A Wave of Anger and a Sudden Decision
The decision to appoint Talal Hallaq to the position of Director of International Relations and Communication at the Syrian Petroleum Company sparked a sweeping wave of anger within Syrian circles. Insiders circulated documents and detailed information linking Hallaq to financial and security networks affiliated with the former regime. Hallaq had appeared in media statements on the Syrian channel, speaking confidently about coordinating solutions and technical scenarios with the Minister of Energy and the Governor of the Central Bank of Syria following his return from leave. This appearance reflected a broad administrative influence that did not last long, as that influence quickly collapsed amid mounting pressure and a succession of damning evidence.
Financial Fronts and Confiscated Real Estate
Cross-referenced reports reveal close relationships that linked Talal Hallaq to influential figures in the former regime, foremost among them the Assad name. Official data indicate that Hallaq’s name is connected to the company “Alpha Incorporated” (Alpha Incorporated L.L.C), a limited liability company established on 16 January 2020 in the Harasta area in the Damascus countryside with a capital of 5,500,000 Syrian pounds, which raised serious questions about financial networks operating on behalf of the Presidential Palace. Hallaq’s influence did not stop at commercial companies but extended to acquiring prominent real estate assets, as the information confirms that he was granted a restaurant in the Rawda area of Damascus that had previously been confiscated from the son-in-law of former Vice President Abdul Halim Khaddam.
Covert Security Work and the Writing of Reports
The accusations directed against Talal Hallaq go beyond the financial aspect to reach covert security work on behalf of the intelligence agencies. A leaked security document from the Political Security Branch in Damascus, bearing the number 450/S.M and dated 20 December 2023, shows that Hallaq worked as a security source and informant submitting periodic reports since 2019. The document, addressed to the head of the Political Security Division, states that Hallaq, who presented himself as an economic expert and arbitrator, filed reports against civil society activists such as the director of a development institution, Muhammad al-Masri, and the director of the “Justice and Empowerment” organization in Turkey, Hiba al-Hajji, accusing them of being linked to external parties and of distorting his image.
This documentary evidence matches a firsthand testimony given by a former detainee who survived a death sentence. The survivor explained that she was arrested at the Political Security Branch in June 2024 within the “Caesar 2” file, and her execution was scheduled for 28 December 2024 before she was released on the day of liberation. The former detainee confirmed that the interrogators directly confronted her with the content of written security reports submitted on behalf of the General Intelligence Directorate, later realizing that Talal Hallaq was the one who wrote those reports and caused her arrest.
Internal Protests and Resounding Resignations
Hallaq’s appointment ignited an open internal conflict within the oil institutions. The media figure Faisal Adnan al-Imam, director of the media office at the Syrian Petroleum Company, officially announced his resignation on 9 April 2026 in protest against the appointment of individuals from the remnants of the former regime, describing Hallaq in internal conversations as a “criminal director.” The company’s management responded firmly by permanently barring al-Imam from entering its premises and issuing an official letter terminating his services based on what it claimed were repeated verbal warnings. Al-Imam completely denied the company’s account, affirming that the measure was an attempt to settle scores and tarnish his professional reputation after the leak of a conversation in which Hallaq threatened him by demanding his forced resignation.
The Downfall and the Arrest of the Accused
These accumulated facts pushed the executive authorities into action. The Minister of Energy, Muhammad al-Bashir, announced on 7 April 2026 the issuance of an official decision suspending Talal Hallaq from work temporarily at the Syrian Petroleum Company pending the completion of the full investigation. In a public statement, the minister stressed that there would be no place within state institutions for figures surrounded by suspicions touching on the blood or dignity of Syrians. The situation developed quickly, with the Internal Security intervening and officially arresting Hallaq for his dealings with the defunct regime and his involvement in writing security reports against citizens, turning Hallaq from a position of administrative and financial influence to languishing today behind prison bars. This case places the Syrian public before a fundamental question: Is the detention of Talal Hallaq sufficient, or is it necessary to open broader investigations covering all recent administrative appointments?
