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Syria, Turkey
Turkish and Syrian spy chiefs Hakan Fidan and Ali Mamlouk talk again at Russia's initiative

Keen to play the role of mediator between Turkey and Syria, Russia sponsored a new meeting between the spy chiefs of the two countries, which have been at daggers drawn since 2011. The results were not convincing but the meeting at least allowed Ankara and Damascus to set out their demands. [...]

Published on 07.09.2022 at 06:00 GMT Reading time 2 minutes

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Government Intelligence

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Alexander Lavrentiev
Ali Mamlouk
Bashar al-Assad
Bashar Jaafari
Ebhrahim Raïssi
FSB
Hakan Fidan
MIT
National Security Bureau
Nikolay Patrushev
PKK
Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Sergei Shoygu
United Nations
Vladimir Putin
YPG

Azerbaijan, France, Turkey
Ankara's French 'spy ring' accusations are pressure tactics, say sources

Turkey recently announced that its intelligence services had dismantled a French espionage network involving Syrian refugees in what appears to be a move from Ankara to put pressure on Paris as diplomatic relations continue to deteriorate.

Subscribers only Government Intelligence 27.02.2024

Turkey
Foreign Minister Fidan still pulls the strings at MIT

Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan retains unwavering influence over the intelligence service, the MIT, which he headed for eight years.

Subscribers only Government Intelligence 31.10.2023

France, Syria
Pro-Damascus Federation of Syrian Chambers of Commerce makes Paris comeback

The Federation of Syrian Chambers of Commerce, the industrial and commercial arm of President Bashar Al Assad's regime, attended the recent Franco-Arab Chamber of Commerce summit in Paris, despite continuing French hostility to a rapprochement with Damascus.

Subscribers only Government Intelligence 23.03.2023

Syria, United States
USSOCOM keeps troops on ground despite Syria-Turkey talks

After letting its focus on Syria slip, the United States is now having to sit by and watch as the Assad regime continues to engage with Turkey. If the two neighbours do restore ties, this could pull the US back into the regional troubles and call into question the presence of US troops in northeast Syria.

Subscribers only Government Intelligence 17.01.2023

Syria, Turkey
Taksim Square blast makes Ankara ill at ease with its private fighters in northern Syria

While it is still not clear who perpetrated the deadly attack in Istanbul on 13 November, a theory that Syrian fighters could be responsible has begun to surface in Ankara. This comes on the back of already growing disquiet between these fighters and their sponsor.

Subscribers only Government Intelligence 22.11.2022

Syria, Turkey
Turkish intelligence plays ambiguous game in north-west Syria

Following the capture of the district of Afrin by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, Turkish intelligence service MIT is unsure whether to condemn the group, with which it maintains relations, or turn a blind eye to its activities.

Subscribers only Government Intelligence 26.10.2022

Syria
Syrian Democratic Forces' administration losing steam in northeast

Despite signs the Autonomous Administration is in full swing, the Syrian Democratic Forces struggle to maintain local support. Fortunately for Damascus, more and more are looking for the regime to return to the area.

Free access Government Intelligence 06.10.2022

Iraq, Turkey
Hakan Fidan makes his moves on Iraq's complex political chessboard

The Turkish spymaster, tasked with meeting Iraqi politicians, now stands accused of interfering in the country's internal affairs. But this hasn't stopped him discreetly calling for the formation of a government that would guarantee Ankara's security and economic interests.

Subscribers only Government Intelligence 23.09.2022

Palestine, Syria
Moscow and Tehran behind Syria-Hamas reconciliation

Damascus and Hamas officially buried the hatchet on 16 September, after a decade of dispute, in a deal brokered by Russia and Iran that gives the Palestinian faction the lead over Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah.

Subscribers only Government Intelligence 22.09.2022

Jordan, Syria
Amman and Damascus coordinate intelligence to bring refugees home

There are 39,000 Syrian refugees still registered in Jordan. The government in Damascus has mobilised its intelligence service to advocate for their repatriation, as has Amman, whose Public Safety Directorate is overseeing the departures. Both are keeping a very close watch on the exiled population.

Subscribers only Government Intelligence 14.09.2022

Germany, Syria
Germany's Gauff Engineering plays key role in reconstruction of Syria's water infrastructure

The authorities in Damascus, who are continuing to look for international groups able to play a role in the country's reconstruction, are intensifying their efforts in this direction in cooperation with the UN and the Red Cross.

Subscribers only International Dealmaking 02.09.2022

Egypt, Turkey
Turkish and Egyptian spymasters eye deal on Muslim Brotherhood extradition

Ankara, bent on regional reconciliation, is hoping to finalise the normalisaion of its relations with Cairo. It is ready to concede on the issue of extraditing exiled Muslim Brotherhood members, a non-negotiable condition for Egypt.

Subscribers only Government Intelligence 12.05.2022

Syria, Turkey
Turkish and Syrian spymasters making furtive moves to prepare for future normalisation

Though far from singing the praises of Bashar Al Assad's regime, Ankara recognises that the regime's continued existence points to a need to restore dialogue between the two countries. Turkey's intelligence service, the MIT, is taking the first steps towards this.

Subscribers only Government Intelligence 02.05.2022

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.

Subscribers only Government Intelligence 21.03.2022

Spotlight | Syria
Spymaster Ali Mamlouk has slipped from public view

Syria's spymaster in chief during the civil war, Ali Mamlouk, has been active in all the country's intelligence campaigns since 2012, both internal and external. Although no official announcement has been made and there has been no major incident, he looks to have been sidelined in favour of rising star Hussam Luka.

Subscribers only Government Intelligence 07.01.2022

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.

Subscribers only Government Intelligence 24.11.2021

Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia
Riyadh and Tehran pursue secret dialogue in Baghdad

Iran and Saudi Arabia's spymasters met discreetly in the Iraqi capital on 21 September for the fourth time since April. However the talks, hampered by Yemen and the nuclear issue, have yet to produce any concrete progress.

Subscribers only Government Intelligence 04.10.2021

Iraq, Syria, Turkey
Fidan and Mamlouk to thrash out Turkish-Syrian business in Baghdad

Turkey and Syria's spymasters are due to meet in Baghdad later this month to tackle bilateral sticking points such as the refugee crisis, the Kurds, and the situation in Idlib, under the watchful eye of the region's new mediator, Iraq's prime minister Mustafa Al Kadhemi.

Subscribers only Government Intelligence 21.09.2021

Set up email notifications for these topics

Alexander Lavrentiev
Ali Mamlouk
Bashar al-Assad
Bashar Jaafari
Ebhrahim Raïssi
FSB
Hakan Fidan
MIT
National Security Bureau
Nikolay Patrushev
PKK
Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Sergei Shoygu
United Nations
Vladimir Putin
YPG

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Turkish and Syrian spy chiefs Hakan Fidan and Ali Mamlouk talk again at Russia's initiative

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create a free account

Set up email notifications for these topics

Azerbaijan, France, Turkey
Ankara's French 'spy ring' accusations are pressure tactics, say sources

Turkey
Foreign Minister Fidan still pulls the strings at MIT

France, Syria
Pro-Damascus Federation of Syrian Chambers of Commerce makes Paris comeback

Syria, United States
USSOCOM keeps troops on ground despite Syria-Turkey talks

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Taksim Square blast makes Ankara ill at ease with its private fighters in northern Syria

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Syrian Democratic Forces' administration losing steam in northeast

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Moscow and Tehran behind Syria-Hamas reconciliation

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Turkish and Syrian spymasters making furtive moves to prepare for future normalisation

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

Spotlight | Syria
Spymaster Ali Mamlouk has slipped from public view

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Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia
Riyadh and Tehran pursue secret dialogue in Baghdad

Iraq, Syria, Turkey
Fidan and Mamlouk to thrash out Turkish-Syrian business in Baghdad

Set up email notifications for these topics

About Intelligence Online

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Intelligence Online on social media

Indigo Publications' websites

About Intelligence Online

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Indigo Publications' websites

Ukraine Jamming wars

China, Europe, India, Russia, Saudi Arabia, UAE, United States The geopolitical power plays in Earth observation

Armenia, Azerbaijan, France Information wars in the Caucasus

Europe, Russia War in the 'grey zone': Russian intelligence preparations in Europe

China, Philippines, United States The great US-China subsea cables race in the Pacific

Insiders | China Security, propaganda and the PLA: Xi Jinping forges new networks of influence

Insiders | Qatar Barzan Holdings, Qatar's defence industry giant springing up out of the desert

Syria, Turkey Turkish and Syrian spy chiefs Hakan Fidan and Ali Mamlouk talk again at Russia's initiative

This article may be accessed by subscribers

Do you want a free trial before subscribing?

Create your free account

create a free account

Set up email notifications for these topics

Azerbaijan, France, Turkey Ankara's French 'spy ring' accusations are pressure tactics, say sources

Turkey Foreign Minister Fidan still pulls the strings at MIT

France, Syria Pro-Damascus Federation of Syrian Chambers of Commerce makes Paris comeback

Syria, United States USSOCOM keeps troops on ground despite Syria-Turkey talks

Syria, Turkey Taksim Square blast makes Ankara ill at ease with its private fighters in northern Syria

Syria, Turkey Turkish intelligence plays ambiguous game in north-west Syria

Syria Syrian Democratic Forces' administration losing steam in northeast

Iraq, Turkey Hakan Fidan makes his moves on Iraq's complex political chessboard

Palestine, Syria Moscow and Tehran behind Syria-Hamas reconciliation

Jordan, Syria Amman and Damascus coordinate intelligence to bring refugees home

Germany, Syria Germany's Gauff Engineering plays key role in reconstruction of Syria's water infrastructure

Egypt, Turkey Turkish and Egyptian spymasters eye deal on Muslim Brotherhood extradition

Syria, Turkey Turkish and Syrian spymasters making furtive moves to prepare for future normalisation

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

Spotlight | Syria Spymaster Ali Mamlouk has slipped from public view

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

Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia Riyadh and Tehran pursue secret dialogue in Baghdad

Iraq, Syria, Turkey Fidan and Mamlouk to thrash out Turkish-Syrian business in Baghdad

Set up email notifications for these topics

About Intelligence Online

Subscription

Intelligence Online on social media

Indigo Publications' websites

Ukraine
Jamming wars

China, Europe, India, Russia, Saudi Arabia, UAE, United States
The geopolitical power plays in Earth observation

Armenia, Azerbaijan, France
Information wars in the Caucasus

Europe, Russia
War in the 'grey zone': Russian intelligence preparations in Europe

China, Philippines, United States
The great US-China subsea cables race in the Pacific

Insiders | China
Security, propaganda and the PLA: Xi Jinping forges new networks of influence

Insiders | Qatar
Barzan Holdings, Qatar's defence industry giant springing up out of the desert

Syria, Turkey
Turkish and Syrian spy chiefs Hakan Fidan and Ali Mamlouk talk again at Russia's initiative

Azerbaijan, France, Turkey
Ankara's French 'spy ring' accusations are pressure tactics, say sources

Turkey
Foreign Minister Fidan still pulls the strings at MIT

France, Syria
Pro-Damascus Federation of Syrian Chambers of Commerce makes Paris comeback

Syria, United States
USSOCOM keeps troops on ground despite Syria-Turkey talks

Syria, Turkey
Taksim Square blast makes Ankara ill at ease with its private fighters in northern Syria

Syria, Turkey
Turkish intelligence plays ambiguous game in north-west Syria

Syria
Syrian Democratic Forces' administration losing steam in northeast

Iraq, Turkey
Hakan Fidan makes his moves on Iraq's complex political chessboard

Palestine, Syria
Moscow and Tehran behind Syria-Hamas reconciliation

Jordan, Syria
Amman and Damascus coordinate intelligence to bring refugees home

Germany, Syria
Germany's Gauff Engineering plays key role in reconstruction of Syria's water infrastructure

Egypt, Turkey
Turkish and Egyptian spymasters eye deal on Muslim Brotherhood extradition

Syria, Turkey
Turkish and Syrian spymasters making furtive moves to prepare for future normalisation

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

Spotlight | Syria
Spymaster Ali Mamlouk has slipped from public view

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

Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia
Riyadh and Tehran pursue secret dialogue in Baghdad

Iraq, Syria, Turkey
Fidan and Mamlouk to thrash out Turkish-Syrian business in Baghdad