Not sure why it didn't work in the OP..

Not sure why the formatting I sent to

the below is a compilation of information from various individuals, websites and personal knowledge. please accept that verification of it has been done as much as possible due to the nature of it. for those with updated information please contribute to it. the original compilation was not done by me and has been edited to reflect what i hope to be more accurate information.

There are 4 intelligence agencies with intertwined jurisdiction and functions and they are:

• (1)-Air force Intelligence
• (2)- Military Intelligence
• (3)-General Directorate of Intelligence
• (4)-Political Intelligence.

Please note that the choice of name is intended to (and in all respect has succeeded) confuse anyone trying to understand the security structure.

Of the 4 the (1)Air Force Intelligence and (2)Military Intelligence are considered the most ruthless while the (4)Political Intelligence is the most pervasive within the population.

Each agency is made up of several branches, in the case of (2)Military Intelligence and (3)General Directorate of Intelligence each branch is identified by a 3 digit number, while for the (1)Air Force Intelligence and (4)Political Intelligence the branches are identified by a branch name.

Every branch is sub divided to departments that are then divided to specific functions that are:

• Stations (barracks of sorts with interrogation facilities and medium defense capabilities)
• cells or operative centers (informants)
• Action units (trained units to carry out specific tasks)

The structure translates to: Agency, Branch, Department and functions.

Those agencies report to two other government offices the first is the National Security Office and the second is Presidential Security Office.

Delving into the agencies and subsequently the branches in them with a short description of function:

1. Air Force Intelligence: a. The backbone of the regime known to have the most loyal die hard supporters of the regime. It is the most trusted of the 4 agencies and the one tasked with missions that are of top sensitivity due to its relatively smaller size in comparison to the other agencies. Staff rarely interact with civilians. Those who work here are usually highly trained best equipped of all other agencies.

   i. Central branches (in Damascus):

   1. Administrative Branch: as the name implies this branch has all the information on staff and is also responsible for keeping an eye and ear on them. It is in charge of promoting or transfer of employees.
   2. Information Branch: in charge of carrying out analysis and includes departments specialized on religious and political parties. The branch is also responsible for monitoring local and foreign media including the world wide web.
   3. Interrogation Branch: this the official interrogation branch despite every other branch having their own interrogation facilities this is where all the information is routed and where specific interrogation techniques are employed (possibly responsible for interrogating of high profile targets).
   4. Airport Branch: Responsible for the security of Presidential plane and presidential security during his international visits this branch is located in mazze Airport.
   5. Operations Branch: in charge of internal and external operations including those involving the air force that involve external intelligence or collaboration with external foreign agencies.
   6. Special Operations Branch: an auxiliary and complementary unit tasked with supporting and overriding other branches as situations develop.

   ii. Regional Branches:

   These branches are complementary and act like capillaries in each of the governorates that trickles information to main branches. They are closely attached to air defense bases and military airports. They are in charge of keeping files on every military personnel and their civilian relatives in addition to the units capabilities in relation to the armed forces.

2. Military Intelligence: i. Central branches (in Damascus except the 220 which is in Sa’sa’ near the Gollan heights) :

   1. 291 Branch: the administrative branch also known as HQ branch similar to the administrative branch of the air force intelligence.
   2. 293 Branch: Officers security branch that monitors officers and the head of the branch has direct call access to the president and reporting to him.
   3. 294 Branch: in charge of monitoring the military divisions with the exception of Air Defenses and Air Force. They maintain reports of the make-up and combat readiness of each division in addition to evaluating the loyalty of personnel in these divisions.
   4. 235 Branch: also known as Palestine branch. The largest of all other branches in this agency intended for intelligence activities against Israel and Palestinian resistance groups both domestically and externally. Its role was expanded to include following the events of 1982 to include monitoring of Islamic movements hence this branch has an anti-terrorism unit and department specialized in Islamic driven terrorism. This branch is also responsible for monitoring Palestinian refugees .
   5. 211 Branch: Known as the Tech Branch responsible for the monitoring of the world wide web and provides recommendations on blocking access to certain sites.
   6. 225 Branch: tasked with monitoring telecommunication and is run by highly competent technical personnel. They have complete control on the telecommunication network and works in conjunction with the 211 Branch.
   7. 248 Branch: Interrogation Branch similar to the administrative branch of the air force intelligence.
   8. 215 and 216 Branches: tasked with carrying out raids and patrols respectively.
   9. 220 Branch: known as Sa’sa’ branch tasked with monitoring the Golan heights and the UN troops stationed there as well as any other activities on that front.

   ii. Regional Branches: These branches have departments representing each of the central branches and are assigned 1 to each Governorate. 1. 227 Damascus 2. 261 Homs 3. 245 Daraa 4. 219 Hama 5. 222 Hasaka 6. 271 Idlib 7. 290 Aleppo 8. 243 DEZ 10. Latakia 11. Tartoos are yet to be identified.

3. General Directorate of Intelligence: a. Generally confused as to being the highest body with regards to intelligence work due to its name the branches have a 3 digit number as identification:

   i. Central branches (in Damascus)

   1. 111 Branch: the administrative branch also known as HQ branch similar to the administrative branch of the air force intelligence.
   2. 251 Branch: the internal branch tasked with monitoring all political movements, possible armed movements and works closely with the 235 Branch from the military intelligence agency in matters identified as counter Islamic terrorism.
   3. 255 Branch: in Charge of propaganda.
   4. 279 Branch: External branch: in charge of all external intelligence activities and coordination with foreign intelligence agencies on matters such as counter terrorism and extradition it also coordinates between different military and intelligence branches on joint operations. This branch witnessed expanded capabilities and involvement since the start of the uprising in 2011.

   ii. Regional Branches: These branches have departments representing each of the central branches and are assigned 1 to each Governorate (yet to be correctly identified).

4. Political Intelligence Agency: i. Central Branches:

   1. Administrative Branch: also known as HQ branch similar to the administrative branch of the air force intelligence.
   2. Prisons Branch: in charge of operatives working in prisons to find recruits or infiltrate movements.
   3. Permits Branch: in charge of issuing permits for anything requiring one like gun licenses, telecommunication companies etc etc.
   4. Civilian branch: in charge of categorizing civilians based on risk factors, demographic changes. Promoting false news to instigate and then arrest those who interact with said news.
   5. Training Branch: in charge of hiring and training civilian informants. Providing incentives or blackmailing civilians to divulge information and train other agency members in non-violent interrogation techniques and physiological manipulation.

   ii. Regional Branches: 1. These branches have departments representing each of the central branches and are assigned 1 to each Governorate (yet to be correctly identified).

if you have been paying attention you will notice that there is a lot of interaction and repetition. agencies with central branches usually also have similar branches in their regional representation which in some cases ends up having duplicate branches such as the 227 Branch in Damascus which already has the central branches.

at the moment and even after verification efforts my certainty of the contents is around 65 to 70% (except of course the parts where i was involved).