Italy cuts ties with Israeli firm Paragon after spyware scandal: What to know The cancellation comes after reports revealed Paragon software being used to surveil Italian activists and, allegedly, a journalist. Israel
Two Israelis arrested for allegedly spying for Iran on Katz: What to know The police and Shin Bet said that since the beginning of the year, they have foiled 20 cases of Israelis spying for Iran, with 30 individuals indicted. Israel
Israeli Mossad retrieves entire archive of Eli Cohen from Syria: What we know The announcement of the secret operation that recovered 2,500 documents from Syria coincided with the 60th anniversary of Cohen’s execution. Israel
Meet Eli Sharvit, Trump critic and Netanyahu's outsider nominee to lead Shin Bet In a surprise move, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has nominated former Israeli naval commander Eli Sharvit to become Shin Bet chief despite his lack of intelligence experience. Israel
Iraq's 'Falcon Cell' leader removed amid accusations of suspicious links The replacing of a top intelligence official whose unit had been responsible for many key arrests signals further efforts to centralize control of Iraq's intelligence services. Iraq
Intel: Biden’s pick for top intelligence official vows to report to Congress on Jamal Khashoggi murder Avril Haines says the Biden administration will release to lawmakers an unclassified intelligence assessment on who was behind the murder of the Saudi dissident journalist. Saudi Arabia
Biden taps veteran diplomat William Burns for CIA director Burns, a former ambassador to Jordan and Russia, would bring with him decades of experience in the foreign service. United States
Lebanese activist sentenced to prison for collaborating with Israel Kinda El-Khatib, a critic of Hezbollah on social media, was sentenced to three years in prison by a military court. Lebanon
Iran makes arrests in nuclear scientist's killing, official says Iranian parliamentary adviser Hossein Amir Abdollahian said some of the "perpetrators" had been identified and arrested. Israel
'They always accuse us': Netanyahu responds to killing of Iranian nuclear scientist Israeli Prime Minister also doesn't deny reports that he met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Israel
Iran identifies perpetrators as it probes scientist’s killing The Iranian government said it has identified those linked to the assassination of one of its top nuclear scientists and will retaliate after the investigation is concluded. Iran
US sanctions Syria’s central bank chief, intel head The Trump administration sanctioned more than a dozen Syrian officials and entities in its latest push to choke off the regime's financial network. Syria
Kadhimi follows through on promises to reform Iraq's security sector Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi's recent appointments and reforms are likely to face resistance from some political blocs and armed groups who feel they are losing power. Iraq
Intelligence sharing remains key to fight against IS The Islamic State is continuing to carry out guerrilla attacks; developing and maintaining a comprehensive intelligence picture of the group is seen as an important weapon to keep its militants at bay. Iraq
Israel’s top court weighs coronavirus surveillance technology Israel's High Court has held an emergency hearing on the government's use of cyber technologies to track carriers and suspected carriers of the novel coronavirus. Israel
Iraq's Falcon Intelligence Cell wants to root out corruption The head of the Falcon Intelligence Cell, Abu Ali al-Basri, spoke to Al-Monitor about the lingering Islamic State presence in the country and discussed his idea of setting up a similar team to fight corruption. Iraq
