Al-Qaida-linked figure appointed as Syria's intelligence chief
The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) designated Khattab on Sept. 23, 2014, under resolution 2161 (2014) for his association with al-Qaida.

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – The Syrian transitional government has appointed Anas Hasan Khattab, a figure with known ties to al-Qaida, as the new head of the country's general intelligence agency, sparking widespread concern over the implications for regional security.
Khattab, also known by his alias Abu Ahmad Hudoud, hails from the city of Jayrud and previously oversaw general security operations in Idlib. His involvement in intelligence gathering dates back to the period when Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) consolidated control over northern Syria, during which he managed surveillance of covert networks along the borders of HTS-controlled areas.
The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) designated Khattab on Sept. 23, 2014, under resolution 2161 (2014) for his association with al-Qaida. The designation cites his role in "participating in the financing, planning, facilitating, preparing, or perpetrating acts or activities by, in conjunction with, under the name of, on behalf of, or in support of" Al-Nusrah Front for the People of the Levant. Khattab was identified as the administrative amir of the group as early as 2014, a position he ascended to after serving as a senior leader and member of al-Nusrah Front’s shura council.
In late 2013, Khattab's prominence within the al-Nusrah Front grew, and he was tasked with selecting personal bodyguards for the group's overall leader, Abu Mohammad al-Julani (Ahmed al-Sharaa). His influence within the organization extended to shaping its administrative structure during a critical period of expansion and consolidation.
The appointment of a figure with such a history has drawn criticism from analysts and observers, who warn that Khattab's leadership in Syria’s intelligence agency could embolden extremist networks and complicate efforts to stabilize the region.
As tensions simmer in Syria, Khattab's new role is expected to draw scrutiny from international stakeholders closely monitoring the security landscape in the war-torn country.