ALL ARTICLES - Syria

The Intelligence Gazette
Protecting state secrets, Rosatom facing DNI, Hakan Fidan and Syria, French DPR and foreign interference

Russia
Sergey Alpatov gets greater state secrets privileges

United States/Russia
Rosatom in DNI's crosshairs

Turkey/Syria
Ex-spymaster Hakan Fidan keeps lead on Syria discussions

France
DPR examining foreign interference

Cham Bank picks lawyer Gassan Baloul for legal fight against OFAC

The lawyer, who is an expert in the Middle East, has clients ranging from Lebanese banks IBL and Jamal Trust Bank to the Republic of Iraq. He is now defending Syria's Cham Bank which is suing the US Treasury for having placed it under sanctions.

Hossam Louka active across all fronts, from Syrian countryside to Riyadh and Moscow

Now Bashar al-Assad's top spymaster, Hossam Louka has begun to quietly take the lead on Syria's normalisation processes, both on the international scene and at a local level.

The Intelligence Gazette
Taiwanese in Milan, Damascus and the Arab League, Russian customs chief

Italy/Taiwan
Taipei uses business to renew political dialogue in Milan

Syria
Arab League invitation but not reintegration on the cards for Damascus

Russia
Customs chief succession causes headache

The Intelligence Gazette
Syrian Kurds at French National Assembly, Kyrgyz diplomacy, Ukrainian BEB, US farm security

France/Syria
YPG representatives at the French National Assembly

Ukraine
Economic security office headless

Kyrgyzstan
Ex-spymaster on the rise in diplomatic corps

US
Food security as well as agricultural sovereignty

Washington rallies local companies around new jihadist prison project in northeastern Syria

The US is funding the construction of a new detention centre in northeastern Syria, while its local partner, the Syrian Democratic Forces, has been tasked with selecting suitable companies for the project.

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.

Saudi Arabia's earthquake aid reveals Riyadh's changing posture towards Syria

Saudi Arabia and Syria's secret normalisation process has been brought into the open by recent Saudi deliveries of humanitarian aid to areas of Syria controlled by Assad, an initiative that paves the way for more direct diplomatic contact.

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.

The Intelligence Gazette
Hossam Louka in Riyadh, State Department's generosity to Chisinau, France's Zahra center

Syria/Saudi Arabia
Hossam Louka pops up in Riyadh.

United States/Moldova
Chisinau biggest receiver of US fund to counter Russian influence.

France/Iran
Former pro-Iranian Centre Zahra France official fails to block asset freeze.

Tehran pulls its militias from Syria to beef up domestic fronts

Now in difficulty on their home turf, the Revolutionary Guards are reviewing their militia system in order to adapt it to the evolving situation. Fighters in Syria, Iraq and even Lebanon are being redeployed to the most tense Iranian zones.

The Intelligence Gazette
Syrian chemical programme, UK's Economic Crime Committee, Swedish StratCom at NATO, Pakistani ambassador in Kabul, Skopje and NATO, PLA in Taiwan

France/Syria
French company Smart Pegasus remains under sanctions for participating in Syrian chemical weapons program.

United Kingdom
Opposition MP's push parliamentary Economic Crime Committee project.

Sweden/Latvia
Swedish anti-fake news agency shines at NATO's StratCom.

Pakistan/Afghanistan
ISI investigates attempted assassination of Pakistani ambassador in Kabul.

North Macedonia
Skopje intelligence chief learns the rope at NATO.

China
People's Liberation Army tests modern urban warfare techniques to hone Taiwan strategy.

The Intelligence Gazette
New Iranian militia in Syria, Chinese retiree recall, Finnish border, Swedish NSA, ANSSI

Iran/Syria
IRGC mobilises new militia against US interests in Syria

China
Retired military, state personnel hired to prevent iPhone production jam

Finland
Border guards camp in the east

Sweden
Bigger budget for interception agency FRA

France
Senators move to make ANSSI more aggressive

Between asset freezes and support, Paris displays contradictory stance over Kurds

Recent French sanctions against individuals suspected of financing the Kurdish Workers Party, or PKK, highlight incoherent foreign policy towards the Kurdish movement.

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.

The Intelligence Gazette
DGSE's green goals, cybersecurity between Sultans, Lithuanian sanctions, Syrian airspace jitters

France
DGSE goes green to justify pricey new head office.

Bahrain/Oman
Cybersecurity dominates cooperation talks between Manama and Mascat.

Lithuania
Anti-money laundering veteran takes helm of foreign ministry's 'sanctions' group.

Israel/Syria
Tsahal seeks new targets from Syrian skies.

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.