Ahmed al-Dalati
Syrian politician and security official (born 1985)
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Ahmed Haitham al-Dalati (Arabic: أحمد هيثم الدالاتي) is a Syrian politician, security official, and former military commander, having previously served as deputy commander-in-chief of Ahrar al-Sham. He was appointed governor of Quneitra Governorate by Syria's caretaker government on 8 March 2025, following the fall of the Assad regime, and served as commander of Internal Security in Suwayda Governorate from 25 May 2025 to 2 September 2025. He has served in the same role in Rif Dimashq since 2 September.
Ahmed al-Dalati | |
|---|---|
أحمد الدالاتي | |
| Governor of Quneitra | |
| In office 8 March 2025 – 31 July 2026 | |
| President | Ahmed al-Sharaa |
| Preceded by | Tony Aziz Hanna[1] |
| Succeeded by | Ghassan Elias al-Sayyed Ahmad |
| Commander of Internal Security in Rif Dimashq | |
| Assumed office 2 September 2025 | |
| President | Ahmed al-Sharaa |
| Preceded by | Hussam al-Tahhan |
| Commander of Internal Security in Suwayda | |
| In office 25 May 2025 – 2 September 2025 | |
| President | Ahmed al-Sharaa |
| Succeeded by | Hussam al-Tahhan |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1985 (age 40–41) |
| Education | Technical Institute of Computer Science in Damascus (BE) |
| Nickname | Abu Muhammad al-Shami (Arabic: أبو محمد الشامي) |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance |
|
Rank |  Brigadier General |
Conflicts | |
Early life and education
Al-Dalati was born in 1985 in Kfeir al-Zayt in the Wadi Barada region of Rif Dimashq.[2] He completed elementary school in his hometown, then attended middle and high school in Damascus, and earned a bachelor's degree in engineering from the Technical Institute of Computer Science in Damascus.[2][3]
Activity during the civil war
Al-Dalati joined the Syrian opposition in 2011 upon the outbreak of the Syrian civil war. He joined Jaysh al-Islam early on in the war, but after moving to northern Syria in 2015, he joined Ahrar al-Sham, contributing to establishing Ahrar al-Sham in southern governorates such as Damascus and its countryside. In early 2016, he was appointed as the Southern Region Command Officer of Ahrar al-Sham, and later was appointed to the group's Shura Council.[3][4]
He was appointed deputy commander-in-chief of Ahrar al-Sham on 16 June 2021, after Amer al-Sheikh had been appointed leader a year prior to end a leadership dispute between Jaber Ali Pasha and Hassan Soufan.[4][5]
According to Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, he was "one of the most influential figures" in managing and planning military and political operations.[2] In late 2024, he played a "key role" during the Deterrence of Aggression offensive, such as participating in the Battle of Aleppo.[2][6]
Post-Assad era
Following the fall of the Assad regime, he was appointed governor of Quneitra on 8 March 2025, having previously served as deputy governor of Rif Dimashq Governorate to Amer al-Sheikh.[3][2]
On 25 May 2025, he was appointed Internal Security commander of As-Suwayda Governorate, as part of a broader organizational restructuring by the Syrian Ministry of Interior.[7]
Reuters reported on 27 May that, according to Syrian and Western sources, al-Dalati has led diplomatic contacts with Israel, though he officially denied this to Syrian state news network Alikhbaria.[8][9]
On 2 September 2025, he was appointed commander of Internal Security in Rif Dimashq Governorate, succeeding Hussam al-Tahhan.[10]