Internal Security Forces

---

title: "Internal Security Forces" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["law-enforcement-agencies-of-lebanon", "1861-establishments-in-the-ottoman-empire", "national-police-forces", "gendarmerie"] description: "National police and security force of Lebanon" topic_path: "law" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internal_Security_Forces" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary National police and security force of Lebanon ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox law enforcement agency"]

Field	Value
agencyname	Internal Security Forces
nativename	Forces de sécurité intérieure
nativenamea	قوى الأمن الداخلي
nativenamer	ar
image_size	200
abbreviation	ISF
logo	Logo_of_the_Lebanese_Internal_Security_Forces.png
logocaption	Logo of the Lebanese ISF.
flagcaption	Flag of the Internal Security Forces
motto	Security for the Nation and Civilians
formedyear	1860
preceding1
employees	131,000
country	Lebanon
international
constitution1
gendarmerie	yes
speciality1	paramilitary
headquarters	Beirut
multinational
minister1pfo
chief1name	Major General Rayed Abdullah
chief1position	Commander
chief2name	Brigadier General Naim Chammas
chief2position	Chief of Staff
child1agency
unitname
officename
stations
airbases
lockups
vehicles1
boats1
aircraft1
animals1
	person1name
person2name	Brig. Gen. Wissam al-Hassan
person1type
programme1
	award1
website	isf.gov.lb
::

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The Internal Security Forces (; ; abbreviated ISF) are the national police and gendarmerie of Lebanon.

Modern police were established in Lebanon in 1861, with the creation of a gendarmerie force. In April 2005, Ashraf Rifi became head of the ISF, replacing Ali Al Hajj. Rifi then started to recruit younger members to become part of Lebanese Intelligence. His term ended in April 2013, and he was replaced by Roger Salem, and Ibrahim Basbouss subsequently. On March 8, 2017, the Lebanese Cabinet appointed Imad Othman as the ISF director general. He took command the following day.

The number of ISF personnel reached 100,000 by 2000 and grew to over 131,000 by 2013. The ISF National Day in Lebanon is on the 9th of June.

Missions

Their missions include :

• Maintaining public order.
• Highway patrol.
• Counter-terrorism.

Organization

The ISF organization includes:

• The Ministry of the interior
• Inspector-General
• Directorate General of Internal Security Forces
  • Staff
  • Territorial Gendarmerie
  • Mobile Gendarmerie
  • Judicial Police
  • Central Administration
  • Beirut Police
  • ISF Institute
  • Social Services
  • Commander of the Security of Embassies and Public Administration

Elite Forces

Three Special Forces Teams operate in the ISF.

1. Special Operations Group-Judicial Police. It consists of SWAT unit and BRI unit.
2. Strike Force - Information Department.
3. Black Panthers - Mobile Forces

Directors

List of General Directors of ISF:

• Rayed Abdullah, Major_General, ISF General Director from 2025
• Imad Othman, Major-General, ISF General Director from 2017 to 2025
• Ibrahim Basbous, Major-General, ISF General Director from 2013 to 2017
• Ashraf Rifi, Major-General, ISF General Director from 2005 to 2013
• Ali Al Hajj, Major-General, ISF General Director from 2004 to 2005
• Marouan Zein, Major-General, ISF General Director from 2001 to 2004
• Abed El Karim Ibrahim, Major-General, ISF General Director from 1998 to 2001
• Rafic El Hassan, Major-General, ISF General Director from 1993 to 1998
• Mohammad Salim Kobrosly, Major-General, ISF General Director from 1990 to 1993
• Omar Makhzoumi, Major-General, ISF General Director from 1987 to 1990
• Osman Osman, Major-General, ISF General Director from 1983 to 1987
• Hicham El Chaar, Civilian, ISF General Director from 1982 to 1983
• Ahmad El Hajj, Major-General (Army), ISF General Director from 1977 to 1982
• Hicham El Chaar, Civilian, ISF General Director from 1971 to 1977
• Mahmoud Hafez, Civilian, ISF General Director from 1970 to 1971
• Mahmoud El Banna, Civilian, ISF General Director from 1964 to 1970
• Jamil El Hosami, Leader (Army), ISF General Director from 1962 to 1964
• Nureddine Rifai, Leader, ISF General Director from 1959 to 1962

References

References

1. "Historical overview". Interior Security Forces (Lebanon).
2. (28 April 2005). "Lebanese security chiefs replaced". BBC.
3. (30 March 2013). "Rifi hands over police helm to Salem". The Daily Star.
4. (2017-03-09). "Machnouk oversees Internal Security Forces director-general handover". The Daily Star Newspaper - Lebanon.
5. "قوى الأمن الداخلي تحتفل بعيدها الخمسين بعد المئة {{!}} الموقع الرسمي للجيش اللبناني".
6. "The EU helps the Internal Security Forces to strengthen the rule of law in Lebanon [archive]".
7. (7 January 2011). "Nouveaux radars : Plus de 67.000 contraventions pour excès de vitesse en deux mois - B.B.".
8. "GIGN: Visite d'une délégation de sécurité française au Liban".
9. "Archived copy".
10. "Lebanese Internal Security - about".

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