The pro-Israeli Debka file is reporting the disturbing assertion that the Russian intelligence agency, FSB, was instrumental in rolling up an Israeli spy ring within the Hezbollah-controlled regions of Lebanon.
If the Debka story is not true, Moscow should shed some light on the claims. Hezbollah is a terrorist group that is consistently at odds with the more peaceable elements in Lebanon. Syria is supportive of Hezbollah and Russia may be eager to retain ties with the Assad regime. But to this extent?
Visit the extended post to read the Debka report in full:
Russian secret service helped Hizballah bust Israel's Lebanese spy rings
DEBKAfile Exclusive Report
August 5, 2009, 10:16 PM (GMT+02:00)
Russian FSB agent in action
Western intelligence sources in the Middle East have disclosed to DEBKAfile that a special unit of the Russian Federal Security Service - FSB, commissioned by Hizballah's special security apparatus earlier this year, was responsible for the massive discovery of alleged Israel spy rings in Lebanon in recent months with the help of super-efficient detection systems.
Those sources report that the FSB and Hizballah have amassed quantities of undisclosed data on Israel's clandestine operations in Lebanon and are holding it in reserve in order to leak spectaculars discoveries as and when it suits their purpose.
This disclosure, if borne out, would indicate that the Russian agency, which specializes in counterespionage, is engaged for the first time in anti-Israel activity in the service of an Arab terrorist organization. An Israeli security sources describes this turn of events extremely grave. It also cast an ominous slant on Moscow's deepening strategic involvement in Syria.
It was generally assumed until now that new electronic devices supplied by France to the Lebanese army were instrumental in uncovering the suspected Israeli spy rings. It now transpires that the Lebanese army was not directly involved; it only detained the suspects handed over by the Shiite Hizballah.
Those same sources disclosed that FSB agents, by blanketing every corner of Lebanon with their sophisticated surveillance systems, were able to detect the spy rings one by one and additionally hack into Israeli intelligence data bases.
The Russians dated Israel's massive clandestine infiltration of Lebanon to shortly after its 2006 Lebanese conflict. The Lebanese Shiites sustained heavy casualties and, fearing an Israeli surprise attack at that point, began conscripting thousands of young Shiites as fighters pell mell, without checking their backgrounds. In their haste, they also rounded up Syrian and Egyptian migrant laborers in Lebanon.
Israel used the opportunity to recruit large numbers of agents in both these groups, especially among the conscripts sent to Revolutionary Guards camps in Iran and Syrian military facilities for training.
this reinforces my theory that the FSB is aiding Taliban also.
just after 9/11 I had written an article in PRAVDA that Russia will make strategic gains by aiding Taliban.The same idea I had discussed in my article in NATION titled Afghanistan-Russias Strategic Opportunity.
Cheers
Agha Amin
http://low-intensity-conflict-review.blogspot.com/
Huh?
Were you drunk when you posted this?
Journalism 101: how to detect PR, propaganda, self-serving spin or juvenile fan-boyism, and avoid becoming an unwitting participant in spreading it.
Or alternatively: didn't your bullshit-o-meter get tripped by this debka rubbish?
Everyone knows debka is a joke. How can you even admit to reading it, let alone pass along stories from it.
I mean, even a basic knowledge of things would trigger caution: the FSB operates only domestically in Russia - overseas operations are the domain of the SVR and GRU.
Or have a look at the wkipedia article on the 'open source news' site debka:
"the site [debka] relies on information from sources with an agenda, such as neo-conservative elements of the US Republican Party, ... and that Israeli intelligence officials do not consider even 10 percent of the site's content to be reliable."
And why this stupid line: "If the Debka story is not true, Moscow should shed some light on the claims."?
Why should Moscow comment at all on a bogus story like this? It's like saying Moscow should shed some light on a story you decide to carry about UFO's and Russia.
I mean, anyone can make shit up about anything.
Why at all should Moscow be obliged to respond to every scrap of crap like this.
Your ought to hang your head in shame for running this. Russia Blog stoops to new lows.
Since this allegedly took place outside Russia, isn't it more likely that the SVR, with authority for foreign operations including counter-intelligence, would do this ? Or the military's GRU, which operates abroad ? Rather than than the FSB, the domestic intelligence agency ? Pinning it on the FSB, demonized in the West as a new KGB, suggests it is merely disinformation, intended as more Russian bashing.
Great story and a great blog on Russia,
Stefan.
http://www.email2femail.com
Any evidence? "Western intelligence" isn't known for its credibility.
Not to burst your bubble Mr. Chapman, but many Israelis I know laugh at Debka.
In case you had forgotten, Israel supplied significant weapons and training to Georgia in the lead-up to Georgia's ill-fated 5-day war against S.Osetia and Russia last August.
Please see here, here, here, here and here.
Excerpts: "Georgian officials, however, publicly denied that Israel had cut back on weapons sales. Moreover, they showered praise on Israel’s military help after the beginning of the hostilities last month, with Saakashvili stating at a press conference that “Israeli weapons have been very effective.†Minister Yakobashvili told Israel Army Radio that “Israel should be proud of its military, which trained Georgian soldiers.†In the end, Georgia’s army proved to be no match for the Russian military, which has repeatedly accused Western powers and Israel of arming Georgia."
"The Israeli weapons have proved very effective," [Saakashvili] said at a press conference at his office. When asked whether the Israeli arms played a role in the military successes he claimed the Georgian army had achieved, he joked: "Are you asking me as a representative of Elbit or of Israel Aerospace Industries?"
"To a reporter's question about Jews who have fled the fighting and come to Israel, [Saakashvili] said: 'We have two Israeli cabinet ministers, one deals with war [Defense Minister David Kezerashvili], and the other with negotiations [State Minister for Territorial Integration Temur Yakobashvili], and that is the Israeli involvement here: Both war and peace are in the hands of Israeli Jews.'"
A.H Amin wrote: "Why should Moscow comment at all on a bogus story like this? It's like saying Moscow should shed some light on a story you decide to carry about UFO's and Russia."
In fact no intelligence agency in the world "comments" about it's covert operations, either to deny or confirm them, and the US CIA is certainly no different. Any comment (one way or the other) could reveal compromising information to one's adversaries.
For example, you can ask the CIA to comment on whether they had a role in the assassination of John F. Kennedy or the collapse of the 911 towers. But don't expect an answer, other than "It is our policy not to comment on speculations about agency operations."
Or to put it another way, if the Russians think the US is just crazy enough to kill its own president, or bomb its own people, or invent the AIDS virus to depopulate Africa, then let them go right ahead think that (as it obviously proves that the U.S. is a country you don't to mess with, even if it isn't true).
If the Russians believe that the U.S. provided covert assistance to the Orangies is Ukraine, or the Greenies in Iran, then that might work to U.S. advantage, whether it is true or not. If the U.S. confirms it then it only betrays the U.S. hand to Moscow. On the other hand if the U.S. denies it, and the denial is later proven to be a lie--after all this stuff is eventually declassified and eventually it will be declassified--then the U.S. only opens itself up to the charge that it "lied to people," which in this case would actually be true (or possibly not).
Of course in Russia's case, a "no comment" policy opens the door to ridiculous "plant" stories, from anti-Russian, right wing neo-con outfits like this one seems to be. But be that as it may, you aren't going pistol-whip Russia into giving an answer about its ongoing covert operations, other than "no comment."
Let me put it another way: ask yourself who benefits from increasing the friction between Russia and Israel? Last I heard Israel was actually a bit concerned about its over-dependence on the US as its sole strategic partner, especially since Obama took office, and Israel was seeking to diversity its partners (and in particular looking in Russia's direction to feel things out).
You should go and make fantasy movie... or Mosad should eb ashamed that they couldn't protect their
employees.
Israel doesn't need to worry at all, I am giving some tips. I am a sunni muslim, I know these people inside outside.
Just give them money and women they would sell u their mother.... so, Israel should better produce beautiful girls and send them to Sunni Arab politicians and sheikhs from Saudi... full operation would be much more cheaper and efficient...
Those suggesting Moscow supports the Taliban remeber it was Russia that was the number 1 supporter and backer of the Northern Alliance until US intervened after 9/11 and it is the US that has been supporting Islamic militants worldwide for the past 3 decades especially in Eurasia and against Russia.
Debka has ties to Mossad and is realible as Stratfor (maybe not that bad).