Who is Hassam Louka? Biography of the Brigadier General and his role in the Syrian conflict

Who is Hassam Luka?

According to sources in the Syrian opposition, Hassam Luka, who holds the post of head of the regime's General Directorate of Security, is believed to be leading the coup attempt.

Luka is allegedly coordinating the actions of a group of Syrian Arab Army soldiers who are trying to reach the presidential palace in Damascus. This may indicate serious internal friction within the Syrian leadership.

These events are taking place against the backdrop of increasing pressure on the Assad regime, including military gains by the opposition, the activation of external players, and possible internal discord among the elites.

Brigadier General Hassam Luka is a high-ranking Syrian military officer known for his activities in the Syrian security services. Here are the main facts about him:

Biography and career

Origin: Hassam Luka is originally from the Homs region, the city of Khanasir. Luka is of Circassian descent, according to syrianobserver.com.
Role in security services: General Luka has held key positions in Syrian intelligence and security agencies.
- He was the head of the General Intelligence Directorate in Aleppo, then headed the intelligence service in Deir ez-Zor province.
- His activities in these regions coincided with key moments in the Syrian conflict.
Activities during the civil war:
- Luka played an important role in suppressing protests and organizing military operations against rebel groups.
- His name is associated with accusations of involvement in human rights violations, including torture and violence against civilians persons.
Negotiations: Luka acted as a representative of the Syrian government in negotiations with opposition forces. For example, he participated in negotiations to resolve the situation in areas controlled by the rebels.

Visit to Lebanon: August 2024

Major General Hossam Louka, head of Syria's General Intelligence Service, visited Lebanon, underscoring his role as a key mediator between the Syrian regime and its allies.

Unlike previous visits, Louka did not meet with Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah. Instead, he held talks with other senior party officials, including:

Deputy Secretary General Naim Qassem
Executive Council Chairman Hashem Safi al-Din
Head of Liaison and Coordination Wafik Safa.

Tensions between Syria, Iran and Hezbollah are reportedly related to the Syrian regime's refusal to fulfill promises regarding a future conflict with Israel. This may be due to Bashar al-Assad's reluctance to openly participate in the escalation initiated by the "axis of resistance."

According to syrianobserver.com sources, Hezbollah representatives expressed concern about this development in meetings with their close associates, emphasizing that Damascus's refusal to fulfill its obligations is disappointing.

Luka's reputation

His name appears in reports from international human rights organizations that accuse Luka of repression and cruelty.

He is considered a loyal supporter of Bashar al-Assad's regime and carries out his orders in the most difficult and conflict-ridden zones.

Participation in repression:

Luka was one of the first Syrian officers to fall under Western sanctions. This was likely due to his leading role in suppressing protests and violence in the early years of the Syrian revolution.
He was a long-time head of the Political Security Directorate, one of the structures responsible for suppressing the opposition.

Allegations of involvement in the Al-Waer tragedy:

In the fall of 2015, Louka was accused of involvement in the Al-Waer massacre in the Homs neighborhood of Homs. During this incident, a playground was blown up, resulting in the deaths of 19 people, including 14 children. It was one of the most shocking episodes of the war.
Later, Louka was appointed to represent the Syrian regime in peace talks in the same area. This caused outrage among locals who saw him as a man involved in mass murder.

To date, information about his current location or position may be scarce due to the closed nature of the Syrian military apparatus. However, Luka remains a figure of considerable influence in the Syrian security forces.

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