Dawoud Abdallah Rajiha (Arabic: داود راجحة; 1947 – 18 July 2012; forename sometimes transliterated Dawood or Daoud, surname sometimes transliterated Rajha) was a Syrian military officer who was the Minister of Defense from 2011 to July 2012 when he was assassinated along with other senior military officers in a bombing claimed by Syrian rebel forces during the country's Civil War. From 2009 to 2011, Rajiha served as chief of staff of the Syrian Army.
Dawoud Rajiha | |
|---|---|
داود راجحة | |
 | |
| 15th Minister of Defense | |
| In office 8 August 2011 – 18 July 2012 | |
| President | Bashar al-Assad |
| Prime Minister | Adel Safar Riyad Farid Hijab |
| Deputy | Assef Shawkat |
| Preceded by | Ali Habib Mahmud |
| Succeeded by | Fahd Jassem al-Freij |
| 20th Chief of Army Staff | |
| In office 3 June 2009 – 8 August 2011 | |
| President | Bashar al-Assad |
| Minister | Ali Habib Mahmud |
| Preceded by | Ali Habib Mahmud |
| Succeeded by | Fahd Jassem al-Freij |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Dawoud Abdallah Rajiha 1947 Damascus, Syria |
| Died | 18 July 2012 (aged 64–65) Damascus, Syria |
| Manner of death | Assassination |
| Political party | Ba'ath Party |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Syria |
| Branch/service |  Syrian Arab Army |
| Years of service | 1967–2012 |
| Rank |  Colonel General |
| Unit | 3rd Armoured Division, Artillery |
| Battles/wars | |
Early life
editRajiha, a Greek Orthodox Arab Christian, was born in Damascus in 1947.[1][2] A specialist in artillery, he graduated from Syria's military academy in 1967.[1]
Military education
editDawoud Abdallah Rajiha attended different courses and a higher military education:
- Bachelor in Military Sciences, Field Artillery Officer, Syrian Military Academy
- Staff Course
- General Command and Staff Course
- Higher Staff Course (War Course)
Career
editRajiha attained the rank of major general in 1998 and was appointed as the Syrian Army's deputy chief of staff six years later, in 2004.[3] In 2005, he received a promotion to the rank of general called Imad (a rank in the Syrian armed forces between major general and lieutenant general).[4] When Ali Habib Mahmud was named to head the ministry of defense in 2009, Rajiha was given the position of army chief of staff.[4] He held this position in 2011, when the Syrian civil war began. On 8 August 2011, he was chosen by President Bashar al-Assad to replace Mahmud as minister of defense.[1][2]
Rumored death
editOn 20 May 2012, the Damascus council of the Free Syrian Army, among the rebel organizations opposed to the Assad government, alleged that it had assassinated Rajiha and the seven other members of the government's Central Crisis Management Cell (CCMC). It was since proven that the allegations were false and were rebels propaganda. Members of the unit, including former minister of defense Hasan Turkmani, were shown on Syrian television to be alive, and the rebels later stated that only Rajiha's deputy, General Assef Shawkat, and a second official who was not named. Shawkat, the brother-in-law of President Assad, was later shown to have survived, as well.[5][6][7] In June 2012, the matter of Rajiha's alleged death was permanently resolved when it was confirmed that he remained Assad's defense minister in the newly formed cabinet.[8]
Assassination and funeral
editAlmost two months after the date of his alleged death, Rajiha was assassinated in a bombing of a meeting of the Central Crisis Management Cell held at the Syrian National Security Building at Rawda Square, Damascus. Among the others killed in the bombing were Hasan Turkmani and Assef Shawkat.[9][10][11] Fahd Jassem al-Freij was named by President Assad as Rajiha's successor as minister of defense, while it was announced that Addounia TV would broadcast the minister's funeral. A state funeral was held for him, Hasan Turkmani and Assef Shawkat in Damascus on 20 July 2012. Bashar al-Assad did not participate in the ceremony and was represented by vice president Farouk al-Sharaa.[12] A military ceremony was also held for him and other two senior officials, Hassan Turkmani and Assef Shawkat, in the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Mount Qasioun, overlooking Damascus.[12]
Personal life
editRajiha was married and had four children.[3]
References
edit- ^ a b c "President al-Assad Issues Decree Naming Gen. Dawood Rajiha Defense Minister". SANA. 8 August 2011. Retrieved 8 August 2011.[permanent dead link]
- ^ a b "Syria's Assad replaces defense minister with army chief of staff". Ha'aretz. 8 August 2011. Retrieved 8 August 2011.
- ^ a b "Ex-Syrian DefMin Opposition to Hama crackdown led to firing – Sources". Asharq Alawsat. Damascus, London. 9 August 2011. Archived from the original on 3 July 2013. Retrieved 5 April 2013.
- ^ a b "By All Means Necessary!" (PDF). Human Rights Watch. December 2011. Retrieved 21 July 2012.
- ^ "Al Arabiya: Syrian officials acknowledge Assad's brother-in-law was killed four days ago". Times of Israel. AP. 23 May 2012. Retrieved 21 July 2012.
- ^ "Syria: Damascus clashes prompt claims of high-level assassinations". The Guardian. 20 May 2012. Retrieved 21 July 2012.
- ^ "High-ranking Syrian officials deny reports of their own assassinations". Al Arabiya. 20 May 2012. Retrieved 21 July 2012.
- ^ "Syria's Assad forms new government, keeps top ministers". Haaretz. Reuters. 23 June 2012. Retrieved 21 July 2012.
- ^ "Syria defence minister killed in Damascus bomb". The Telegraph. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
- ^ "Syria conflict: 'Suicide bomb' kills defence minister". BBC News. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
- ^ "Syria ministers 'killed in blast'". BBC. 18 July 2012. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
- ^ a b "Funeral held for Syria officials killed in bombing". Chicago Tribune. Reuters. 20 July 2012. Archived from the original on 9 October 2017. Retrieved 21 July 2012.