Hikmat al-Shihabi

Hikmat al-Shihabi was a Syrian military officer who served as the chief of staff of the Syrian Army from 1974 to 1998. A Sunni Muslim, he was considered one of the few non-Alawite members of the inner circle of former Syrian President Hafez al-Assad.

Early life and education

Shihabi was born into a Sunni family in 1931 in Al-Bab, Aleppo province. He attended Homs military academy and then had advanced military training in the United States.

Career

Shihabi began his career in aviation, training in the Soviet Union and the United States. His term as chief of staff lasted until 1998.
Shihabii was also one of Ba'ath Party's four-member “old guard” members of the Regional Command.

Resignation

On 8 July 1998, after serving 24 years as army chief of staff, Shihabi resigned his position ahead of Hafez al-Assad’s death and was succeeded by Ali Aslan. Citing health issues and a heart condition, Shihabi explained his resignation to President Assad, who had wished to extend his service. In 2000, Syrian newspapers circulated rumors, later debunked, that Shihabi would be indicted on corruption charges.

Alliances

Shihabi was one of the senior Syrian officials who were close to late Rafik Hariri, former prime minister of Lebanon, and Lebanon's Druze leader Walid Jumblatt.

Death

Shihabi died on 5 March 2013.