Jul. 30, 2024
The armed forces are engaged in front-line battles, deploying a range of firearms and other weaponry against hostile forces. Meanwhile, a covert war is unfolding between the warring factions on a different front, characterised by secret operations that transcend borders, striking deep within enemy territory. These operations also pursue adversaries, their agents, and their enterprises worldwide. This is the intelligence war, a conflict as hazardous as traditional military warfare due to its critical role in tracking the escalation of disputes, monitoring tensions, and predicting the onset of direct military confrontations.
During wartime, the significance of intelligence agencies becomes evident as they supply the national armed forces with essential information and target lists they have compiled. Concurrently, intelligence agencies work to undermine the enemy’s combat capabilities and bolster the home front. Moreover, these agencies are crucial in managing negotiations and resolving conflicts, as well as forecasting the prospects of conflict and peace and their impact on national interests and security.
With the advancement of information and communication technologies, the role of intelligence in geopolitical conflicts has expanded, becoming more sophisticated and perilous. This evolution is evident in modern conflicts such as the Russian-Ukrainian war and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in Gaza. Therefore, it is valuable to highlight the role of intelligence agencies in these conflicts, examining both their successes and failures and their effects on the parties involved. Additionally, these conflicts underscore the roles of intelligence agencies not directly involved in the hostilities but aligned with nations supporting each side. This aspect will be explored in this study with examples and evidence, especially considering that international supporters confront each other in both conflicts, directly and indirectly, within the broader geopolitical arena.