Ankara's spymasters squabble over best strategy against PKK

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.

Security tensions high in Iraq's overcrowded Sinjar Mountain region 

Various Iraqi and foreign interests with shifting alliances, including Turkey, Iran and the US, have added to the instability in Iraq's Sinjar region.

• IRAQ - PKK renews high command's mandate and reaffirms strategic priorities

• FRANCE - DGSI's role in counterterrorism secured

• RUSSIA/CHINA - Beijing counts on Russia to promote SCO

• USA/GEORGIA - Washington confirms its commitment to Tbilisi

• FRANCE/UKRAINE - Florence Parly sticks to low estimate on Paris's Ukraine spending

PDK-I in Iranian Pasdaran intelligence crosshairs 

The Iranian Kurdish party, exiled in Iraqi Kurdistan, is regularly targeted by attacks from across the border when the Pasdaran considers it to pose an 'imminent threat'. The latest incident took place on 12 September.

Low-profile Turkish construction company Haz is top choice at US embassies 

A dispute between top executives at Turkish building renovation company Haz International is currently getting a public airing before the British courts. The lawsuit has also revealed Haz' marked appetite for carrying out renovation work for US diplomatic missions and Russian state-owned companies.

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.

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.

Turkish intelligence service prepares a new anti-Gulen purge 

Turkish intelligence service MIT has again been ordered to find more supposed supporters of outlawed imam Fethulah Gulen, whom Recep Tayyip Erdogan has accused of being behind the failed 2016 coup attempt in Turkey. A wave of new arrests is expected this summer in the ranks of the police.

Hakan Fidan close to ministerial promotion 

Rumours are circulating again that Hakan Fidan (IOL 837), the [...]