Egyptian spymaster Abbas Kamel discusses Egypt-Iraq rapprochement with Tehran

• EGYPT/IRAN - Abbas Kamel lays down terms for normalisation with Iran

• RUSSIA - Rosgvardia divided over Kadyrov's rise

• POLAND - Surveillance sweep uncovers counter-espionage flaws

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.