Ali Habib Mahmud

Mahmud was born into an Alawite family on 1 January 1939 in Tartus[3][4] and joined the army in 1959.[5] In 1962, he graduated from the military academy.[3]

Mahmud fought in the 1973 October War against Israel. He also led forces against Israeli troops invading Lebanon in 1982, including the Battle of Sultan Yacoub.[6] He commanded 7th mechanized infantry in 1985.[4] In 1986, Mahmud became a general.[7] He also participated in the Gulf War as part of the international coalition to liberate Kuwait from Saddam Hussein's Iraq in 1990.[2] In 1994, he was appointed commander of the special forces.[5] In 1998, he was promoted to the rank of major general.[7] He was appointed deputy chief of staff in 2002. On 12 May 2004, he was appointed chief of general staff of the Syrian army and the armed forces.[3][8] He replaced Hasan Turkmani, who was appointed defense minister.[8] In addition, Mahmud was a member of the Baath Party.[7]

On 3 June 2009, President Bashar Assad appointed Mahmud as defense minister, replacing again Hasan Turkmani.[3][9] Mahmud's term ended on 8 August 2011, and he was replaced by Dawoud Rajha in the post.[5]

On 4 September 2013, the opposition wrongly claimed that Mahmud had defected and escaped to Turkey.[10] In fact, he remained in Syria.[1]

On 20 March 2020, Mahmud died in Al Assad University Hospital, Damascus.[11]