Egypt, Iran, Iraq
Egyptian spymaster Abbas Kamel discusses Egypt-Iraq rapprochement with Tehran

The Intelligence Gazette
Abbas Kamel opens path to Iran, Kadyrov splits Rosgvardia, ABW taken aback

Appointments, reforms and the issues at stake: every Monday, Intelligence Online serves up snippets big and small from the global intelligence community, from Baghdad to Moscow via Warsaw and Cairo.

Egypt/IranAbbas Kamel lays down terms for normalisation with Iran

RussiaRosgvardia divided over Kadyrov's rise

PolandSurveillance sweep uncovers counter-espionage flaws

Egypt
Mahmoud Al-Sisi's standing within the Mukhabarat grows

Once ejected from the general intelligence service, the Egyptian president's son has regained his position beside the agency director Abbas Kamel. He is now in charge of developments with Israel, a sure sign of his father's trust.

Russia
Kremlin takes back control of Dagestan's power grid with Iran in sight

Entwined with its goal to lock in control of the small Caucasus republic, starting with the local oligarchs who have since been ousted from the power sectors, is the Kremlin's desire to create new openings towards Iran for its national energy groups Gazprom and Rosseti.

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.

Turkey
Mossad and VEVAK targeted by Turkish counter-espionage service

Turkish intelligence service MIT, which is concerned about the growing number of foreign agents operating in Turkey, is strengthening its counter-espionage capacities. It has increasingly been carrying out arrests and breaking up spy cells, with the activities of the Iranian and Israeli intelligence services getting particular attention.

Spotlight | Azerbaijan, Iran
Pasdaran seek to open new front against Azerbaijan

After military manoeuvres at its border, Iran fears it could be encircled by Azerbaijan and is concerned about Israel's increasingly stronger engagement with Baku.

Iran, Iraq
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.

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.

Egypt, Lebanon
Egyptian intelligence approaches Hezbollah to protect Gaza ceasefire

Stability in the Palestinian territories is high on the Egyptian spy chief's agenda and his services have struck up secret talks with Hezbollah in the hope the Shia movement will call for calm among Gaza's embattled factions.

Egypt, France
Marc Baréty appointed French ambassador in Cairo

The former French ambassador in Baghdad and current Islamabad ambassador Marc Baréty has landed the coveted top slot at the Egyptian embassy, where he will work to cultivate Franco-Egyptian defence and security cooperation.

Israel
Mossad and Pasdaran jostle for recruits on same turf

Human agents are still the most effect tool intelligence services can have and Israel and Iran's rivalry can be seen in their recruitment and hiring methods.

Syria
Moscow and Tel Aviv step up efforts to put space between Damascus and Tehran

Renewed hostilities on the ground coincide with new efforts by the region's capitals to bring their influence to bear on the Syrian conflict.

Tehran's secret diplomacy to turn Ebrahim Raisi's swearing in into mini-African summit

Since mid-July, Iranian diplomats have been generously handing out invitations to African heads of state to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Ebrahim Raisi.