Wissam al-Hassan
Wissam al-Hassan | |
---|---|
وسام الحسن | |
Personal details | |
Born | Information Branch | 11 April 1965
Military service | |
Rank | Brigadier general |
Wissam Adnan al-Hassan (
Early life
Al-Hassan was born into a Sunni family in the northern Lebanese city of Btouratige, Koura District, Lebanon, on 11 April 1965.[1][2] However, the UN report cites his birthplace as Tripoli.[3]
From 1992 to 1995 al-Hassan was official guard of the late Lebanese Prime Minister
Rafik Hariri Assassination
Rafik Hariri was killed in a massive car bomb in Beirut on 14 February 2005. As Hariri's chief of protocol, al-Hassan would have normally been in the motorcade that was hit by the attack, but he had taken the day off to undergo a university exam.[1][3][4]
In 2010, the U.N. investigators from the
Head of information branch at ISF
Al-Hassan was named as the head of the information branch of the ISF on 19 January 2006,[3] and tasked with leading the investigation to Hariri's death.[4][5] Al-Hassan served under the ISF's director-general, Ashraf Rifi, who is one of the board members of the Prince Nayef University for Security Studies.[6] Al-Hassan achieved significant improvements in the capabilities of the information branch in terms of both domestic criminal matters and security issues.[7]
His intelligence unit was seen as being backed by the
As the chief of the intelligence branch, al-Hassan was criticized by members of the March 8 Alliance for allegedly focusing his investigations on pro-Syrian figures and members of the March 8 Alliance. In August 2012, al-Hassan made headlines as the key player in an investigation that led to the arrest of former information minister Michel Samaha,[8] who was charged with transporting explosives into Lebanon with the help of the Syrian Security Chief Ali Mamlouk, in an alleged attempt to destabilize the country.[5][7] Al-Hassan had evidence of direct links between Samaha and senior Syrian political and intelligence aides, including top adviser to President Assad, Butheina Shaban.[9] Lebanese Interior Minister Marwan Charbel reported that al-Hassan was threatened in relation to the arrest of Samaha.[8] Colonel Imad Othman succeeded al-Hassan as the head of ISF's intelligence bureau on 21 October 2012.[10][11]
Political activities
Al-Hassan acted as a mediator between Saad Hariri and
Al-Hassan was named as a possible negotiation partner by the Free Syrian Army after the Syrian insurgency fighters kidnapped 11 Lebanese Shi'a pilgrims in August.[4] Al-Hassan was considered an ally of the United States.[14]
Death and funeral
On 19 October 2012, al-Hassan died in a massive car bombing near the Achrafieh neighborhood of Beirut.[15] Seven other people including his driver also died and nearly eighty people were wounded in the huge blast.[9][16][17] Al-Hassan is believed to have been the target of the attack.[18] He returned to Beirut from abroad on 18 October 2012.[19]
A state funeral ceremony for him was organized in Beirut on 21 October with the attendance of significant political figures and thousands of people.[17][19] Lebanese president Michel Suleiman awarded al-Hassan the National Order of the Cedar in Grade of Grand Officer at the ceremony.[20] Al-Hassan was buried alongside former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in a cemetery near the Mohammad Amin Mosque.[17]
Personal life
Al-Hassan was married to Anna al-Hassan and had two sons, Majd and Mazen.[21]
See also
- Future Movement
- Lebanese–Syrian Security Apparatus
- 2011–2012 conflict in Lebanon
- Lebanese Information Branch
- List of assassinated Lebanese politicians
References
- ^ a b "Profile: Wissam al-Hassan". BBC News. 19 October 2012. Retrieved 19 October 2012.
- ^ Follath, Erich (5 November 2012). "Was Murdered Intelligence Chief a Hero or Double Agent?". Der Spiegel. Retrieved 5 November 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Wissam Al Hassan" (PDF). CBC. 3 October 2008. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f "Who Was Wissam Al-Hassan?". Al Akhbar. 19 October 2012. Archived from the original on 21 October 2012. Retrieved 19 October 2012.
- ^ a b c Taylor, Alex (20 October 2012). "Hasan's pivotal security role". The Daily Star. Retrieved 20 October 2012.
- ^ AbuKhalil, Asad (13 August 2012). "The Michel Samaha Affair". Al Akhbar. Retrieved 20 October 2012.
- ^ a b Radin, CD (21 October 2012). "Beirut car bomb kills anti-Syrian intelligence general". Long War Journal. Retrieved 22 October 2012.
- ^ a b "Charbel: Hassan threatened before revealing Samaha case". NOW Lebanon. 20 October 2012. Retrieved 20 October 2012.
- ^ a b Al Sharif, Osama (24 October 2012). "Lebanon at the edge of precipice". Al Arabiya. Archived from the original on 24 October 2012. Retrieved 24 October 2012.
- ^ "Imad Othman Succeeds Hasan as ISF Intelligence Bureau Head". Naharnet. 22 October 2012. Retrieved 22 October 2012.
- ^ Salem, Paul (23 October 2012). "Lebanon's Fragile Peace Will Hold Despite Blow". Carnegie Middle East. Retrieved 21 April 2013.
- ^ Muhanna, Elias (22 October 2012). "The Many Faces of Wissam Al-Hassan". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 17 March 2013.
- ^ a b Stewart, Scott (15 November 2012). "Lebanon: Lessons from Two Assassinations". Stratfor: Global Intelligence. Austin, Texas. Archived from the original on 17 November 2012.
- ^ In Beirut Blast, U.S. Loses a Top Ally The Wall Street Journal, 26 October 2012
- ^ Chulov, Martin (19 October 2012). "Lebanon's great divide exposed by assassination of security chief". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 October 2012.
- ^ "Protests in Lebanon follow murder of intelligence chief". Euronews. 20 October 2012. Archived from the original on 22 October 2012. Retrieved 20 October 2012.
- ^ a b c "Siniora demands Cabinet resign at Hasan's funeral in Beirut". The Daily Star. Beirut. 21 October 2012. Retrieved 21 October 2012.
- ^ Walsh, Nick Paton; Jamjoom, Mohammed; Sterling, Joe (19 October 2012). "Anti-Syrian official killed when car bomb rocks Beirut". CNN. Retrieved 19 October 2012.
- ^ a b Nakhoul, Samia (22 October 2012). "Analysis: Killing of security chief raises fears for Lebanon". Reuters. Beirut. Retrieved 22 October 2012.
- ^ "Suleiman Asks Govt. Not to Provide Cover for Criminals". Naharnet. 22 October 2012. Retrieved 22 October 2012.
- ^ "Thousands gather for al-Hassan's funeral in Beirut". Ahram Online. AP. 21 October 2012. Retrieved 22 October 2012.