General Directorate of General Security

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General Directorate of General Security
المديرية العامة للأمن العام

Intelligence and Security Agency overview
Formed	21 July 1921; 103 years ago (1921-07-21)[1]
Preceding Intelligence and Security Agency	National Intelligence Agency (GDGS)
Headquarters	Beirut, Lebanon
Employees	Classified
Annual budget	Classified
Intelligence and Security Agency executive	Elias Baysari, General Director
Website	http://www.general-security.gov.lb

The General Security Directorate (Arabic: الامن العام, romanized: al-Amn al-'Aam) is a Lebanese intelligence agency founded on July 21, 1921 and originally known as the "first bureau". On June 12, 1959, Decree-Law No. 139, in force from that date, was published. Under this decree the General Security becomes a branch depending on the power of the Minister of Interior and headed by a Director General, as President. On December 16, 1959, Organizational Decree No. 2873 was published. It establishes a regional organization of general security and creates more Branch, regional departments, border, maritime and air.

Its full name is "General Directorate of General Security" (Direction Générale de la Sûreté Générale (DGSG), المديرية العامة للأمن العام).

Its primary function is to collect and gather intelligence, and to inform the Lebanese government to ensure national security and public order throughout the territory of the Republic of Lebanon. General Security is also responsible for monitoring resident aliens on Lebanese soil by issuing them visas and entry permits into Lebanese territory, and residence permits and card stays. It monitors the media by ensuring they do not touch with their content, public order, or undermines an institution of the Lebanese state, and community components to the Lebanese society.

Finally, it is responsible for issuing passports and travel documents to Lebanese citizens. Until 1998 the General Director of the General Security Directorate had been a Maronite when former President Emile Lahoud appointed a Shia for the first time since 1943.^[2]

The General Security National Day as celebrated in Lebanon is on the 27th of August of each year.^[3]