Mohammed Khair Hassan Shuaib

Mohammed Khair Hassan Shuaib is a Syrian military officer currently serving as Deputy Minister of Defense.

Early life and education He was born in Taftanaz, Idlib Governorate, in 1977.

Role during the Syrian civil war Shuaib joined the Al-Nusra Front upon its formation in 2012 and played a notable leadership role in the faction's military campaigns against the Syrian government, such as in the capture of Taftanaz Air Base in January 2013 and the Battle of Idlib in March 2015. He also led opposition fighters during the siege of Abu al-Duhur Airbase in September 2015, the capture of Al-Eiss, and in an offensive intended on lifting the siege of Aleppo during the Battle of Aleppo from 28 October 2016.

From 2019 to 2024, he served as commander of the Central Operations Room in Idlib, affiliated with the Military Operations Command, and played a prominent role in planning the Operation Deterrence of Aggression offensive, which resulted in the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024, leading opposition offensives in Aleppo, Hama, Homs, and Damascus.

On 1 June 2025, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa issued Presidential Decree No. 47 of 2025, promoting Shuaib to the rank of Major General and appointing him as Deputy Minister of Defense.