MILNET:

MILNET: Overview of Middle Eastern Covert Agencies

This brief takes a look at the intelligence agencies run by many of the nations meddling in the Middle East. The intent is to summarize the various activities and emerging cooperation between Arab Nations whose differing religious and political ideologies have previously made cooperation impossible, but today are inreasingly banding together as never before. We also include a few of the former Soviet bloc countries to the north who are increasingly influencing the region as well.

Translated Name Actual Name Country Focus Activities

Committee for National Security (KNB) Kazakhstan Domestic and Foreign Intelligence & Counterintelligence. Broad range of various security services including but not limited to covert action and investigation. Remnent of Former Soviet Union controlled intelligence appartus - may have former Soviet personnel remaining on board. Rhetoric in Kazakhstan government claims aid to the War on Terror, however no evidence is publicly available.

Committee for National Security (KNB) Turkmenistan Domestic and Foreign Intelligencee & Counterintelligence. Broad range of various security services including but not limited to covert action and investigation. Remnent of Former Soviet Union controlled intelligence appartus - may have former Soviet personnel remaining on board. Rhetoric in Turkmenistan government claims aid to the War on Terror, however no evidence is publicly available.

General Intelligence Department (GID) Jordon According to FAS, "...collecting and analyzing information to assist the government in political decision making. It is also responsible for countering illegal organizations whose goals are to spread havoc within the country through means of sabotage or psychological warfare, as well as to counter espionage. Additional duties include combating corruption, the smuggling of arms and drugs, and counterfeiting operations." While appearing to be as neutral as possible in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as well as tensions surrouning the nation, Jordon's GID particpates in covert funding to various Arab nations covert operations such as Lebaon, Iraq, and Syria.

General Intelligence Service (SOR KSA) Al Istakhbarat al-‘Amiyyah Saudi Arabia Covert action and counter- intelligence, suspected of funding Hamas and Hezbollah as well as conduit for weapons to Wahhabi sect Mosques/ Madrasses for distribution to terrorist groups formed from recruits from these pools of potential terrorists. Recently reported by AFI as relocating Chechneyan Muslims to Lebanon and and possible migration from their into Palestinian terroritories in Israel. Maintains contacts with the Asbat Al Ansar and Takfir Wa Al Hijra, both formerly Chechneyan Muslim extremists relocated to Lebanon and Jordon.
The Saudi Intelligence Chief, Prince Nawaf Bin-Abd-al-Aziz, left Lebanon on July 5th, after receiving surgery. It is presumed the prince was there for other reasons i.e. to shore up ties between the two countries intelligence operations, both overt and covert.

General Intelligence Service (GIS) Syria According to Intelligence Online, it the GIS is eaded by "Hissam Bakhtiar, a Sunni who is very close to col. Assef Chawkat, number two man in military intelligence and brother in law of Bachar." Conducts external covert operations thorugh Hezbollah, based in in Syria and Lebanon. Intelligence Online has also reported Syrian involvemnt in transporting Islamic extremists as fighters to Chechnya. This would also inidicate a possible return as well as additional flow of Chechnyans back into Syria and Lebanon.

Interior Ministry Syria According to Intelligence Online, it the new Interior Minister is "...gen. Ali Hammoud. A member of the Allawite community..." and states that "...Hammoud was deputy chief of the Syrian army’s security and investigative service in Lebanon." Conducts internal and extrenal intelliegence, counterintelligence and terrorist activities, as well as keeps "an eye" on internal security while coordinating with the in-country leadership of Hezbollah.

International Leadership of the International association of Muslim (Brotherhood) brothers Al-Qiyadah Al-'Alimiyyah
Harakat Al-Ikhawan Al-Muslimun Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Iran Sharing of intelligence between Arab Nations, sponsorship of various funding operations between Arab Nations -- virulently anti-Semetic Recently reported by AFI as relocating Chechneyan Muslims to Lebanon and possible migration from their into Palestinian terroritories in Israel

International Service for Intelligence (ISI) aka Inter-Service Intelligence Agency Pakistan 40,000 member force -- Covert action and counter- intelligence, suspected of funding and acting as conduit for weapons to Wahhabi sect Mosques/ Madrasses for distribution to terrorist groups formed from recruits from these pools of potential terrorists. Spent much of the last decade financing and supporting the Taliban in Afghanistan. According to Dr. Michael Donovan. CDI Research Assistant, the ISI is "...peppered with officers who identify strongly with the Taliban and its militant Islamic ideology." "Foreign operations consists of approximately 12,000 Arabic speaking Iranians, Afghans, Iraqis, Lebanese Shi'ites and North Africans who trained in Iran or received training in Afghanistan during the Afghan war years." - AFI Research

Iranian Intelligence Service aka Pasdaran - (Guardians of the Revolution) aka Qods Force Qods, Pasdaran- e Enghelab-e Islami Iran Covert action and counter- intelligence - "Extra-territorial activites including terrorist operations and training Islamic fundamentalist terrorist groups" - AFI Research . Accoridng to FAS, it also includes the Pasdaran Qods Force and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, a 350,000 strong military force organized into brigades. Linked to most of the terrorist activies in the Middle East, through funding and sub- organizations such as the Pasdaran Special Operations Department "Presently these foreign operatives receive training in Iran, Sudan and Lebanon, and include the Hizbollah "Party of Allah" intelligence, logistics and operational terrorist units in the Lebanon. Pasdaran foreign operations also involve training and arming Kurdish groups, Kashmiri’s, the Balouchi’s, Afghans, Bosnians and the Kosovan separatists." AFI also states that not only is training being provided, but trained soldiers and useable arms are being supplied. AFI cites an example of Iranian arms being airlifted into Syria and Lebanon, eventually working its way into the hands of Palestinians in Israel. The capture by Israelis of a ship bound from Iran to members of Arafat's Palestinian authority is direct evidence of this support - AFI Research Summary of Iranian Involvement.   "The Qods Force is also responsible for gathering the intelligence required for targeting and attack planning. It has contacts with underground movements in the Gulf region, in particular Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates and its members are assigned to Iranian diplomatic missions, where, in the course of routine intelligence activities they monitor dissidents." - AFI Research

Iranian Military Intelligence (IMI) Iran J2 Intelligence and Security - According to FAS, "...responsible for all operational military matters. Its primary tasks included military planning and coordination and operational control over the regular services, combat units of the Pasdaran, and units of the Gendarmerie and National Police assigned to the war front." accordining to FAS, "Carry out operational control for intelligence planning, intelligence operations, intelligence
training, counterintelligence, and security for all elements of the armed forces. They also handle liaison with the komitehs (revolutionary
committees) for internal security matters and with MOIS for foreign intelligence. "

Iraqi Intelligence Service (IIS) aka Directorate of Intelligence Mukhabarat Iraq Covert Action, illegal import and export of oil, weapons. According to FAS, it has a staff of about 4,000, the current chief of the Service is Rafi' Dahham Al Tikriti and consists of a number of directorates including the Political Bureau and Special Bureau. Active operational capabilities include training of clandestine agents, counterintelligence, internal security, secret operations, electronic surveillence, technical affairs in support of clandestine operations, and processes SIGINT data. Special Operations (14th Directorate) is housed in Salman Pak and is the largest of the Directorates. Janes has published a report on Iraqi Intelligence, Inside Iraq's security network - Parts One and Two, by Sean Boyne. The report claims the Iraqi's sophisticated computer equipment was acquired from Japan in the 1983-1984 timeframe (Al Hadi Project). Providing aid to any and all terrorist groups attacking Israel and the U.S., as well as the chief channelling entity for moving illegal imports and exports in defiance of the U.N. sanctions against Iraq levied after the conclusion of the Gulf War. See the excellent AFI article from June of 2002, Iraq Stirs the Middle East Cauldron

Joint Committee for Special Operations Iran The Iranian president, top religious authority, and other senior security officials as well as, perhaps representatives from the Pasaderan. According to FAS, "Responsible for coordinating activities devoted to gathering intelligence and special weapons technology abroad, as well as activities within the Iranian exile community." According to FAS,, "...mounting extensive operations in Bosnia to gather information and counter Western influence. As of late 1997 more than 200 Iranian agents have insinuated themselves into Bosnian Muslim political and social circles, and infiltrated the US program to train the Bosnian army. Iranian is collaborating with a pro-Iranian faction in Bosnia's intelligence service, the Agency for Investigation and documentation. But Iran's intelligence operations extend far beyond the training program, and are aimed at influencing a broad range of Bosnian institutions. "

Jordanian Military Intelligence Jordan Covert action and counter- intelligence Aided in possible relocation of Chechneyan based Wahhabi Muslims to camp(s) in Jordan,

Lebanese Military Intelligence Agency (MIA) or (DRM) Direction du Renseignement Militaire Lebanon According to Intelligence Online, MIA is led by gen. Raymond Azar.   In September of 2000, according to Intelligence Online, managed to thwart a kidnapping attempt westerners in an operation similar to the"...Abu Sayyef Moslem rebels on Jolo island in the Philippines in the hope of building a war chest from ransom money. " and members captured wer part of the "...Al Takfir Wal Hijra group that was founded in Egypt in the 1970s." In a June 1998 an investigation led by col. Michel Rahbani of DRM resulted in uncovering a major spy network in Lebanon. Acoording to Intelligence Online, "...The network, which included Shi'ites as well as Druzes and Maronites, had gathered information on Hezbollah   leaders in the southern suburb of the capital, and took an interest in the deployment of Syrian forces in the country."

Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS) Vezarat-e Ettela'at va Amniat-e Keshvar VEVAK According to FAS, "Ministry of Security and Intelligence personnel are either attached as diplomats in Iranian embassies and consulate offices or as Ministry of Guidance and Propaganda representatives" According to FAS, "...Iran is the most active sponsor of terrorism in the world. Since the inception of the Islamic state in 1979, the country has used terrorism as an integral part of its foreign and military policies. Iranian leaders view terrorism as a valid tool to accomplish their political objectives..." and "...Iranian-backed political violence has killed more than 1,000 people in over 200 terrorist attacks since the 1979 revolution, including some 80 assassinations of Iranian dissidents around the world. Major attacks include the suicide bombings of American and French military barracks in Beirut in 1983 which killed 299, a series of bombings in Paris in September 1986 which killed 12, attacks on the Israeli embassy and a Jewish community center in Buenos Aires in 1992 and 1994 which killed 125, and the bombing that killed 19 Americans in Dhahran in June 1995. "

National Security Service (NSS) Uzbekistan Domestic and Foreign Intelligence / Counterintelligence. Broad range of various security services including but not limited to covert action and investigation. Remnent of Former Soviet Union controlled intelligence appartus - may have former Soviet personnel remaining on board. Rhetoric in Uzbekistan government claims aid to the War on Terror, however no evidence is publicly available.

Saudi Intelligence Service (SOR) aka Saudi Directorate of Intelligence Saudi Arabia Covert action and counter- intelligence - Reports directly to the Saudi King.    Former ties to Osama Bin Laden and remaining close ties his family may influence cooperation between Saudis and those seeking OBL and Al Qaida such as the U.S.'s Anti Terror Coalition. Suspected of directing Wahhabi extremists in covert and/or terrorist activities.
Saudi Intelligence provides covert aid to various factions in Lebanon and Syria as well as serves as the channel for aid to Palestinian suicide bombers. There are definite bits of evidence linking Al Qaida to Intelligence officers in the Saudi regime -- for instance, Imad Mugniyah, former chief of Operations for Hezbollah is now seen as Al Qaida's chief for the Middle East. Mugniyah is also considered to be a advsior to Iran's Khamenei.
Analysts suspect the Saudi Intelligence Service continues to act as the covert channel between Iran and the Saudis, providing for unprecedented cooperation between the two fundamentally different religious sects in order to foster clandestine attacks against Israel. There is evidence that this link has been used to aid those attacking the U.S. as well - i.e. Khobar Towers and the U.S.S. Cole visa-vis Al Qaida.

milnet@milnet.com

Translated Name	Actual Name	Country	Focus	Activities
Committee for National Security (KNB)		Kazakhstan	Domestic and Foreign Intelligence & Counterintelligence. Broad range of various security services including but not limited to covert action and investigation. Remnent of Former Soviet Union controlled intelligence appartus - may have former Soviet personnel remaining on board.	Rhetoric in Kazakhstan government claims aid to the War on Terror, however no evidence is publicly available.
Committee for National Security (KNB)		Turkmenistan	Domestic and Foreign Intelligencee & Counterintelligence. Broad range of various security services including but not limited to covert action and investigation. Remnent of Former Soviet Union controlled intelligence appartus - may have former Soviet personnel remaining on board.	Rhetoric in Turkmenistan government claims aid to the War on Terror, however no evidence is publicly available.
General Intelligence Department (GID)		Jordon	According to FAS, "...collecting and analyzing information to assist the government in political decision making. It is also responsible for countering illegal organizations whose goals are to spread havoc within the country through means of sabotage or psychological warfare, as well as to counter espionage. Additional duties include combating corruption, the smuggling of arms and drugs, and counterfeiting operations."	While appearing to be as neutral as possible in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as well as tensions surrouning the nation, Jordon's GID particpates in covert funding to various Arab nations covert operations such as Lebaon, Iraq, and Syria.
General Intelligence Service (SOR KSA)	Al Istakhbarat al-‘Amiyyah	Saudi Arabia	Covert action and counter- intelligence, suspected of funding Hamas and Hezbollah as well as conduit for weapons to Wahhabi sect Mosques/ Madrasses for distribution to terrorist groups formed from recruits from these pools of potential terrorists.	Recently reported by AFI as relocating Chechneyan Muslims to Lebanon and and possible migration from their into Palestinian terroritories in Israel. Maintains contacts with the Asbat Al Ansar and Takfir Wa Al Hijra, both formerly Chechneyan Muslim extremists relocated to Lebanon and Jordon. The Saudi Intelligence Chief, Prince Nawaf Bin-Abd-al-Aziz, left Lebanon on July 5th, after receiving surgery. It is presumed the prince was there for other reasons i.e. to shore up ties between the two countries intelligence operations, both overt and covert.
General Intelligence Service (GIS)		Syria	According to Intelligence Online, it the GIS is eaded by "Hissam Bakhtiar, a Sunni who is very close to col. Assef Chawkat, number two man in military intelligence and brother in law of Bachar."	Conducts external covert operations thorugh Hezbollah, based in in Syria and Lebanon. Intelligence Online has also reported Syrian involvemnt in transporting Islamic extremists as fighters to Chechnya. This would also inidicate a possible return as well as additional flow of Chechnyans back into Syria and Lebanon.
Interior Ministry		Syria	According to Intelligence Online, it the new Interior Minister is "...gen. Ali Hammoud. A member of the Allawite community..." and states that "...Hammoud was deputy chief of the Syrian army’s security and investigative service in Lebanon."	Conducts internal and extrenal intelliegence, counterintelligence and terrorist activities, as well as keeps "an eye" on internal security while coordinating with the in-country leadership of Hezbollah.
International Leadership of the International association of Muslim (Brotherhood) brothers	Al-Qiyadah Al-'Alimiyyah Harakat Al-Ikhawan Al-Muslimun	Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Iran	Sharing of intelligence between Arab Nations, sponsorship of various funding operations between Arab Nations -- virulently anti-Semetic	Recently reported by AFI as relocating Chechneyan Muslims to Lebanon and possible migration from their into Palestinian terroritories in Israel
International Service for Intelligence (ISI) aka Inter-Service Intelligence Agency		Pakistan	40,000 member force -- Covert action and counter- intelligence, suspected of funding and acting as conduit for weapons to Wahhabi sect Mosques/ Madrasses for distribution to terrorist groups formed from recruits from these pools of potential terrorists. Spent much of the last decade financing and supporting the Taliban in Afghanistan. According to Dr. Michael Donovan. CDI Research Assistant, the ISI is "...peppered with officers who identify strongly with the Taliban and its militant Islamic ideology."	"Foreign operations consists of approximately 12,000 Arabic speaking Iranians, Afghans, Iraqis, Lebanese Shi'ites and North Africans who trained in Iran or received training in Afghanistan during the Afghan war years." - AFI Research
Iranian Intelligence Service aka Pasdaran - (Guardians of the Revolution) aka Qods Force	Qods, Pasdaran- e Enghelab-e Islami	Iran	Covert action and counter- intelligence - "Extra-territorial activites including terrorist operations and training Islamic fundamentalist terrorist groups" - AFI Research . Accoridng to FAS, it also includes the Pasdaran Qods Force and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, a 350,000 strong military force organized into brigades.	Linked to most of the terrorist activies in the Middle East, through funding and sub- organizations such as the Pasdaran Special Operations Department "Presently these foreign operatives receive training in Iran, Sudan and Lebanon, and include the Hizbollah "Party of Allah" intelligence, logistics and operational terrorist units in the Lebanon. Pasdaran foreign operations also involve training and arming Kurdish groups, Kashmiri’s, the Balouchi’s, Afghans, Bosnians and the Kosovan separatists." AFI also states that not only is training being provided, but trained soldiers and useable arms are being supplied. AFI cites an example of Iranian arms being airlifted into Syria and Lebanon, eventually working its way into the hands of Palestinians in Israel. The capture by Israelis of a ship bound from Iran to members of Arafat's Palestinian authority is direct evidence of this support - AFI Research Summary of Iranian Involvement. "The Qods Force is also responsible for gathering the intelligence required for targeting and attack planning. It has contacts with underground movements in the Gulf region, in particular Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates and its members are assigned to Iranian diplomatic missions, where, in the course of routine intelligence activities they monitor dissidents." - AFI Research
Iranian Military Intelligence (IMI)		Iran	J2 Intelligence and Security - According to FAS, "...responsible for all operational military matters. Its primary tasks included military planning and coordination and operational control over the regular services, combat units of the Pasdaran, and units of the Gendarmerie and National Police assigned to the war front."	accordining to FAS, "Carry out operational control for intelligence planning, intelligence operations, intelligence training, counterintelligence, and security for all elements of the armed forces. They also handle liaison with the komitehs (revolutionary committees) for internal security matters and with MOIS for foreign intelligence. "
Iraqi Intelligence Service (IIS) aka Directorate of Intelligence	Mukhabarat	Iraq	Covert Action, illegal import and export of oil, weapons. According to FAS, it has a staff of about 4,000, the current chief of the Service is Rafi' Dahham Al Tikriti and consists of a number of directorates including the Political Bureau and Special Bureau. Active operational capabilities include training of clandestine agents, counterintelligence, internal security, secret operations, electronic surveillence, technical affairs in support of clandestine operations, and processes SIGINT data. Special Operations (14th Directorate) is housed in Salman Pak and is the largest of the Directorates. Janes has published a report on Iraqi Intelligence, *Inside Iraq's security network - Parts One and Two*, by Sean Boyne. The report claims the Iraqi's sophisticated computer equipment was acquired from Japan in the 1983-1984 timeframe (Al Hadi Project).	Providing aid to any and all terrorist groups attacking Israel and the U.S., as well as the chief channelling entity for moving illegal imports and exports in defiance of the U.N. sanctions against Iraq levied after the conclusion of the Gulf War. See the excellent AFI article from June of 2002, Iraq Stirs the Middle East Cauldron
Joint Committee for Special Operations		Iran	The Iranian president, top religious authority, and other senior security officials as well as, perhaps representatives from the Pasaderan. According to FAS, "Responsible for coordinating activities devoted to gathering intelligence and special weapons technology abroad, as well as activities within the Iranian exile community."	According to FAS,, "...mounting extensive operations in Bosnia to gather information and counter Western influence. As of late 1997 more than 200 Iranian agents have insinuated themselves into Bosnian Muslim political and social circles, and infiltrated the US program to train the Bosnian army. Iranian is collaborating with a pro-Iranian faction in Bosnia's intelligence service, the Agency for Investigation and documentation. But Iran's intelligence operations extend far beyond the training program, and are aimed at influencing a broad range of Bosnian institutions. "
Jordanian Military Intelligence		Jordan	Covert action and counter- intelligence	Aided in possible relocation of Chechneyan based Wahhabi Muslims to camp(s) in Jordan,
Lebanese Military Intelligence Agency (MIA) or (DRM)	Direction du Renseignement Militaire	Lebanon	According to Intelligence Online, MIA is led by gen. Raymond Azar.	In September of 2000, according to Intelligence Online, managed to thwart a kidnapping attempt westerners in an operation similar to the"...Abu Sayyef Moslem rebels on Jolo island in the Philippines in the hope of building a war chest from ransom money. " and members captured wer part of the "...Al Takfir Wal Hijra group that was founded in Egypt in the 1970s." In a June 1998 an investigation led by col. Michel Rahbani of DRM resulted in uncovering a major spy network in Lebanon. Acoording to Intelligence Online, "...The network, which included Shi'ites as well as Druzes and Maronites, had gathered information on Hezbollah leaders in the southern suburb of the capital, and took an interest in the deployment of Syrian forces in the country."
Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS)	Vezarat-e Ettela'at va Amniat-e Keshvar VEVAK		According to FAS, "Ministry of Security and Intelligence personnel are either attached as diplomats in Iranian embassies and consulate offices or as Ministry of Guidance and Propaganda representatives"	According to FAS, "...Iran is the most active sponsor of terrorism in the world. Since the inception of the Islamic state in 1979, the country has used terrorism as an integral part of its foreign and military policies. Iranian leaders view terrorism as a valid tool to accomplish their political objectives..." and "...Iranian-backed political violence has killed more than 1,000 people in over 200 terrorist attacks since the 1979 revolution, including some 80 assassinations of Iranian dissidents around the world. Major attacks include the suicide bombings of American and French military barracks in Beirut in 1983 which killed 299, a series of bombings in Paris in September 1986 which killed 12, attacks on the Israeli embassy and a Jewish community center in Buenos Aires in 1992 and 1994 which killed 125, and the bombing that killed 19 Americans in Dhahran in June 1995. "
National Security Service (NSS)		Uzbekistan	Domestic and Foreign Intelligence / Counterintelligence. Broad range of various security services including but not limited to covert action and investigation. Remnent of Former Soviet Union controlled intelligence appartus - may have former Soviet personnel remaining on board.	Rhetoric in Uzbekistan government claims aid to the War on Terror, however no evidence is publicly available.
Saudi Intelligence Service (SOR) aka Saudi Directorate of Intelligence		Saudi Arabia	Covert action and counter- intelligence - Reports directly to the Saudi King. Former ties to Osama Bin Laden and remaining close ties his family may influence cooperation between Saudis and those seeking OBL and Al Qaida such as the U.S.'s Anti Terror Coalition.	Suspected of directing Wahhabi extremists in covert and/or terrorist activities. Saudi Intelligence provides covert aid to various factions in Lebanon and Syria as well as serves as the channel for aid to Palestinian suicide bombers. There are definite bits of evidence linking Al Qaida to Intelligence officers in the Saudi regime -- for instance, Imad Mugniyah, former chief of Operations for Hezbollah is now seen as Al Qaida's chief for the Middle East. Mugniyah is also considered to be a advsior to Iran's Khamenei. Analysts suspect the Saudi Intelligence Service continues to act as the covert channel between Iran and the Saudis, providing for unprecedented cooperation between the two fundamentally different religious sects in order to foster clandestine attacks against Israel. There is evidence that this link has been used to aid those attacking the U.S. as well - i.e. Khobar Towers and the U.S.S. Cole visa-vis Al Qaida.