Atef Najib.
convicted criminal and political security chief in the city of Daraa
Syria, Russia Reorganize Bases into Civilian Hubs
Syria and Russia agreed in a memorandum to transform the bases at Hmeimim and Tartous into joint training and qualification centers, while transferring civilian facilities such as Hmeimim Airport and Tartous Port to Syrian management within three months, signaling a major shift in their long-running partnership. The announcement, described as the most significant development in roughly 18 months of talks, suggests a new phase in Syrian-Russian relations with potential regional and economic implications depending on implementation.
World · 96 sources · Aug 11, 2026Read itThe journal
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About Atef Najib
Atef Najib is a Syrian former security official and head of political security in Daraa Governorate. A first cousin of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, he became infamous for being a catalyst for one of the flashpoints that ignited the Syrian civil war, when in 2011 he directed the abduction and torture of 15 boys who had written anti-Assad slogans in a public area in the city of Daraa. His aggressive actions prompted non-violent protests by local inhabitants, and—after security forces opened fire at a protest march—the gradual start of armed resistance.
Everything about Atef Najib →- Occupation
- military personnel, criminal
- Citizenship
- Syrian Arab Republic
- Born
- 1964, 1965