"SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND" - All our articles - Intelligence Online

US's arms shipments to Ukraine putting pressure on CIA-Pentagon cooperation

The upscaling of military assistance to Ukraine is testing cooperation between the CIA and the US Department of Defense amid heightened fears about the fate of Western weapons.

Huawei's French strategic affairs director heads to CyberPeace Institute in Geneva

Adding to its line-up of senior Western cyber experts, the NGO CyberPeace Institute, of which Microsoft is a major donor, has hired Huawei executive and former French special forces officer Vincent de Crayencour.

FRANCE Government Intelligence 13/06/2022

Secretive military intelligence unit Paros targets Islamic militants for elimination

By staffing it, the French military intelligence directorate (DRM) has exposed the existence of its top-secret unit Paros. This unit is responsible for locating high-value targets for France's special forces to kill, as the country moves towards a two-pronged intelligence-special forces approach in the Sahel.

BELGIUM EUROPEAN UNION ISRAEL UNITED STATES International Dealmaking 18/05/2022

Belgian army benchmarks anti-drone systems before launching procurement

The Belgian military, which is currently preparing to issue a call for tenders for anti-drone systems, has been meeting the main providers of the anti-drone market.

FRANCE Corporate Intelligence 11/05/2022

French company EPEE considers handing over to ADIT

The partial sale of the veteran business diplomacy and security group EPEE, led by Jacques Hogard, is being watched closely from all sides. EPEE handles security for the Nigerien uranium mine Arlit strategic to the French state.

SpotlightTURKEY UKRAINE UNITED STATES International Dealmaking 10/05/2022

Competition brews between Turkish and US drones in Ukraine

Recent US drone deliveries have driven Ukraine to give them a complementary role alongside Turkish drones, which up to now had played the starring role in the conflict. Ukraine, now a laboratory for new defence technology, has thus become a scene of defence rivalry between Turkey and the United States.

AeroVironment's Switchblade kamikaze drone provided by the US to Ukraine to help the country fight off Russia's invasion.

FRANCE IRAQ Government Intelligence 04/05/2022

CAE Aviation deploys new spy plane in Erbil

As large numbers of Islamic State fighters continue to hide out in Northern Iraq, a new IRS plane from CAE Aviation, a supplier to French intelligence, began monitoring the area on 14 April.

UNITED STATES Corporate Intelligence 11/04/2022

Former FBI officer turned investigator for oligarchs Richard Frankel exposed in New York

Forensic News has taken legal action to defend itself against low-key corporate intelligence star Walter Soriano. Richard Frankel's former activities for Soriano's firm USG Security look set to expose clients he worked for.

FRANCE Government Intelligence 11/04/2022

Vidaud's surprise exit from military intelligence turns the armed forces upside down

The abrupt departure on 30 March of the Director of Military Intelligence (DRM) Eric Vidaud triggered a power struggle within the armed forces for the future positions.

FRANCE Government Intelligence 08/04/2022

Special forces prepare Toujouse handover amid tense context

In the runup to its 30th anniversary, the special operations command is facing an unprecedented level of intervention. General Michel Delpit, who is set to take over from Bertrand Toujouse as its head, will have to face several challenges.

FRANCE Government Intelligence 04/04/2022

DRM shaken by chief Eric Vidaud's sudden exit

As the war in Ukraine rages on and with the French general election imminent, the ousting of French military intelligence chief Eric Vidaud, pushed by Emmanuel Macron, has highlighted the difficulties the service is facing as it undergoes a major overhaul.

UNITED STATES Government Intelligence 14/03/2022

CIA rolls out well-oiled plan on familiar turf in Ukraine

Engrossed in Europe, US intelligence has increased its operations in Ukraine. It has considerable scope of action in the country forged from eight years of building relations with and providing support to its Ukrainian homologues.

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES UNITED STATES International Dealmaking 03/03/2022

Ex-Circinus executives forge new careers in Abu Dhabi

Circinus, which used to monitor social media for the UAE, has fallen from grace since its owner, Republican Party sponsor Eliot Broidy, ran afoul of foreign lobbying laws. But former executives of the company, including ex-CIA officers, continue to prosper both in Abu Dhabi and in Eastern Europe.

UNITED STATES Surveillance & Interception 15/02/2022

First In, the fund backed by US cyberdefence veterans

Headed by a group of former cyberintelligence officials, the cyber-focused venture capital firm is beefing up its capacities to bid for Pentagon contracts.

FRANCE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES International Dealmaking 11/02/2022

Manar Military Consultancy opens up Emirati market for French naval defence industry

The advisory firm founded by former French special forces operator Freddy Riaud is trying to win a contract with the UAE's Tawazun to conduct a preliminary study for the future construction of an ammunition recycling plant.

ALBANIA UNITED STATES Surveillance & Interception 01/02/2022

Albania plays to NATO's tune by opting for American-style cybersecurity

After being rocked by massive data leaks in 2021, the Albanian authorities have hired US firm Jones Group to boost its cyber defence capacities. It's also a handy way to strengthen diplomatic and military ties with Washington.

SpotlightUNITED STATES Government Intelligence 17/01/2022

New NGA chief steps in after major overhaul

While Frank Whitworth has a number of tasks awaiting him as head of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), the Covid-19 pandemic has already prompted some big changes at the agency, creating new opportunities for it to strengthen its place in the US intelligence community and with overseas partners.

Frank Whitworth, the new head of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency.

SYRIA UNITED STATES Government Intelligence 11/01/2022

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.

SYRIA UNITED STATES Government Intelligence 21/12/2021

Congress struggles to clarify US approach to Syria

The newly ratified National Defense Authorization Act contains several sections on Syria, but there is no clear line taken. Biden, caught between maintaining a military presence and the application of heavy sanctions against the regime, has not yet defined his Syria policy.

FRANCE Surveillance & Interception 06/12/2021

French intelligence and army ponder spy plane hire from CAE

As France begins to phase out the use of its Transall C-160 Gabriel planes, the air force and external intelligence service are considering an option to lease an high capacity aircraft from CAE Aviation, a provider that has long served France's airborne interception (SIGINT) missions.

Barzan Holdings, Qatar's defence industry giant springing up out of the desert

Badr Jafar, the businessman 2.0 taking hold in the UAE

Special Operations Command