of 90.

Fortunately, when Hafez Assad appointed his brother as his assistant, the situation calmed down and a civil war was prevented. After a short time, Hafez Assad's elimination of his brother and exile showed that what he did was actually a tactic.

The first rift between Ali Haydar and Hafez Assad showed itself in the 1990s. The 1991 Madrid Conference, which aimed to reconcile Syria and Israel, was the first point of separation between these two closely connected figures. According to Ali Haydar, Hafez Assad acted autonomously in these peace negotiations. Another rift caused a parting of the ways. Hafez Assad's son Basil, who died in a traffic accident in 1994, was also a strong name who was likely to become the ruler of Syria after his father. After his death, father Assad summoned his other son, Bashar Assad, from London, which caused Ali Haydar's discomfort. He allegedly said. Ali Haydar, who was arrested a short time later, was stripped of his ranks and all ties with the Baath were cut off.

The Special Forces position was given to another Alevi named, Ali Habîb. Ali Haydar, who was released after a two-month detention period, stepped aside. After a long break, he was seen at the funeral ceremony of Hafez Assad in 2000 and declared his loyalty to Bashar Assad. He undoubtedly sided with Assad against the revolution that started in 2011. This, in a way, acquitted him in the eyes of the regime and resulted in Assad sending a condolence message after his death.

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The Passing of a Syrian General Famed for Brutality

Few noticed the death last week of Ali Haydar, 90, one of the architects of the Assad regime’s notorious security apparatus

https://newlinesmag.com/essays/the-passing-of-a-syrian-general-famed-for-brutality/