France using Cyprus to establish secret surveillance on Middle East
3 Min Read
The facility has been exploited to intercept communications in the regions to especially provide intelligence on the Russian and Turkish presence in Syria, while other facilities in Mafraq, Jordan, provide intelligence as well.
-
French President Emmanuel Macron shakes hands with Israeli President Isaac Herzog after their talks on October 24, 2023. (AFP)
According to a report by Intelligence Online, France is exploiting the Cyprus resort of Paphos to host an interception facility and a secret surveillance facility directed at the Middle East.
Troops are being deployed by France's military intelligence service, the DRM (Direction du Renseignement Militaire) in an attempt to reinforce its interceptions for the SIGINT base in the Cyprus resort of Paphos, to extend its coverage.
The DRM has lacked long-distance airborne intelligence means since two C-160 Transall Gabriel aircraft were retired in 2022.
SIGINT analysts and technicians from the French Air Force Centre de Renseignement de l'Armée de l'Air (CRA) and the Escadron Electronique Sol (EES) in Orleans and the French Army signals regiment, the 44e Régiment de Transmission, have been deployed to the outskirts of Paphos.
On Mount Olympus, radomes and antennae are providing the French the chance to eavesdrop on the intense radio communication in the region.
As of yet, the facility has been exploited to intercept communications in the regions to especially provide intelligence on the Russian and Turkish presence in Syria, while other facilities in Mafraq, Jordan, provide intelligence as well.
Read next: Lebanese protest in front of France's Embassy over pro-Israeli bias
Following US lead
Jordan's King Hussein Air Base, in proximity to the Syrian border, has hosted a DRM contingent since 2016, and has been strengthened for more intelligence amid Operation Al-Aqsa Flood. This, in turn, will boost collaboration between the DRM and "Israel's" military intelligence service, Aman.
Under orders from French President Emmanuel Macron, the DRM is strengthening its capabilities as it must follow the US intelligence's lead and communicate more openly regarding its analysis to influence media and geopolitical debates and paths, according to Intelligence Online.
Thus, sovereign technical intel capabilities mean more credibility to the information it provides and sends.
Nous sommes liés à Israël par le deuil.
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) October 24, 2023
Trente de nos compatriotes ont été assassinés le 7 octobre. Neuf autres sont encore portés disparus ou retenus en otage.
À Tel-Aviv, auprès de leurs familles, j'ai exprimé la solidarité de la Nation. pic.twitter.com/d62qT7e8US
Macron, in a press conference from occupied Al-Quds with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last week, Macron proposed the formation of a regional and international alliance to combat Hamas.
Macron added, "Hamas is a terrorist group, and we must fight it vigorously. We stand with Israel in the fight against terrorism, and I affirm Israel's right to self-defense."
He called on Iran and the Lebanese Resistance not to "threaten the region". On his part, Netanyahu said, "If Hamas prevails, we will be in danger."
Read more: French arms maker at heart of investigation into war crimes in Gaza
