Ghazi Kanaan

Ghazi Kanaan
غازي كنعان
Minister of Interior
In office
4 October 2004 – 12 October 2005
PresidentBashar al-Assad
Prime MinisterMuhammad Naji al-Otari
Preceded byAli Hammoud
Succeeded byBassam Abdel Majeed
Director of Political Security Directorate
In office
2002–2004
PresidentBashar al-Assad
Preceded byAdnan Badr Hassan
Succeeded byMuhammad Mansoura
Head of Military Intelligence in Lebanon[1]
In office
1982 – December 2002
PresidentHafez al-Assad
Bashar al-Assad
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byRustum Ghazaleh
Personal details
Born1942
Bhamra, Latakia,
First Syrian Republic
Died12 October 2005(2005-10-12) (aged 62–63)
Damascus, Syria
Political partyBa'ath Party
Military service
Allegiance Syria
Branch/service Syrian Army
Years of service1963–2004
Rank Major General
Battles/wars

Ghazi Kanaan (Arabic: غازي كنعان; 1942 – 12 October 2005), also known by his nickname Abu Yo'roub, was a Syrian military officer and intelligence chief who served as Syria's interior minister from 2004 to 2005. He was also the long-time head of Syria's security apparatus in Lebanon from 1982 to 2002.

Employing tactics such as endorsing pro-Syrian candidates and employing intimidation, Kanaan had a considerable influence over Lebanese politics, ensuring Lebanon was aligned with Syria's agenda. Kanaan was questioned during the investigation into Rafic Hariri's assassination in 2005. His violent death later that year, officially declared a suicide, was met with skepticism by some, drawing international attention.[2]

  1. ^ Nassif, Daniel (January 2000). "Major General Ghazi Kanaan". Middle East Intelligence Bulletin. 2 (1). Retrieved 7 July 2012.
  2. ^ Najem, Tom; Amore, Roy C.; Abu Khalil, As'ad (2021). Historical Dictionary of Lebanon. Historical Dictionaries of Asia, Oceania, and the Middle East (2nd ed.). Lanham Boulder New York London: Rowman & Littlefield. p. 175. ISBN 978-1-5381-2043-9.

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