Spotlight | Iraq, Syria
Syrian and Iraqi spymasters share challenge of cross-border insecurity

Syria
Damascus' red tape tactics to keep watch on Syrians aboard

The Damascene authorities, now no longer concerned about maintaining their rule, has come up with a cunning way to keep a tally of Syrians living aboard, many of whom were once defectors or opponents. This administrative blackmail comes with exorbitant fees that can help fill the Assad regime's coffers.

Lebanon, United States
Washington finally ready to launch its anti-drug strategy against Hezbollah

Worried about the scale of the trafficking of captagon pills through Lebanon in particular, with Syria the main source, the US authorities intend to grant additional funds to the Lebanese security forces, which are supposed to be involved in this operation.

Iran, Lebanon, Syria
Between Beirut and Tehran, Ali Mamlouk gets back into regional affairs

Syrian spymaster Ali Mamlouk appears to be back in favour with President Bashar Al Assad, who recently sent him to Tehran to negotiate reducing the influence of Shi'ite militia groups under Iran's control. Mamlouk is also watching over the upcoming elections in Lebanon and giving a helping hand to pro-Syrians in the race.

The Intelligence Gazette
Saudi GIP, Jeremy Wright, Hidalgo, Georgian National Security Council

Appointments, reforms, issues of concern: every Monday, Intelligence Online serves up a miscellany of news items great and small from the global intelligence community. This week, they come from Paris, Saudi Arabia, London and Tbilisi.

Saudi Arabia/IraqThe General Intelligence Presidency reopens talks with the Anbar tribes to try to block Iran.

FranceIntelligence expert Floran Vadillo is advising French presidential candidate Anne Hidalgo.

United KingdomTelecommunications surveillance champion Jeremy Wright joins the ISC as it battles for greater powers

GeorgiaThe National Security Council gets a new chief of staff

Syria, United States
USSOCOM accepts to put boots on ground in northeast Syria

Following the Islamic State's unprecedented strike near Hasakah, US and British special forces have agreed to send troops to help the Syrian Democratic Forces, whose counter-espionage weak spots were exposed by the attack.

Syria, Turkey
Turkish AKP ally Khalil Ibrahim controls electricity supplies to northern Syria

After its military operations in northern Syria, Turkey is starting to monopolise the supply of electricity in the region via AK Energy, a move that has also created work for Turkish companies close to the Syrian border.

Syria, United States
USSOCOM to face Assad forces on the Iraq-Syria border

Despite pleas from the US to repoen the Til Koçer crossing between Iraq and Syria, the Kurdish authorities have decided to give its control to Syrian forces, a move that further weakens Washington's position in northeastern Syria.

Syria, United States
Congress struggles to clarify US approach to Syria

The newly ratified National Defense Authorization Act contains several sections on Syria, but there is no clear line taken. Biden, caught between maintaining a military presence and the application of heavy sanctions against the regime, has not yet defined his Syria policy.

Iraq
Qassem Al Araji treads carefully with results of probe into PM Kadhimi's attempted assassination

After a drone attack on the home of the Iraqi prime minister last month, the country's national security adviser Qassem Al Araji fell short of naming potential perpetrators when unveiling his findings on 29 November to avoid stirring the Shi'ite militia hornet's nest.

Syria
Spymaster Hussam Luka given mission to conquer eastern Syria

Lauded for crushing the last flutters of rebellion in southern Syria, Hussam Luka, the head of Bashar al-Assad's general intelligence service, has been instructed to apply the same methods in the east of the country, betweeen two foreign assignments, paving the way for him to be put in charge of strategic Kurdish matters.

Egypt, Syria
Hossam Louka's star ascends within Syrian intelligence

Syrian spymaster Ali Mamlouk was noticably absent from the Arab Intelligence Forum, a major regional security meeting held in Cairo in November that was overseen by Abbas Kamel. But Mamlouk's absence was to Hossam Louka's advantage.

Syria
Pasdaran attacks US's Al-Tanf Syrian Garrison

Tehran's priority is to see US troops leave Syria and it has stepped up its deployment of armed drones, which were used to attack the Al-Tanf garrison in October.

Iraq, United States
Washington exposes intelligence-sharing with Baghdad

The Biden administration's targeting of Hachd Al Chaabi, or Popular Mobilization Force, positions in Abu Kamal on the Syrian-Iraqi border [...]