Spymaster Ali Mamlouk has slipped from public view

• 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

• 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.

Turkish and Syrian spy chiefs Hakan Fidan and Ali Mamlouk talk again at Russia's initiative 

Keen to play the role of mediator between Turkey and Syria, Russia sponsored a new meeting between the spy chiefs of the two countries, which have been at daggers drawn since 2011. The results were not convincing but the meeting at least allowed Ankara and Damascus to set out their demands.

Damascus' red tape tactics to keep watch on Syrians aboard 

The Damascene authorities, now no longer concerned about maintaining their rule, has come up with a cunning way to keep a tally of Syrians living aboard, many of whom were once defectors or opponents. This administrative blackmail comes with exorbitant fees that can help fill the Assad regime's coffers.

Between Beirut and Tehran, Ali Mamlouk gets back into regional affairs 

Syrian spymaster Ali Mamlouk appears to be back in favour with President Bashar Al Assad, who recently sent him to Tehran to negotiate reducing the influence of Shi'ite militia groups under Iran's control. Mamlouk is also watching over the upcoming elections in Lebanon and giving a helping hand to pro-Syrians in the race.

Syria creeps into France's presidential election campaign 

French presidential candidates will not be able to avoid talking about Syria, whether on issues relating to French special forces, repatriating French nationals in prison or the threat still posed by Islamic State. With just two months to go to the first voting round, Intelligence Online looks at their positions.

Turkish AKP ally Khalil Ibrahim controls electricity supplies to northern Syria 

After its military operations in northern Syria, Turkey is starting to monopolise the supply of electricity in the region via AK Energy, a move that has also created work for Turkish companies close to the Syrian border.

USSOCOM to face Assad forces on the Iraq-Syria border 

Despite pleas from the US to repoen the Til Koçer crossing between Iraq and Syria, the Kurdish authorities have decided to give its control to Syrian forces, a move that further weakens Washington's position in northeastern Syria.

Spymaster Hussam Luka given mission to conquer eastern Syria 

Lauded for crushing the last flutters of rebellion in southern Syria, Hussam Luka, the head of Bashar al-Assad's general intelligence service, has been instructed to apply the same methods in the east of the country, betweeen two foreign assignments, paving the way for him to be put in charge of strategic Kurdish matters.

Hossam Louka's star ascends within Syrian intelligence 

Syrian spymaster Ali Mamlouk was noticably absent from the Arab Intelligence Forum, a major regional security meeting held in Cairo in November that was overseen by Abbas Kamel. But Mamlouk's absence was to Hossam Louka's advantage.

GID chief plays key role in restoring Jordan's diplomatic relations with Syria 

Under King Abdullah II's instructions, Jordan's intelligence chief Ahmed Husni began working to restore diplomatic relations with neighbouring Syria back in 2019. After the first formal contacts between the two countries on 3 October, Jordan's next goal is to get Syria back into the Arab League.

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 spymaster Abbas Kamel discusses Egypt-Iraq rapprochement with Tehran 

Even as Cairo and Baghdad publicise their strategic partnership, Egyptian intelligence services are talking with Tehran behind the scenes on how best to protect Egyptian interests in Iraq.

Bashar Al Assad appoints new spymasters for a new diplomatic era 

President Bashar Al Assad has overhauled Syria's intelligence services in recent weeks in a bid to foster the regime's legitimacy.

GID/National Security discussions 

Meetings between Jordanian and Syrian intelligence officials have accelerated in [...]