Internal Security Forces
National police and security force of Lebanon
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Internal Security Forces (Arabic: المديرية العامة لقوى الأمن الداخلي, romanized: al-Mudiriyya al-'aamma li-Qiwa al-Amn al-Dakhili; French: Forces de Sécurité Intérieure; abbreviated ISF) are the national police and gendarmerie of Lebanon.
| Internal Security Forces Forces de sécurité intérieure قوى الأمن الداخلي Qiwa al-Amn al-Dakhili | |
|---|---|
Logo of the Lebanese ISF. | |
| Abbreviation | ISF |
| Motto | Security for the Nation and Civilians |
| Agency overview | |
| Formed | 1860 |
| Employees | 131,000 |
| Jurisdictional structure | |
| Operations jurisdiction | Lebanon |
| General nature | |
| Specialist jurisdiction |
|
| Operational structure | |
| Headquarters | Beirut |
| Agency executives |
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| Notables | |
| People |
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| Website | |
| isf.gov.lb | |
Modern police were established in Lebanon in 1861, with the creation of a gendarmerie force.[1] In April 2005, Ashraf Rifi became head of the ISF, replacing Ali Al Hajj.[2] Rifi then started to recruit younger members to become part of Lebanese Intelligence. His term ended in April 2013, and he was replaced by Roger Salem,[3] and Ibrahim Basbouss subsequently. On March 8, 2017, the Lebanese Cabinet appointed Imad Othman as the ISF director general. He took command the following day.[4]
The number of ISF personnel reached 100,000 by 2000 and grew to over 131,000 by 2013. The ISF National Day in Lebanon is on the 9th of June.[5]
History
Origins and the Mandate 1861-1943
Lebanese accounts date the force to 9 July 1861, when the "Judiciary Police" was set up in the Mount Lebanon Mutasarrifate under the mutasarrıf Daoud Pasha. It was trained by an English Officer named mason and reportedly numbered 150 officers and 740 men.[6] Sectarian was built into its leadership and recruitment from the outset.[6] A gendarmerie was reorganized on the French model after the creation of Greater Lebanon under the French Mandate in 1920.[7]
Independence and legal consolidation 1942-1990
A legislative decree of 1953 defined the gendarmerie. the police and the general inspectorate as Lebanon's security forces. Under President Fuad Chehab, decree 138 of 12 June 1959 created the General Directorate of the ISF within the Ministry of Interion.[6] The Directorate took its present name through legislative decree 54 of 1967.[6] Law 17 of 6 September 1990 and Decree 1157 of 2 May 1991 set the force's current legal framework and structure.[6] The ISF has administrated Lebanon's prison since a law of 1949. A planned transfer to the Minister of Justice had not taken place as of 2012.[6]
Information Branch
The Information branch was created in 1991 as a small unit within the chief of staff's office. The 1991 decree provided 35 personnel.[6] According to Brigadier General Amine Saliba, a former ISF chief of staff, it expanded markedly after the withdrawal of Syrian troops in 2005 and by 2012 had about 1,000 personnel.[6] Naharnet later put its strength at 2,200.[8] Its commander Brigadier General Wissam al-Hassan, was assassinated in October 2012, and cabinet later debated making the Bureau an independent branch.[8]
Leader changes since 2005
Ashraf Rifi headed the ISF from April 2005 until he reached the mandatory age of retirement age of 59 on 1 April 2013. The Cabinet's failure to extend his term coincidence with the resignation of Prime Minister Najib Mikati.[9] Brigadier General Roger Salem took over as active head on 30 March 2013 and handed over to Brigadier General Ibrahim Basbous, also in acting capacity, on 27 June 2013.[9] Imad Othman took over command in 9 March 2017 and served until 2025.[10] In March 2025 The Cabinet of Prime Minister Nawaf Salam appointed Raed Abdallah in a package of security appointments that also named a new army commander and heads of General Security and State Security.[11]
Recent developments
In October 2026, the ISF seized several hundred kilograms of explosives, reported to include TNT and C-4, from a vehicle at its check point in Dahr al-Baidar and arrested two men, who were handed over to the Lebanese Army's Military Police for investigation.[12] Hezbollah later claimed ownership of the explosives shipment, saying it was intended to be used against Israel.[13][14] As investigations continue, it was not ruled out that the explosive were meant to be used domestically for planning assassination.[15][16]
Missions
Their missions include :
- Maintaining public order.[17]
- Highway patrol.[18]
- Counter-terrorism.[19]
Organization
The ISF organization includes:[20]
- The Ministry of the interior
- Inspector-General
- Directorate General of Internal Security Forces
- Staff
- Territorial Gendarmerie
- Mobile Gendarmerie
- Judicial Police
- Central Administration
- Beirut Police
- ISF Institute
- Social Services
- Commander of the Security of Embassies and Public Administration
Elite Forces
Three Special Forces Teams operate in the ISF.
- Special Operations Group-Judicial Police.
It consists of SWAT unit and BRI unit. - Strike Force - Information Department.
- Black Panthers - Mobile Forces
Directors
List of General Directors of ISF:[21]
- Raed Abdallah, Major General, ISF General Director from 2025
- Imad Othman, Major General, ISF General Director from 2017 to 2025
- Ibrahim Basbous, Major General, ISF General Director from 2013 to 2017
- Ashraf Rifi, Major General, ISF General Director from 2005 to 2013
- Ali Al Hajj, Major General, ISF General Director from 2004 to 2005
- Marouan Zein, Major General, ISF General Director from 2001 to 2004
- Abed El Karim Ibrahim, Major General, ISF General Director from 1998 to 2001
- Rafic El Hassan, Major General, ISF General Director from 1993 to 1998
- Mohammad Salim Kobrosly, Major General, ISF General Director from 1990 to 1993
- Omar Makhzoumi, Major General, ISF General Director from 1987 to 1990
- Osman Osman, Major General, ISF General Director from 1983 to 1987
- Hicham El Chaar, Civilian, ISF General Director from 1982 to 1983
- Ahmad El Hajj, Major General (Army), ISF General Director from 1977 to 1982
- Hicham El Chaar, Civilian, ISF General Director from 1971 to 1977
- Mahmoud Hafez, Civilian, ISF General Director from 1970 to 1971
- Mahmoud El Banna, Civilian, ISF General Director from 1964 to 1970
- Jamil El Hosami, Leader (Army), ISF General Director from 1962 to 1964
- Nureddine Rifai, Leader, ISF General Director from 1959 to 1962