Five Dimensions Consultants

29/05/2014

Among the topics covered in this week’s security briefings are the following:

Authorities’ reaction to an online video featuring Pharrell William’s song “Happy”, which was produced and published on YouTube by young Iranians, dealt another domestic blow to Rohani’s administration. The cyber-crime unit, which is firmly in the hand of hardliners, ordered the arrest of six Iranians who were involved in the video’s production. The actions were motivated by the hardliners’ aim to tarnish President Rohani’s image in Iran and to call into question his credibility within the international community.

Our Regional Developments report looks at behind the scenes discussions between Iran and Saudi Arabia on key foreign policy issues concerning Bahrain, Lebanon and Yemen (For more information on Iran’s willingness to negotiate with Saudi Arabia, please contact us directly).

In this week’s security report on Bahrain, we examine ongoing informal talks between the government and the main opposition party, al-Wefaq. According to a well-placed government source, negotiations with representatives of al-Wefaq are taking place in order to reach some form of reconciliation.

With regards to Yemen, we trace the recent security advances of the Yemeni military who took control of Seiyun in response to the attack on numerous government buildings by AQAP militants

18/05/2014

Among the topics examined in this week’s intelligence briefs are the following:
• The ideological and strategic differences between the Islamic State of Iraq and Sham (ISIS) and al-Qaeda (the topic is covered in this week’s Terrorism report).
• Iraq’s worsening security situation, which is caused by jihadist groups like ISIS, and how Iran und the US are considering collaborating to prevent a potential civil war in Iraq.
• How the regime’s takeover of Homs could provide an indication of what a partitioned Syria could look like. The report also examines rebel infighting (Jabhat al-Nusra vs ISIS) in Deir al-Zour, as well as heightened tensions between Jabhat al-Nusra and the moderate Free Syrian Army in the south of the country.
• The announcement by Saudi Arabia that it has arrested 44 terror suspects believed to belong to ISIS. Source information reveals that many of these individuals were formerly members of AQAP in Yemen, which highlights the growing polarization within militant Sunni jihadism.

08/05/2014

In this week’s intelligence briefs, Five Dimensions Consultants covered the following topics:

How jihadist groups in Egypt have increased attacks on high-level security personnel and appear to be operating with support and intelligence from groups opposed to the opposition, most likely Muslim Brotherhood members.

How oil and gas giant CNPC lost a contract they had with the Iranian government worth US $2.5 billion concerning the exploitation of the Azadegan oil field. The development should serve as a lesson to foreign business in Iran that the Iranian government prioritizes respect to culture, religion and good business practice. (For further advice on Iran’s culture and business practice, please get in touch with us).

Our intelligence brief on Saudi Arabia covers the latest security developments regarding Shia militants in Saudi Arabia. After a shooting in the Shiite village of Awamiya between militants and Saudi Arabia’s security forces, a cache of weapons was confiscated including silencers not dissimilar to those that were confiscated in Bahrain earlier this year. This strongly implies links between Saudi-based militants and anti-regime elements within Bahrain. We also report on Saudi Arabia’s announcement that it has managed to foil a plot by the terrorist group ISIS to carry out attacks in the country as well as on Prince Mohammed bin Sultan’s swearing in ceremony after he was appointed Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs.

04/05/2014

Al Jazeera English A well-informed article on al-Qaeda's development three years after Osama bin Laden's killing by U.S. Special Forces, quoting Five Dimensions' anaylists. Good job, Simcox!
http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2014/05/osama-bin-laden-three-years-after-2014511123288215.html

Osama bin Laden remains one of a kind but it does not mean al-Qaeda poses less of a threat.

24/04/2014

In this week’s intelligence reports, Five Dimensions Consultants discusses Bandar Bin Sultan’s removal as Saudi Arabia‘s Chief of Intelligence Service and the reasons behind the move, disputing several news reports that his removal was influenced by US pressure.

With regards to Syria, we focus on the chemical attacks that took place in or near Idlib, Aleppo, Hama (Kfar Zeita) in recent weeks.

The Iran report gives an update on the recent economic activities of Reza Zarrab, a businessman who was arrested in mid-December (but released in late February) for illegal gold for oil trading between Iran and Turkey.

Relations between Qatar and other GCC states appear to be improving after an agreement between the two sides was reached. In our regional report, we examine the main aspects of the agreement and discuss the most probable reasons behind Qatar’s efforts to restore relations with its GCC partners.

17/04/2014

In this week’s intelligence reports, we brief you on the turmoil in the House of Saud regarding Prince Muqrin’s appointment as deputy crown prince, the recent nuclear talks between Iran and the P5+1 in Vienna, and give you an update on the domestic security issues Egypt’s government has to face in the coming months.

12/04/2014

In this week’s intelligence briefs, Five Dimensions examines once more the complicated domestic situation Lebanon is facing regarding its presidential elections.

In a special report on succession in Saudi Arabia, we familiarize our clients with the most important princes regarding Saudi succession as well as explain the role Khalid al-Tuwaijri, head of the royal court, is playing within the royal family’s power struggle.

Regarding Egypt, we share our sources’ information regarding the reasons for British Prime Minister David Cameron’s order of an inquiry into the activities of the Muslim Brotherhood in the UK.

The Iran intelligence brief focus on the ministry of petroleum’s announcement to cancel an agreement with CNPC which was signed seven years ago and concerns the South Azadegan oil field. We examined what lead to this unprecedented move and explain as well its relations to the current nuclear talks.

07/04/2014

Strategic Analysis' conference on Political Risk and Business Interruption Exposures: Mitigating the Risk post-'Arab Spring' has finally arrived! We are delighted to be a part of tomorrow's conference and are looking forward to our Managing Director's speech on monarchies and republics in the Middle East.

06/04/2014

We would like to turn away from politics for a minute and recommend a novel which tells the story of a young, bright and decent Muslims falling prey to radical violent forces. “The Eternal Bridge Over the River Innocence”, written by Aimen Dean, mixes fact with fiction to reveal what sets these victims on the path of suicidal destruction.

“The novel follows Hanni, a half-Saudi, half-English teenager who joins the Jihad at the age of 16. He embarks on a military journey that is both reckless and dangerous; a journey to the heart of radical Islam.
The mass murder and r**e of women and children in Bosnia move Hanni profoundly and strengthen his beliefs. He is soon befriended by a senior member of al-Qaeda and persuaded to work undercover for them in the UK. Faced with the distraction of an American girlfriend, he is suddenly forced to re-evaluate his commitment to the cause, but the fateful events of 9/11 shake him back into his old loyalty to al-Qaeda – and the possibility of a su***de mission.”

The novel is now available and can be purchased from Amazon, iTunes, ebooks, Barnes & noble as well as Australia ebook.

04/04/2014

Five Dimension’s intelligence briefs of this week include the following topics:
We examined the reasons for Erdogan’s victory in the local election on March 31 and outline its implications for Turkey’s domestic politics.
The Saudi report focuses on the royal degree establishing Crown Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud as the heir to the throne and Muqrin bin Abdulaziz al-Saud as Deputy Crown Prince. Furthermore, we highlight the crucial elements which need to be taken into consideration regarding succession in Saudi Arabia in order to secure the Kingdom’s stability.
This week’s report on Lebanon is dedicated to the election of a new Lebanese president. We reveal the three most credible names for the Presidential candidacy and examine the most likely scenarios regarding Presidential elections.
For more informations on these topics and our services, please contact us at: info@fived.org

02/04/2014

Time is running: Just six more days to ' conference on Political Risk and Business Interruption Exposures: Mitigating the Risk post-'Arab Spring'. Five Dimensions' staff will accompany our managing director who will intrigue you by posing the question whether monarchies or republican regimes suits Middle Eastern countries' needs best.

28/03/2014

In 5D’s intelligence brief on Iraq for this week, we discuss Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s military reaction to the security threat posed by ISIL in areas like Fallujah, Ramadi and Kirkuk. His reaction to the ISIL control of these areas is in strong correlation to Maliki’s attempts to strengthen his position in the upcoming elections scheduled for late April. For more information on Iraq’s security situation, Maliki’s power struggle and political developments in Iraq, please contact us at: info@fived.org.