Qahtan Khalil is a Syrian military official who served as the head of the Air Force Intelligence Directorate (SAFI) from January to December 2024 during the final months of the Assad regime.

[1] Khalil is widely-known as the "Butcher of Daraya" due to his direct responsibility in leading the 2012 Darayya massacre that left hundreds of people dead.

[2][3] In July 2018, Khalil was promoted to major general and appointed head of the security committee in southern Syria in October 2019 as part of the Assad regime's strategy to increase control in Daraa Governorate.

[3] Khalil was one of several Syrian Air Force Intelligence Directorate (SAFI) officials sanctioned by the U.S. Department of Treasury as a Specially Designated National for direct responsibility in the 2012 massacre.

According to the Syrian Observer, Khalil's appointment was controversial due to his alleged role in the Darayya massacre and human rights violations.