Phone book found in abandoned apartment may lead to Assad's spy chief

Discovery of Abandoned Apartment

Following the fall of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, an abandoned luxury apartment in Damascus, Syria, was found. The apartment belonged to Hussam Luka, a prominent figure in Assad's regime, known as "The Spider."

Inside the apartment, military personnel found designer clothes, documents, and numerous photos of Luka, along with gold medals and certificates bearing his name. Luka was sanctioned by the UK, US, and EU for alleged atrocities and torture.

The Unremarkable Notebook

Among the items in Luka's apartment, an ordinary-looking notebook was discovered. It contained dozens of names handwritten in blue ink, ranging from shopkeepers and doctors to military officials and individuals sharing the Luka family name.

This collection of contacts is being investigated for potential leads regarding Luka's current location or information about his past activities and alleged crimes.

Hussam Luka's Background

Hussam Luka was the head of Syria's most powerful civilian intelligence agency, the Political Security Directorate. He was a feared figure within the country, with much of his work conducted covertly.

During the early days of the Syrian civil war, Luka's phone number was reportedly spray-painted on walls in Homs, where he was tasked with suppressing the pro-democracy uprising. Residents of rebel-held areas in Homs faced severe conditions under siege, with some resorting to extreme measures for survival.