The General Security Directorate 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.