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Shafiq Fayadh

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Shafiq al-Fayadh
Native name
شفيق الفياض
Born1937 (1937)
Ayn al-Arus, Jableh, First Syrian Republic
Died8 October 2015(2015-10-08) (aged 77–78)
Allegiance Syria
Service / branch Syrian Arab Army
Years of service1959 – June 2005
Rank Lieutenant General
Commands3rd Division
Damascus Army Garrison
Battles / wars
RelationsHafez al-Assad (cousin)

Shafiq al-Fayadh (1937 – 8 October 2015) (Arabic: شفيق الفياض) was a Syrian military officer and former commander of the Syrian Army's 3rd Division and a close adviser to President Hafez al-Assad. He was also one of the members of his inner circle.

Early life

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Fayadh was born in the village of Ayn al-Arus, near Jableh, to an Alawite family of the prominent Kalbiyya clan. Other members of the clan include Fayadh's cousin and former Syrian president Hafez al-Assad.[1][2]

His son ‘Ala is married to Lamia, the daughter of Rifaat al-Assad.[2] Another of his sons married into a Christian family, whilst another married into a Shiite family.[3]

Career

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The 3rd Division under Fayadh played an extremely important role for the government of Hafez al-Assad. The unit, under Fayadh, was one of the first to go into Lebanon in 1976. Fayadh played an important role during the Islamic uprising in Syria, occupying Aleppo with the 3rd Division in 1980, and taking part in the Hama massacre.[4] The Division was deployed near Damascus, in order to protect the government against potential coups.[4]

Fayadh was retired in June 2005 as part of a restructuring program of the Syrian Army, five years after Bashar al-Assad had succeeded his father Hafez al-Assad as president.[1][5][when?]

Death

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Fayadh died on 8 October 2015, suffering from illness.[6]

References

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  1. ^ a b Biography for Shafiq Fayyad - silobreaker Archived 2013-07-28 at archive.today
  2. ^ a b Bar, Shmuel (2006). "Bashar's Syria: The Regime and its Strategic Worldview" (PDF). Comparative Strategy. 25 (5): 380. doi:10.1080/01495930601105412. S2CID 154739379. Retrieved 15 May 2011.
  3. ^ Shibley, Barnett; Michael N., Telhami (2002). Identity and Foreign Policy in the Middle East. Cornell University Press. p. 148. ISBN 9780801439407.
  4. ^ a b Middle East Watch (1991). Syria Unmasked: The Suppression of Human Rights by the Asad Regime. New Haven & London: Yale University Press. p. 41.
  5. ^ "Assad Nudges Syria Closer To Peace Deal With Israel". The Christian Science Monitor. 30 August 1994. Retrieved 28 July 2013.
  6. ^ "العماد شفيق فياض توفي أمس.. ماذا تعرف عنه؟". enabbaladi.net (in Arabic). 9 October 2015.