Yassin Dahi
Yassin Ahmed Dahi is a Syrian military officer and a senior figure in the Military [Intelligence Directorate (Syria)|Military Intelligence Directorate]. He has held multiple high-ranking positions in Syria’s security apparatus and has been implicated in human rights abuses during the Syrian Civil War. Due to his role in the suppression of opposition movements and alleged involvement in torture, he has been sanctioned by the United States and the European Union.
Early Life and Military Career
Yassin Ahmed Dahi was born in 1960 in the village of Al-Khariba, located in Tartous Governorate, Syria. He joined the Syrian Arab Army and rose through the ranks, eventually securing key positions within the Military Intelligence Directorate. Over the years, he became a trusted figure within the Syrian government’s security establishment, overseeing intelligence operations in various regions.Roles in Military Intelligence
Dahi has held several significant roles in Syria’s Military Intelligence. He previously served as the head of the Military Intelligence Branch in Deir Ezzor and later in Homs, two areas that witnessed heavy conflict during the Syrian Civil War. His tenure in these positions was marked by widespread reports of arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances, and torture of detainees.In 2014, Dahi was appointed the head of the infamous Branch 235, commonly known as the Palestine Branch. This branch of the Military Intelligence Directorate is notorious for its brutal interrogation methods and the mistreatment of political prisoners and opposition figures. His leadership at Branch 235 lasted until 2016, during which time numerous reports documented severe human rights violations, including the systematic use of torture.
Sanctions and Human Rights Allegations
Dahi was involved in the 2013 chemical attack that killed about 1,500 people and in participating in massacres and arbitrary arrests in eastern Ghouta. Due to his involvement in repression and crimes against civilians, Yassin Ahmed Dahi has been targeted by international sanctions. In early 2017, the United States imposed sanctions on him as part of broader measures against individuals linked to the Syrian government’s security apparatus. The European Union followed in July 2017, adding Dahi to its sanctions list for his role in orchestrating crackdowns against civilians and political dissidents. The UK in 2017 imposed Asset Freeze sanctions on him.Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have cited Dahi’s involvement in grave human rights abuses, particularly during his tenure at the Palestine Branch. Reports indicate that detainees held under his supervision were subjected to inhumane treatment, including severe beatings, electrocution, and other forms of torture.