The “big ears” listening in Syria. Awacs and ships take turns…
(BRUSSELS2) Syria is under close observation by NATO allies.
Exchanges of e-mails, landline telephones, GSM lines... all of the communications can be used to form an image of the situation in the country, troop movements or the possible mood. The strength - or the weakness of the power - like the relations between the insurgents are thus scrutinized with a magnifying glass. It is true that the country's proximity to Europe facilitates observation.
Earthen...
We already know that the British sovereign bases in Cyprus allow the United Kingdom to collect information, information which they share with the United States. The same applies to Turkish military bases made available to NATO allies. But other air and sea resources are also involved.
In the air...
First, Awacs planes from NATO - or other countries - fly over the area. They are not directly deployed in Syria but are permanently deployed as part of the Active Endeavor (anti-terrorist) operation in the eastern Mediterranean, as confirmed to B2 by a diplomat at the HQ of the Alliance.
... and at sea
Finally, each of the countries can send several means of collecting information to the area, which take turns on the spot. The presence of the German ship "locker had made waves a few weeks ago across the Rhine. The presence of the "intelligence-gathering building" Dupuy de Lome (A-759), was more discreet but very real. Since the beginning of the Syrian conflict, the National Navy's "spy" ship - which includes around 80 to 90 "technicians" from the DRM (military intelligence directorate) and other services - has been deployed " several times along the Syrian coast as Lebanese, as B2 had confirmation from the military. Its ability to listen to this ship put into service in the summer of 2006 is multiple (radio, telephone and GSM, satellites...). It was used in particular during the last operation in Libya.
