US Special Operations Command

US command in Europe hires help to strengthen logistics in Miesau, Germany 

Locally-based veteran US consultant Benjamin French is helping US Command in Europe to build up its presence in south-western Germany.

Baghdad called upon to mediate between the MIT and the PUK 

Hugely concerned about the origin of the intelligence that allowed the MIT to attack the Sulaymanyah airport on 7 April, the PUK has called on Baghdad to lead the investigation. It is also hoping to calm down the increasingly tense relations between the Talabani clan and Ankara.

Counter-influence expert looking for funding to develop cyber activities 

EdgeTheory, a service provider to the US intelligence community, wants to extend its expertise to cyber and has approached lobbyist Alpine Group Partners to look for funding.

Shift5 pulling out all the stops in Washington 

The military platform cyber protection specialist Shift5 has armed itself with lobbyists just as the US armed forces' needs are growing.

US forces' fuel supplier Jamal al-Alam dropped for supposed links with Tehran 

US forces in Iraq, which are stationed at Erbil International Airport, have ended their contract with their fuel supply company, Jamal al-Alam, because of its supposed links with Iran. The firm is to be replaced by US company Repeat Consultants International, whose boss is said to be close to the Barzani clan.

Ukrainian parliamentary national security committee helped by Republican friends in Washington 

Ukraine's national security defence and intelligence committee, central to the inner workings of the government, has solid links with Republican representatives in Congress, although contacts have dwindled in more recent times.

• IRAN/SYRIA - IRGC mobilises new militia against US interests in Syria

• CHINA - Retired military, state personnel hired to prevent iPhone production jam

• FINLAND - Border guards camp in the east
  

• SWEDEN - Bigger budget for interception agency FRA
  

• FRANCE - Senators move to make ANSSI more aggressive

Private contractors flock to new Pentagon guerrilla warfare study centre 

The future Irregular Warfare Center, set up to educate the special forces of the United States and its allies, will be assisted by Morgan 6 and Valens Global, two companies founded by USSOCOM veterans.

Israeli firm's US cyber arm hires ex-intel officer to lobby in Washington 

Security firm Elta North America is hiring lobbyists in Washington while its Israeli mother company seeks US approval to sell an anti-missile system to Germany.

USSOCOM still in Q-West base two years after official withdrawal 

Although Washington had announced its complete withdrawal from the Q-West military base, US special forces are still there, with a mission to train the Golden Division, an elite unit of the Iraqi counter-terrorism service.

Intelligence contractor CACI plays key role in US support for Ukraine 

MASINT, SIGINT, information warfare... Defence group CACI is providing American special forces commanders with most of the expertise they are using to respond to the war in Ukraine.

Syrian army and Syrian Democratic Forces join forces to face Erdogan's intervention threats 

As the Turkish president continues to threaten a new intervention in Syria, the Syrian Democratic Forces have finally opted to form an ad hoc alliance with the regime in Damascus, offering it a long hoped for opportunity to return to north-eastern Syria.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.