Having gotten trained in explosive detection and disposal in France in 1980-1981, between 1985 and 1988 he was part of the security detail of Prime Minister Rashid Karami and Salim Hoss.

[7][8] Rifi's term was not extended by the Lebanese government, leading to resignation of premier Najib Mikati in March 2013.

[7] Rifi as a general director of internal Security Forces was very open to cooperate with civil society organizations.

"[17][18] In April 2021, he heavily criticized Hezbollah, calling them a collaborator of "mini-Nazi" Iran and an enemy to Lebanon.

[19] Ashraf Rifi ran in the 2022 general elections as part of a Lebanese Forces-supported list in the North II district and managed to win one of the Sunni seats in Tripoli.

On May 2023, Rifi launched the Sanad Movement which would work under the principles of sovereignty and democracy and vowed to lift Iranian grip over Lebanon.

[20] On 9 June 2023, Ashraf Rifi disclosed to OTV that he increased the representation of Lebanese Christians in the Internal Security Forces from 27% to 40.2%.