Iraq, Syria
Barzanis caught up in anti-PKK fight

The Intelligence Gazette
PKK leaders, DGSI, SCO, DoS in Georgia, France-Ukraine

Appointments, reforms and the issues at stake: every Monday, Intelligence Online serves up snippets big and small from the global intelligence community. This week, from Sinjar to Paris via Shanghai, Kyiv, Washington and Tbilisi.

IraqPKK renews high command's mandate and reaffirms strategic priorities

FranceDGSI's role in counterterrorism secured

Russia/ChinaBeijing counts on Russia to promote SCO

USA/GeorgiaWashington confirms its commitment to Tbilisi

France/UkraineFlorence Parly sticks to low estimate on Paris's Ukraine spending

Iraq, United Kingdom
Adam Smith International roped in to help with Peshmerga reform

Adam Smith International has won a contract from the British foreign ministry to help the Kurdistan Region of Iraq to implement "priority reforms" mainly regarding the security forces.

Iraq
Pentagon concerned about Peshmerga's slow unification

Washington is keen for the Peshmerga forces to speed up their unification so they can share strategic intelligence against Islamic State. But local alliances continue to hold sway over the need to put up a common front.

Turkey
Ankara's spymasters squabble over best strategy against PKK

Still engaged in military operations against the PKK in northern Iraq, Turkey has been suffering heavy losses while failing to eradicate the perceived Kurdish threat. It is now rethinking its strategy while trying to ensure the continued support of the Kurdish KDP, its ally on the ground.

Iraq
Dynasty case unravels Kurdish clan dispute over oil

The rivalry between Barzani and Talabani clans is at the centre of a legal battle between oil junior Dynasty and former oil minister of Iraqi Kurdistan's Ashti Hawrami.

Iraq, Lebanon
Qaiwan, the Iraqi oil firm behind Lebanon swap solution

So that it can fulfil its commitment to supply Beirut with oil to help ease the country's energy crisis, Irak has called in trader Qaiwan to set up a swap system as Kudistan crude is too high in sulphur to be used in Lebanon's power plants.

Iraq, United States
Washington weighs up military deployment options in Kurdistan

The U.S. military footprint in Iraq, greatly reduced in 2020, is now concentrated mainly in Baghdad. But the persistent threats against the "green zone" are causing the US to consider options to shift more troops to Kurdistan.

Iraq, Syria, United States
Delta Crescent serves as relay for Washington's oil interests in Kurdistan

Although Washington is championing sanctions against Syria, it is letting a US oil company do business there while placing its pawns in Iraqi Kurdistan.

Iraq, Lebanon, United Kingdom
Barzani and Rahmeh take on consultants to do battle with Iraq Telecom

Accused of embezzlement by the Kuwaiti logistics giant Agility and France's Orange, Sirwan Barzani and his Lebanese partner Raymond Rahmeh are taking measures to defend their reputations.

France, Iraq
Orange goes public about spat with Barzani

Orange kept its corruption dispute with Iraqi Kurdistan's ruling Barzani clan under wraps for a long time. An application for arbitration submitted in October puts an end to the chances of an informal settlement being reached.

Syria
Inter-Kurdish talks edge forward

The two main Kurdish parties, the PYD and the Syrian [...]

Spotlight | Turkey
After Syria and Libya, Ankara makes moves in Yemen

Turkey's military and security apparatus, which is heavily mobilised in Syria and Iraq, Libya and increasingly Yemen, wants to go the distance against Russia on all fronts, despite the strain and internal strife these efforts are causing.