Khleifawi was an army general. He served twice as prime minister of Syria. He was firstly in office from 3 April 1971 to 21 December 1972, being the first prime minister under the presidency of Hafez al-Assad.
Khleifawi served as prime minister again from 7 August 1976 to 27 March 1978.
He also served as a minister of interior between 1970 and 1971.