This article is about the Lebanese security force. For Iraqi football club that once played under the name 'Internal Security Forces', see
Al-Shorta SC. For the police of the de facto autonomous Rojava, see
Asayish (NES regions).
The Internal Security Forces Directorate (
Arabic: المديرية العامة لقوى الأمن الداخلي,
romanized: al-Mudiriyya al-'aamma li-Qiwa al-Amn al-Dakhili;
French: Forces de Sécurité Intérieure;
abbreviatedISF) is the national police and
security force of
Lebanon.
Modern police were established in Lebanon in 1861, with creation of the
Gendarmerie.[1] In April 2005,
Ashraf Rifi became head of the ISF, replacing
Ali Hajj.[2] 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,[3] and Ibrahim Basbouss subsequently. On March 8, 2017, the
Lebanese Cabinet appointed Imad Othman director-general of the ISF. He took command the following day.[4]
The number of personnel reached 30,000 people by 2000 and has grown to over 40,000 by 2013. The ISF National Day in Lebanon is on the 9th of June.[5]