Hezbollah

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.

Iran, Yemen
Iran appoints top military official Abdul Reza Shahlai following ambassador's death

Iran is determined to keep on top of the strategic battle for Marib and has appointed Abdul Reza Shahlai, a senior military official who will not be given a diplomatic title, to replace Hassan Erlou, its ambassador in Sa'ana, who died in mysterious circumstances last month.

Spotlight | Iraq, Syria
Syrian and Iraqi spymasters share challenge of cross-border insecurity

Determined to make the road between Baghdad and Damascus a prosperous trading route, the Syrian and Iraqi authorities are very aware of the need to secure their border in the light of continued sporadic attacks from the Islamic State group.

Iran
Pasdaran continue to build up their cyber warfare capacity

Iran, which is determined to move into cyber space to engage with Israel and other enemies, is continuing to develop its electronic "army", under the watchful eyes of the Pasdaran and Russia, which has been advising the country.

Kuwait, United States
CIA is hard at work behind the scenes in Kuwait

Washington is stepping up the involvement of its CIA agents stationed in the emirate, where the United States has strategic military bases. Charged with safeguarding American security interests, these agents have not been afraid to get involved in the internal affairs of the ruling family, which is beset by ongoing disputes.

Syria
Pasdaran attacks US's Al-Tanf Syrian Garrison

Tehran's priority is to see US troops leave Syria and it has stepped up its deployment of armed drones, which were used to attack the Al-Tanf garrison in October.

Iran, Turkey
Turkish and Iranian spies take cloak and dagger warfare from Afghanistan to Lebanon

The Taliban takeover of Kabul has opened a new battle front between the intelligence and hybrid warfare services of Turkey and Iran, who are already at daggers drawn over all of the regional issues.

Israel, Lebanon
Halliburton's move into Israeli gas upsets Beirut

Greece's Energean has turned to the US company Halliburton to drill new wells in the Karish gas field in Israel, in an area that may encroach on Beirut's offshore. However Lebanon has little sway over the moves of these major players.

Spotlight | Iran
Pasdaran strengthened by Raissi's intelligence services reform

Iran's new president Ebrahim Raissi has launched a reform of the country's intelligence services, appointing more Pasdaran in key roles.

Lebanon
France uneasy with Hezbollah's energy-fuelled ambitions

In the run-up to its operation to truck in Iranian fuel to help ease Lebanon's energy crisis, Hezbollah took stock of which organisations and businesses to supply. It even contacted entities that it does not control, some of which are close to French interests.

Lebanon
Russia's Stroytransgaz harries US energy rescue plan for Lebanon

In considering using Syria as a transit zone for gas headed to Lebanon, the US is exposing itself to a raft of troubles inherent to the country's political situation. And risks clashing with Russia's own energy goals.