Hezbollah

The Intelligence Gazette
EU counter-espionage, Lebanese intelligence and drug trafficking, new KNB vice director

Appointments, reforms and key issues: every Monday, Intelligence Online serves up snippets of news, big and small, from the global intelligence community. This week we hone in on Beirut, Beijing, Nur-Sultan and Brussels.

European Union Commission ramps up counter-intelligence

Lebanon Military intelligence to tackle drug trafficking

Kazakhstan Kazakh spymaster enlists financial investigator

China Xi Jinping confident Li Shulei named vice director of CCP's propaganda unit

Syria
Iranian Pasdaran's Syria plans jeopardised by threat of Turkish intervention

Tehran was counting on Russia's engagement in Ukraine to gain ground in Syria, but its plans have been thrown off course by Turkey's threat of further military engagement in Syria, which has also prevented Russia from withdrawing.

The Intelligence Gazette
Truce in Yemen, Russian executives, Transnistria, Rosfinmonitoring

Appointments, reforms and the issues at stake: every Monday, Intelligence Online serves up snippets big and small from the global intelligence community. This week, we home in on Saana, Moscow and Tiraspol.

YemenAnsarullah still vindictive despite truce

RussiaTemporary lease of life for top security officers

MoldaviaTransnistria, on the lookout, barricades itself

RussiaFinancial intel service keeps its staff happy

Jordan
GID gets battle ready to tackle drug trafficking

Jordan's intelligence community is on high alert over the increased threat of Captagon pills coming across the border from Syria and has been recruiting amongst those connected to the illicit drug trade there.

Lebanon, United States
Washington finally ready to launch its anti-drug strategy against Hezbollah

Worried about the scale of the trafficking of captagon pills through Lebanon in particular, with Syria the main source, the US authorities intend to grant additional funds to the Lebanese security forces, which are supposed to be involved in this operation.

Lebanon
Riad Salamé plays for time ahead of May general election

Governor of the Banque du Lebanon, Riad Salamé is at the centre of political manoeuvres ahead of the upcoming general election, as well as being in the sights of judge Ghada Aoun, who is close to the presidential camp.

France, Lebanon, United States
With Hezbollah in the firing line, Washington wins Mazen al-Atat's extradition from Paris

In a victory for the US courts, Paris has agreed to a request from New York judges for the extradition of the Lebanese citizen Mazen al-Atat, allegedly linked to Hezbollah. The move is contested by his French lawyers who believe there are no grounds for this decision.

Iran, Lebanon, Syria
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.

Israel
Tel Aviv tiptoes into regional energy deal

In search of additional gas flows to meet its contracted share of energy supplies to Beirut through the Arab Gas Pipeline, Cairo turned to Tel Aviv, which was quick to open its valves, on the understanding its role would be kept quiet.

Spotlight | Israel, Syria
Israel walks a fine line on Ukraine to preserve its freedom to operate in Syria

The Ukrainian crisis has Israel between a rock and a hard place as its juggles its strategic alliance with Washington and its necessary Syrian coordination with Moscow.

Iran, Iraq, Yemen
Pasdaran tries to engage Popular Mobilization Forces in Houthi rebellion

With Yemen's Houthi forces feeling the strain of heavy losses, Iran is struggling to find new recruits for the conflict locally and is now hoping to send in Iraqi fighters.

The Intelligence Gazette
CIS, UK counter state threats bill, Palestine-Algeria

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

Palestine-AlgeriaMaster spy Noureddine Mekri takes a stab at Palestinian reconciliation

United KingdomChristine Lee affair sparks Tom Tugendhat's push for draft bill on counter state threats

Russia'Compatriot' think-tank receives award

Iran
After Baghdad meetings, Riyadh and Tehran count on Amman's mediation

Saudi Arabia and Iran are determined to pursue their secret dialogue, with the help once again of their Iraqi go-between Qassem Al Araji.

Lebanon
IMF needs to see real progress on Alvarez & Marsal's Beirut forensic audit

On the eve of new talks between Beirut and the International Monetary Fund, held with the aim of seeing the release of a long-awaited financial bailout, many obstacles remain. Foremost among them are the delays to crucial audits, including the one conducted by US forensic auditor Alvarez & Marsal.