# Anas Khattab

Anas Hasan Khattab (Arabic: أنس حسن خطاب) is the current head of the General Intelligence Service in Syria, a position he was appointed to on 26 December 2024 as part of wider reallocation of positions after the fall of the Assad regime. He is also the deputy commander of Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham under Ahmed al-Sharaa, and the head of the General Security Apparatus within the group.

## Early life and education

Anas Khattab, also known as Abu Ahmad Hudoud, was born in 1987 in the town of Jayrud, located in the western Qalamoun region of Rif Dimashq Governorate, Syria. He initially studied architectural engineering at the University of Damascus before leaving Syria for Iraq in 2008. His departure was reportedly motivated by his intent to "fight against the American occupation" during that time.
Khattab got the nickname "Abu Ahmad Hudoud" (Hudoud meaning Borders in Arabic) from his days in Al-Qaeda under the leadership of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, which eventually evolved into the Islamic State in Iraq. Khattab was entrusted with managing a guesthouse on the Syrian-Iraqi border that prepared fighters crossing the border.

## Career

Khattab joined Al-Nusra Front (later Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham) in 2012 and quickly rose through its ranks. He became known for his strategic and intelligence capabilities, playing a critical role in securing the group's dominance in the Idlib region. He was instrumental in dismantling rival factions, including Hurras al-Din, by penetrating their ranks and orchestrating precision operations.
Khattab was reportedly recruited by Turkey's National Intelligence Organization and acted as a liaison between them and Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham after the latter took control of Idlib.
In March 2025, Khattab, along with Syrian President al-Shaara and other senior ministers met with a Turkish delegation which included the head of Turkish intelligence. The meeting came immediately following a deal between the Syrian government and Kurdish militias in North East Syria who have clashed with Turkish forces in the past.
Khattab's career within Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham includes several high-profile positions:
* Former General Administrator of Jabhat al-Nusra
* Deputy to Abu Mohammad al-Julani
* Head of the General Security Apparatus
As the head of the General Security Apparatus, Khattab oversaw efforts to eliminate extremist factions such as ISIL in Idlib, employing sophisticated infiltration and rapid-response tactics. His leadership has been credited with maintaining relative stability in HTS-controlled areas.

## Personal life

Khattab is reportedly multilingual and is known for his preference for operating behind the scenes. Despite his prominence, no public images of him have been released until his appointment on 26 December 2024. His professional background in architecture contrasts with the political and economic studies pursued by many of his contemporaries in Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham.

## Controversies

Khattab has faced allegations of involvement in the assassination of rival jihadist leaders via U.S. drone strikes, accusations frequently leveled by factions such as Hurras al-Din. He was designated a terrorist by the United States in 2012, and by the United Nations in 2014.
The Turkish government resisted these designations until November 2016, when they too designated Khattab a terrorist, but intelligence cooperation continued and even expanded as HTS solidified its control over Idlib.