Muhammad al-Khuli

In 1964 al-Khuli was appointed Deputy Chief of the Syrian Air Force under Hafez al-Assad. When al-Assad ousted the government of Nureddin al-Atassi and Salah Jadid in 1970, he appointed al-Khuli Chief of Air Force Intelligence. Between 1971 and 1973 he underwent training in East Germany under both the GDR Air Force and the Stasi. Eventually, he gained the additional prominent position of Chairman of the Presidential Intelligence Committee.[1] Under al-Khuli's leadership, Air Force Intelligence became a powerful apparatus largely independent from scrutiny and tasked with assignments beyond its traditional roles.[2] Practically, it oversaw the nominating of posts throughout Syria's intelligence networks and those networks' undercover activities.[1]

Following the attempted April 1986 bombing of an Israeli El Al plane in London's Heathrow Airport in what became known as the Hindawi affair, al-Khuli was dismissed from his intelligence post in 1987.[1] He was transferred to his old post as Deputy Chief of the Air Force.[3] Assad likely dismissed al-Khuli as a result of international pressure led by the United States and the United Kingdom, the latter of which had severed diplomatic relations with Syria as a result of the incident.[1]

Al-Khuli remained close to al-Assad as a presidential adviser and still maintained strong influence within the Air Force Intelligence apparatus. Indeed, his successor, Ibrahim al-Hwayjah belonged to the same tribe and has been described by some Syrians as "al-Khuli's creature." According to historian Hanna Batatu, "it is not unlikely that al-Khuli decided to take ultimate responsibility for imprudence or missteps by Air Intelligence and to consent to the semblance of presidential disfavor in the higher interest of the regime."[1]

In 1994 President Assad promoted al-Khuli to Commander of the Air Force as indicated by sources in the Syrian press. His appointment, which coincided with efforts by the Syrian government to improve ties with the West, was a surprise to observers due to al-Khuli's alleged role in the Hindawi affair. Historian Moshe Ma'oz explains the move as a possible attempt by al-Assad to secure the "foundations" of his government during difficult times by promoting a loyal confidant such as al-Khuli who could also be relied on to support al-Assad in his bid to nominate Bashar al-Assad as successor to the presidency.[4]