Open Briefing | 1

Remote-control warfare briefing | #05

27 August 2014


Remote-control warfare is an emerging strategy tat allows for conflict to !e
actione" at a "istance# $t incorporates tecnologies an" ligt-footprint "eployments
tat ena!le policyma%ers an" military planners to appro&e actions tat woul"
unli%ely !e consi"ere" if using con&entional means#
'ese montly !riefings are commissione" !y te Remote (ontrol )ro*ect+ a pro*ect
of te ,etwor% for -ocial (ange+ oste" !y O.for" Researc /roup#

Special operations forces: Amnesty $nternational alleges failings in in&estigation of
ci&ilian "eats cause" !y 0- special forces in Afganistan#
Private military and security companies: $ncreasing num!er of mercenaries in
foreign conflicts from Bal%ans region#
Unmanned vehicles and autonomous weapons systems: 0nite" -tates initiates
"rone stri%es against $slamic -tate in $ra1#
Cyber warfare: -tate an" non-state ac%er groups launc cy!er attac%s on $srael in
response to Operation )rotecti&e 2"ge#
Intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance: 0- officials grapple wit political
an" economic costs of ,-A3s sur&eillance acti&ities#
-pecial operations forces
!mnesty International alleges failings in investigation of civilian deaths caused
by US special forces in !fghanistan
$n a report pu!lise" in August+ Amnesty $nternational allege" tat te in&estigation
an" prosecution practices employe" !y 0- special operation forces 4-O56 an" te
$nternational -ecurity Assistance 5orce 4$-A56 in relation to Afgan ci&ilian "eats
are falling sort of !asic transparency re1uirements#
1
'e report "raws on o&er 125
inter&iews wit Afgan witnesses+ &ictims an" family mem!ers+ an" focuses on 10
%ey case stu"ies+ wic togeter resulte" in more tan 140 ci&ilian "eats# 7espite
te ig "eat toll+ no criminal prosecutions a&e arisen from any of tese cases#

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asa1100:2014en#p"f
Open Briefing | "
A "isproportionate num!er of te case stu"ies in&ol&e 0- special operations forces# 'e case stu"y on 0-
-O5 %illings in ,er% an" >ai"an -ar "istricts in ?ar"a% pro&ince !etween ,o&em!er 2012 an"
5e!ruary 201< e.amines e&i"ence tat 0- special forces were in&ol&e" in e.tra*u"icial %illings+ torture an"
enforce" "isappearances# 'wo reporte" inci"ents of 0- special forces operations on family compoun"s in
,angarar an" )a%tia pro&inces in 2010 resulte" in a num!er ci&ilian "eats+ wic may a&e !een a&oi"e"
wit stricter rules of engagement an" !etter intelligence# ,ine ci&ilians were %ille" $n te ,angarar
inci"ent# $t is "ispute" as to weter 0- -O5 announce" teir presence an" i"entifie" temsel&es+ lea"ing
to consi"era!le confusion# 5ollowing te )a%tia pro&ince inci"ent+ te ten comman"er of te 0- @oint
-pecial Operations (omman"+ Aice A"miral ?illiam >cRa&en+ &isite" te affecte" &illage to ma%e a formal
apology an" pro&i"e te family wit compensation#
>em!ers of te Afgan go&ernment a&e e.presse" "eep concern o&er te use of te 0- military *ustice
system to e.amine inci"ents of ci&ilian causalities# One of te %ey recommen"ations of te Amnesty
report is for te Afgan go&ernment to le&erage future !ilateral security agreements signe" wit ,A'O
an" te 0nite" -tates to secure greater protection for ci&ilians an" mecanisms for te transparent
in&estigation of an" accounta!ility for ci&ilian casualties# ?ile tis is li%ely to !e a concern for Afgan
go&ernment officials+ it will not !e te num!er one priority wile negotiating !ilateral security
agreements# Alternati&ely+ ,A'O an" te 0nite" -tates migt focus on pro&isions relating to proacti&ely
a&oi"ing ci&ilian "eats an" efforts to !etter communicate wit te families of &ictims#
At present te $-A5 status of force agreement pro&i"es international military forces wit immunity from
prosecution in Afgan courts for ci&ilian "eats# 'is treatens te percei&e" legitimacy of te 0- an"
international forces+ e&en in te eyes of tose wo a&e supporte" te military presence in Afganistan#
Bowe&er+ te 0- go&ernment is li%ely to resist or oppose wolesale reform of tis arrangement !ecause
of te political fallout aroun" 0- sol"iers facing a military court in Afganistan# 'e increasing num!er of
pri&ate military contractors operating in Afganistan may also e.acer!ate concerns aroun" ci&ilian "eats+
inclu"ing te in&estigation of an" accounta!ility for te actions of contractors#
#ther developments
President $arac% #bama&s hallmar% '( billion Counterterrorism Partnerships )und proposal
announced during his *est Point speech in +ay has received bipartisan criticism in the US Congress
from te Bouse !u"get committee an" te -enate appropriations an" arme" ser&ices committees# 'e
initial fun"ing proposal+ wic was furter "etaile" after te presi"ent3s speec+ will !e primarily use" for
supporting -O5 training of foreign partner forces an" is part of te O&erseas (ontingency Operation
!u"get# 'e earings re&eale" tat part of te spen"ing will inclu"e intelligence+ sur&eillance an"
reconnaissance 4$-R6 tecnology an" e1uipment for partner forces training wit 0- -O5 an" maritime an"
elicopter transport to ena!le alternati&e launc pa"s for foreign partner force operations# -enator >ar%
)ryor 47-Ar%6 propose" an unsuccessful amen"ment !efore te -enate Appropriations (ommittee to strip
fun"ing earmar%e" for te training an" arming of &ette" -yrian opposition re!els# 7espite criticism from
!ot parties+ te fun"ing is li%ely to pass (ongress#

Open Briefing | ,
! broader cross-section of US special operations forces commands are training in amphibious
operations ending the historical monopoly of this area by US -avy S.!/s0 0- Army special forces
47elta 5orce6 an" >arine (orps 5orces -pecial Operations (omman" 4>AR-O(6 are increasingly
un"erta%ing sea-launce" tactical training e.ercises# 0- -pecial Operations (omman"3s 40--O(O>6
re1uests for marine launc pa"s for special operations acti&ities mirror te sift in personnel training#
0--O(O> as !een pusing for te con&ersion of commercial container sips into sea !ases for -O5
rater tan tem relying on 0- ,a&y aircraft carriers+ wic a&e su!stantial "ownsi"es from an
operational perspecti&e# $n ,o&em!er 201<+ te 0- >ilitary -ealift (omman" awar"e" >aers% te
contract to con&ert te maritime support &essel >A (ragsi"e into a special operations !ase for up to 200
troops# 'e )entagon fin"s tis approac a"&antageous+ as it is more economically efficient tan
terrestrial !ases an" te sips "o not re1uire te support of ost states#
In late 1uly special forces and elite police units from 12 !merican countries participated in the
annual )uer3as Comando competition at )ort 4olemaida Colombia0 'e 0- -outern (omman"-
sponsore" special operations s%ills competition is aime" at enancing training an" strengtening te
!on"s !etween -O5 in te ?estern Bemispere in or"er to increase cooperation on common issues+
inclu"ing counterterrorism an" operations against organise" crime an" illicit "rug traffic%ing# A team from
(olom!ia won tis year3s e&ent C te si.t time a (olom!ian team as won in te 10 years since te
competition was esta!lise" in 2004# 'e 0- team from te 7t -pecial 5orces /roup was secon" an" 2l
-al&a"or tir"# A num!er of nota!le a!sences from 5uerDas (oman"o inclu"e" >e.ico+ ,icaragua+
AeneDuela+ Boli&ia an" 2cua"or#
!lso of note
$ritish S!S and US S#) have been deployed to northern Ira5 to conduct ISR operations
around +ount Sin6ar0 'e a""itional 0- "eployment of 1<0 special operations forces Eassessors3
was announce" on te e&e of 0- airstri%es against $slamic -tate 4$-$-6 targets in $ra1#
USS#C#+&s 7lobal Research !ssessment Programme is proposing to evaluate the
effectiveness of their information support operations 8propaganda9 in Colombia against "rug
cartels an" 5AR( re!els#
!n ISIS fighter has revealed on twitter that the group has stolen Canadian-manufactured
night vision goggles initially pro&i"e" to $ra13s special operations forces#
4he US -avy is designing two new miniature submarines for their -avy S.!/s the Shallow
*ater Combat Submersible and the :ry Combat Submersible0 'e new mini-su!s are inten"e"
to a&e a longer range 4:0 nautical miles6 an" mo&e at greater "epts 41=0 feet !elow te surface6
tan e.isting mo"els#
In 1une +alaysian Royal !ir )orce and !rmy S#) and US !ir )orce Special 4actics S5uadron
participate" in (ope 'aufan 2014+ an air com!at e.ercise focuse" on "rills protecting te eastern
>alaysia peninsular an" -out (ina -eas#

Open Briefing | ;
)ri&ate military an" security companies
Increasing number of mercenaries in foreign conflicts from $al%ans region
Rising num!ers of mercenaries from te Bal%an countries of te former Fugosla&ia are figting a!roa"+
"espite measures ta%en in Bosnia an" BerDego&ina+ Goso&o an" -er!ia "esigne" to stem te flow of
foreign figter into ci&il wars an" insurgencies aroun" te worl"# 5or e.ample+ -er!ian officials a&e
estimate" tat "oDens of -er!ian nationals a&e !een figting on !ot si"es of te conflict in 0%raine#
-er!ian )rime >inister Ale%san"ar Aucic as state" tat in most cases tese -er!ian figters are
mercenaries figting for money rater tan i"eology# Bowe&er+ Bosnian militants figting a!roa" are
reporte" to !e muc more i"eologically "ri&en tan teir -er!ian counterparts+ wit some reporte"ly
influence" !y ?aa!i e.tremism#
'e increase in te e.port of Bal%an figters is affecting te region3s sta!ility+ an" as le" some countries
to ta%e measures to criminalise mercenary acti&ityH owe&er+ suc laws are li%ely to pro&e "ifficult to
implement# A significant issue is tat organisations tat recruit &olunteers to figt a!roa"+ suc as te
-er!ian (etni% >o&ement+ usually operate wit personnel locate" in Russia+ wic means tat te
mercenaries "o not a&e to go troug tose Bal%an countries wit anti-mercenary laws#
,ot all te figters coming from tis region are mercenaries8 Bal%an citiDens are also reporte" to !e
in&ol&e" in *ia"ist acti&ities in se&eral conflict locations across te worl"# 'is mont+ 40 $slamist ra"icals
were arreste" in Goso&o on suspicion of !eing in&ol&e" in e.tremist acti&ities in $ra1 an" -yria# An April
report from te $nternational (entre for te -tu"y of Ra"icalism at Ging3s (ollege Ion"on state" tat
=#:J of teir sample of 1=0 ?estern an" 2uropean foreign figters in -yria were from te Bal%ans#
2

O&erall+ suc a tren" in wat coul" !e calle" Ewar tourism3 from Bal%an countries un"ou!te"ly as its
roots in te region3s &iolent past# Anoter factor is te younger generation3s lac% of prospects in teir
own countries+ were te social climate may encourage te "e&elopment of e.tremist &iews# >oreo&er+
tose mercenaries an" *ia"ists wo figt a!roa" are li%ely to represent a real treat on return to teir
respecti&e countries+ !ringing &iolent e.periences an" e.tremist i"eologies !ac% ome+ an" tus ris%ing
furter "esta!ilisation of alrea"y fragile societies#
#ther developments
In !ugust the *orld $an% released research on the cost of crime and violence in Papua -ew 7uinea&s
crime hotspots and the increasing presence of private security companies0
,
Accor"ing to te sur&ey+
;4J of companies pay for pri&ate security+ an" pri&ate security accounts for an a&erage of 5J of annual
operating costs for a !usiness in )apua ,ew /uinea# -uc a pre&alence of pri&ate security is causing
concerns tat competition !etween pri&ate security companies may cause law an" or"er issues in teir
own rigt or tat tose !usinesses witout pri&ate security will !e "isproportionately targete" !y
criminals# 'e longer-term implications are tat te national police force may !ecome less relia!le an"
operationally effecti&e !ecause of un"erutilisation an" re"uce" community engagement#

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5igter-,etwor%s#p"f
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ttp899"ocuments#worl"!an%#org9curate"9en920149059200<00159gates-ire"-guns-mistrust-!usiness-unusual-cost-crime-&iolence-
!usinesses-papua-new-guinea
Open Briefing | (
4he .uropean Parliament passed a resolution on 12 1uly praising a 1(-point peace plan proposed by
the U%rainian president which among other others things calls on Russia to respect an agreed
ceasefire accept the peace plan put forward by U%raine and withdraw its mercenaries0 'e resolution
was passe" !y 4=7 &otes to 121+ wit 21 a!stentions# 'e participation of mercenaries in te conflict in
0%raine as !een a recurrent topic of "e!ate in te me"ia+ wit eac si"e of te conflict accusing te
oter of using mercenaries an" pri&ate security companies# Bowe&er+ te 0%rainian presi"ent plans to
offer amnesty for tose mercenaries wo a&e not committe" gra&e crimes# 'e empasis of te
2uropean )arliament3s resolution on te role playe" !y pro-Russian mercenaries results from te re!el3s
recent !reac of a ceasefire agree" in @une#
4he US Congress is waiting to see whether South !frican President 1acob <uma will sign an
amendment to his country&s Private Security Industry Regulation !ct 8PSIR!90 'e propose"
amen"ments will compel foreign security pro&i"ers to an" o&er 51J of teir !usinesses to -out African
citiDens# 'is ownersip clause is li%ely to a&e a negati&e impact on foreign in&estment in -out Africa if
it is implemente"+ as it also co&ers manufacturers an" importers of security e1uipment+ inclu"ing
electronics companies# $t may also treaten te renewal of te 0nite" -tates3 African /rowt an"
Opportunities Act 4A/OA6+ "esigne" to assist te economies of su!--aaran Africa an" to impro&e
economic relations !etween te 0nite" -tates an" te region# 'e -out African go&ernment re1ueste" a
15-year e.tension of te A/OA "uring te 0--Africa -ummit in August# Renewal of te A/OA coul"
pro&i"e foreign in&estors wit te necessary confi"ence for long-term in&estment in -out Africa#
Bowe&er+ te propose" amen"ments to )-$R are putting te renewal of te A/OA in *eopar"y#
!lso of note
4he City of +ontreal Canada wants its police department to increase the number of security
contracts with private companies0 )ri&ate security companies regularly ire off-"uty police
officers troug te police "epartment wen special e&ents re1uire eigtene" security# Renting
out police ser&ices as !een particularly lucrati&e for te >ontreal police+ amounting to aroun" K<#=
million 4(A76 eac year#
!fter a series of scandals that have tarnished its public image the $ritish multinational
security services company 7;S has reported that it is bac% in profit wit a pre-ta. profit of L;5
million for te si. monts up to te en" of @une+ as oppose" to its reporte" L=4 million loss a year
ago#
4he U- open-ended intergovernmental wor%ing group to consider the possibility of
elaborating an international regulatory framewor% on the regulation monitoring and
oversight of the activities of private military and security companies met from "1 to "( 1uly0
-e&eral states+ inclu"ing -out Africa+ )a%istan an" -enegal+ argue" tat international regulation is
urgently nee"e" gi&en te transnational "imension of )>-(s# Bowe&er+ te 0nite" -tates an" 20
countries oppose" te i"ea+ pointing to te comple.ity of implementing suc a framewor%#
India&s former ambassador to Syria Ra6endra !bhyan%ar has claimed that four Indian youths
suspected of having 6oined Islamic State 8ISIS9 may have done so as mercenaries0 $n comments
following a tal% at te O!ser&er Researc 5oun"ation in @uly+ A!yan%ar claime" te youts from
Galyan may not !e i"eologically "ri&en as initially suspecte"#
Open Briefing | =
0nmanne" &eicles an" autonomous weapon systems
United States initiates drone stri%es against Islamic State in Ira5
'e 0nite" -tates as launce" air stri%es in $ra1 in a !i" to alt te territorial e.pansion of te $slamic
-tate 4$-$-6# 'e first roun" of stri%es it $-$- mo!ile artillery an" a mortar position near 2r!il on ; August#
$n te following wee%+ <5 manne" an" unmanne" air stri%es were part of te campaign to recapture te
strategic >osul 7am from $-$-# 0- >M-1 )re"ator unmanne" com!at air &eicles 40(AAs6 arme" wit
A/>-14 Bellfire missiles a&e !een use" in some of te stri%es alongsi"e 59A-1; carrier-!ase" multirole
figter aircraft#
0- forces a&e !een reporte"ly flying up to <0-40 missions a "ay o&er nortern $ra1 since @une# $ran as
also !een flying $-R missions o&er $ra1 using unmanne" aerial &eicles 40AAs6+ !ut on a muc more limite"
scale# $n terms of mo"es of attac%+ te force !alance !etween manne" an" unmanne" air stri%es is an issue
for te 0nite" -tates "ue to te o&erall strong "eman" for "rones for 0- operations across te >i""le
2ast+ -ael an" ,ort Africa# 'e le&el of 0(AA use in $ra1 means tat oter 0- operations in te region
currently a&e re"uce" access to "rones# $-$-3s li%ely cace of surface-to-air missiles may also !e a factor in
!alancing air stri%es from manne" an" unmanne" weapons platforms#
Bot manne" an" unmanne" air stri%es will re1uire intensi&e $-R wor% !y special forces on te groun"#
'ose operati&es alrea"y "eploye"+ !ot Britis an" 0-+ will now most li%ely !e assisting in targeting for
air stri%es#
'e 0nite" -tates is unli%ely to replicate te le&el an" nature of te "rone stri%e acti&ities it as
un"erta%en in )a%istan+ Afganistan an" Femen for a num!er of reasons# $-$- are now sowing a strong
a!ility to "isperse figters into e.isting populations+ an" witout effecti&e $-R collection an" cataloguing+
targeting "rone stri%es !ecomes "ifficult for 0- forces# 0nconstraine" air stri%es ris% furter alienating
-unni communities wo are alrea"y ea&ily targete" !y $-$- recruitment acti&ities# Bowe&er+ if $-$-
concentrates its forces for an offensi&e to encircle Bag"a" or significantly e.pan"e" territorial control+
te 0nite" -tates may increase te le&el of air stri%es+ inclu"ing !y arme" "rones#
#ther developments
4he CI! undertoo% three separate drone stri%es in northwest Pa%istan during 1uly0 4he stri%es
occurred near :atta >hel in -orth *a3iristan an area of significant 6ihadist activity0 Accor"ing to te
Bureau of $n&estigati&e @ournalism+ te stri%es resulte" in !etween <2 an" 4: fatalities+ ma%ing @uly one
of te most letal monts for "rone stri%es in two years in terms of casualties per stri%e#
4
-anafi al ,asr+ a
senior al-Mae"a lea"er !ase" in -yria+ in"icate" tat si. al-Mae"a operati&es were %ille" in te 10 @uly
stri%e# A 0- official also reporte" tat tree suspecte" al-Mae"a in te Ara!ian )eninsula 4AMA)6 figters
were %ille" in a 0- "rone stri%e in Femen in early August+ te first "rone stri%e in te country for two
monts#

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ttp899www#te!ureauin&estigates#com9201490791:9cia-"rones-%ill-at-least-1<-in-pa%istan-te-!loo"iest-stri%e-for-
more-tan-a-year9
Open Briefing | 2
+a6or 7eneral ?u @ang president of the P/! !cademy of !rmoured )orces .ngineering has
indicated to Chinese media that the PeopleAs /iberation !rmy is investing significant time and
resources in developing unmanned ground vehicles 8U7Bs90 'e comments come as te (ina ,ort
$n"ustries /roup (orp 4,OR$,(O /roup6 inaugurate" a recently create" researc centre for 0/As near
Bei*ing in @uly# $t is unclear weter te researc centre will "eli&er significant groun" com!at capa!ility in
te sort term+ as tere are critical tecnological callenges# )IA representati&es a&e ac%nowle"ge" tat
te focus is on refitting e.isting groun" &eicle fleets for unmanne" capa!ility as oppose" to "e&eloping
new &eicles#
!ccording to 1apan&s "C1; defence budget currently nominal spending and investment on unmanned
aerial vehicles is set to increase by ,CCD0 @apan recently welcome" te "eployment of two 0- RM-4
/lo!al Baw%s to >isawa Air Base to assist @apanese forces in !ecoming more familiar wit te &eicles#
'is "eployment occurre" aea" of @apan in"icating its "esire to ac1uire tree /lo!al Baw%s an" start
"e&eloping its own in"igenous 0AA "esign an" manufacturing capacity# 'e increase in 0AA programme
fun"ing an" capacity "e&elopment is li%ely to !e "ri&en !y concerns o&er ,ort Gorea3s !allistic missile
programmes an" maritime !oun"ary conflicts wit (ina an" -out Gorea# 'e "e&elopments come after
)rime >inister -inDN A!e o&ersaw a reinterpretation of Article = of @apan3s constitution 4te peace
clause6+ wic as opene" up greater political an" constitutional space for @apanese in"ustry to try to
%eep up wit (ina3s 0AA programme#
!lso of note
)light 4ech one of $ra3il&s first defence companies to produce U!Bs is eEporting three
@orus )4-1CC mini-U!Bs to an undisclosed !frican country in te first 0AA e.port "eal from
BraDil# 'e 5'-100s were "esigne" in colla!oration wit te BraDilian military+ an" a&e li%ely !een
ac1uire" for "omestic missions "ue to teir comparati&ely limite" flying range#
Integrated Instrument-ma%ing Corporation a subsidiary of Russia&s state-owned Rostec
displayed an amphibious unmanned aerial vehicle at the Innoprom-"C1; industrial trade fair
in Fe%aterinburg Russia0 'e uni1ue y!ri" ampi!ious "rone+ calle" (iro% 4'eal6+ as a
o&ercraft !o"y+ wic ena!les it to ta%e off from marine or une&en terrain surfaces#
Russian defence contractor >amov has announced the proposed development of a vertical
ta%e-off and landing reconnaissance and stri%e rotary U!B the >a-12( wic may ma%e its
mai"en fligt witin a year#
! 1uly "C1; US Congressional Research Paper on navy shipboard lasers for surface air and
missile defence highlighted the potential benefits of shipboard lasers in countering
unsophisticated U!Bs0
(
'e paper points out te economic callenge for te 0- ,a&y if tey rely
on con&entional missile "efence systems to "efen" against multiple 0AA treats+ were!y te
cost per "efensi&e counter-stri%e may !ecome unsustaina!le#
4he Israeli :efense )orces 8I:)9 has openly praised .lbit Systems for the role that their
S%ylar% mini-U!B and one-ton @ermes GCC debuted by the Israel !ir )orce played in
supporting ground forces during #peration Protective .dge0

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Open Briefing | H
4he US !rmy&s Rapid .5uipping )orce is testing a U!B system that can stay in the air as long
as the drone remains remotely connected to ground power from the controller0 'e )ersistent
Aerial Reconnaissance an" (ommunications 4)AR(6 system relies on a 1ua"rotor recei&ing
microfilament carrying electrical power an" eternet communications !etween groun" control
an" te "rone#
US Senate !ppropriations Committee is concerned that -orthrop 7rumman +I-; 4riton
reconnaissance U!B is "(D 8or '2"C million9 over budget and behind schedule0 'e 'riton is
"esigne" to fly up to 24-our missions at a ma.imum of :0+000 feet+ an" pro&i"es <:0 "egree
ocean an" terrain sur&eillance wit in!uilt ra"ar+ electro-optical an" infrare" sensors# 'e 'riton is
e.pecte" to !e te ne.t generation of maritime sur&eillance 0AA+ an" as attracte" interest from
@apan+ Gorea an" Australia#
4he commercial U!B industry is anticipating an eEecutive order from US President $arac%
#bama on privacy re5uirements for U!B operators0 $t is e.pecte" tat te or"er will ma%e te
,ational 'elecommunications an" $nformation A"ministration responsi!le for "etaile" gui"elines#
(y!er warfare
State and non-state hac%er groups launch cyber attac%s on Israel in response to #peration
Protective .dge
(y!er attac%s an" counter-attac%s a&e spi%e" o&er te last two monts as te conflict !etween $srael an"
)alestine as intensifie"# $nformation security firm Ar!or-2R' as 1uantifie" te significant increase in
"istri!ute" "enial-of-ser&ice 477o-6 attac%s against $sraeli go&ernment agencies+ financial ser&ices an"
military we!sites+ inclu"ing >ossa" an" te prime minister3s office#
:
77o- attac%s a&e increase" from an
a&erage of <0 per "ay in @une to 150 per "ay in @uly+ wit te num!er of attac% pea%ing on 21 @uly wit a
total of 42= attac%s# 7omain ,ame -ystem 47,-6 attac%s a&e also increase"# 70J of attac%s appear to
originate or a&e !een route" troug Matar#
'ere are reports tat te Matari autorities are roa" testing cy!er tecnologies !y pro&i"ing Bamas wit
new tecnology an" unteste" capa!ilities# ?ile tese migt not inclu"e a"&ance" persistent treats
4A)'s6+ tere is te suggestion tat tunnels !uilt !y Bamas are closely monitore" an" tat Bamas as te
capa!ility to trac% te mo&ement of $75 troops troug te tunnel networ% using cy!er means# 'e $75
(omputer -er&ice 7irectorate also suggeste" tat !ot te $ran (y!er Army an" 'ur%ey3s cy!er forces
a&e participate" in cy!er attac%s against $srael# $n one case $ranian cy!er forces are allege" to a&e
coor"inate" a 77o- attac% on $75Os Bomefront (omman" we!site+ wic pro&i"es security information
an" roc%et warnings#
'ere are a num!er non-state actors an" ac%er groups allege" to !e in&ol&e" in te cy!er conflict
!etween )alestine an" $srael# Anon/ost appears to !e lea"ing most 77o- attac%s an" cy!er intrusions+
an" launce" #Op-a&e/aDa on te e&e of Operation )rotecti&e 2"ge# Oters affiliate" wit te more
wi"ely-%nown Anonymous appear to !e piggy-!ac%ing off Anon/ost attac%s an" tus increasing te
magnitu"e of suc attac%s#

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Open Briefing | G
(y!er intelligence an" security commentators argue tat tese attac%s a&e not a" any significant
impact on $sraeli infrastructure or internal communication cannels# 7espite te intensity an" magnitu"e
of cy!er attac%s+ te actual le&el of intrusion+ "isruption an" "amage to $sraeli operations appears limite"#
$srael3s comparati&e cy!er "efence capa!ilities are at tis point in time muc more a"&ance" tan te
capa!ilities of Bamas or non-state ac%ing collecti&es#
#ther developments
In a recent interview with Wired the whistleblower .dward Snowden revealed details of the -S!&s
automated cyber-attac% programme codenamed +onster+ind0
2
-now"en "escri!es te programme as
!eing a!le to see% out internet traffic patterns in"icating a malware source an" automatically launc a
counter attac%# 'is means tat in cases were initial attac%s were route" troug tir" parties 4for
e.ample+ an 2astern 2uropean cy!ercrime syn"icate routing an attac% troug (ina6+ te tir" party
infrastructure is attac%e" witout uman inter&ention# As suc+ >onster>in" as far !roa"er implications
tan te co&ert $-R acti&ities of te ,-A+ as it is a cy!er weapon tat coul" lea" to significant
miscalculation# Also+ for te programme to wor%+ te ,-A nee"s access to almost all pri&ate
communications entering te 0nite" -tates# Re&ealing >onster>in" at a time wen te ,-A an" oter
?asington policy specialists are tal%ing up te nee" for international norms for te cy!er realm as
furter "amage" te 0nite" -tates3 stan"ing in tis area#
4he threat intelligence firm Cyber .ngineering Services Inc0 8Cyber.SI9 believe that Chinese hac%ers
associated with the P/! compromised three Israeli defence contractors and suppliers between
#ctober "C11 and !ugust "C1"0 'e targets+ 2lisra /roup+ $srael Aerospace $n"ustries an" Rafael
A"&ance" 7efense -ystems+ a&e all !een in&ol&e" in $srael3s $ron 7ome "efence system# $t is !elie&e" tat
te ac%ers o!taine" scematics an" specifications for $srael3s Arrow < missile troug te "ata
compromise# A prominent 'ur%is ac%er group Ayyil"iD 'im 4AF'6 claime" to a&e ac%e" $ron 7ome
systems an" te software of te Arrow < !allistic missile# Bowe&er+ it is unli%ely tat te group actually
compromise" any $ron 7ome systems# (y!er2-$ representati&es suggest tat te ac%ers !ein" te
"efence contractor "ata teft are li%ely to !e from te )IA 0nit :1<=;+ wic inclu"es fi&e (inese
nationals carge" wit espionage offences in te 0nite" -tates#
! US Inspector 7eneral cybercrime unit report and internal investigation has revealed that the US
-uclear Regulatory Commission 8-RC9 has been sub6ect to approEimately 12 data eEtraction and
credential harvesting attempts over the last three years0 'e ,R( is a ig-&alue target+ as it ol"s
igly-confi"ential information a!out te 0- nuclear in"ustry an" te location an" con"ition of all
reactors# $t is speculate" tat te campaign as !een le" !y a state actor "ue to its sopistication an"
li%ely interest of foreign go&ernments in 0- critical infrastructure &ulnera!ilities#


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Open Briefing | 1C
!lso of note
4he U%rainian prime minister&s office and U%rainian embassies have been targeted by an
aggressive cyber campaign using a variation of the Sna%e malware in wat as all te allmar%s
of a Russian operation#
In late 1uly the Center for a -ew !merican Security 8C-!S9 published a report on the
prioritisation of defending US cyber assets and systems critical to the US national interest#
H

-ome of te %ey recommen"ations for te 0- go&ernment inclu"e i"entifying prioritisation of
cy!er re"un"ancy+ implementing confi"ence !uil"ing measures in te cy!er fiel"+ see%ing
agreement on parties refraining from cy!er intrusions into nuclear comman" an" control systems
an" esta!lising a system of &oluntary reporting of near-miss cy!er inci"ents#
! number of reports have emerged alleging that the >remlin is paying internet trolls to
promote President Bladimir Putin and his policies in the US media as part of a Russian
"isinformation programme# -ome reports suggest te sceme as !een operating o&er te last
fi&e years !ut as escalate" wit te conflict in 0%raine#
US !ssistant !ttorney 7eneral 1ohn Carlin told the !spen Security )orum on "; 1uly that al-
Iaeda has developed cyber capabilities adopted cyber warfare as a strategy and tested the
feasibility of such operations0 7eputy 7irector of te ,-A Ricar" Ie"gett a"&ocate" te nee"
for international norms at te same forum+ an" suggeste" tat (ina poses te greatest cy!er
treat to te 0- !ecause state actors sare intelligence an" intellectual property wit !usinesses#
4he Canadian foreign ministry has claimed that a Chinese group hac%ed the -ational
Research Council 8-RC9 te (ana"ian go&ernment3s researc an" tecnology organisation# 'e
(ana"ian go&ernment as now segregate" te ,R( from oter go&ernment networ%s#
Information security analysis company )ire.ye is researching whether there is a digital
signature associated with malware signals that could be interpreted as the e5uivalent of a
troop build-up at a border an" use" as a potential precursor pre"iction tool for conflict#
=

4aiwan&s technology minister has accused China of underta%ing cyber attac%s against 4aiwan
as a means of testing Chinese cyber capabilities0 'aiwan3s ,ational -ecurity Bureau claims tat
it is as witnesse" o&er tree million ac%ing attempts from (ina in te space of 12 monts#
R!-: Corporation published a detailed paper on cybercrime wic igligts te emergence
of online colla!oration !etween "i&erse actors+ inclu"ing+ for e.ample+ Aietnamese nationals
partnering wit ,igerian nationals on an e-commerce scam#
10

-!4# country defence forces have approved the creation of a military cyber base in 4allinn
.stonia0 'e !ase will pro&i"e ,A'O wit an a"&ance" cy!er la!oratory#

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Open Briefing | 11
$ntelligence+ sur&eillance an" reconnaissance
US officials grapple with political and economic costs of -S!&s surveillance activities
On 1; @uly+ former 0- state "epartment official @on ,apier 'ye a" an article pu!lise" in te
Washington Post i"entifying te most rele&ant source of e.ecuti&e an" a"ministrati&e power for ,-A
interception an" collection acti&ities+ 2.ecuti&e Or"er 12<<<+ issue" !y ten )resi"ent Ronal" Reagan in
1=;1#
11
'ye argues tat te acti&ities un"erta%en in line wit te e.ecuti&e or"er are as significant as+ if
not more so+ tan tose autorise" !y -ection 215 of te )atriot Act or -ection 702 of te 5oreign
$ntelligence -ur&eillance Act# 2.ecuti&e Or"er 12<<< permits te collection of communication content 4not
*ust meta"ata6 an" allows retention of inci"entally collecte" communication in te course of a lawful
o&erseas foreign intelligence in&estigation#
At te same time+ 7emocrat senator an" cair of te 0- -enate *u"iciary committee )atric% Ieay as
intro"uce" a new re&ise" 0-A 5ree"om Act# 'e new &ersion is aile" as strengtening pri&acy pro&ision
were te original Bouse &ersion of te !ill was too wea%# ?ile 5i&e 2ye intelligence partners will
respon" to teir own "omestic "ynamics+ tere will !e pressure to acie&e a "egree of armonisation an"
interopera!ility !etween te sur&eillance principles an" regulations esta!lise" un"er te 0-A 5ree"om
Act an" legislation implemente" in te 0nite" Ging"om+ (ana"a+ ,ew Pealan" an" Australia# 'ere is a
clear !ipartisan ac%nowle"gement of te nee" for ,-A an" !roa"er sur&eillance reform+ in part "ue to te
growing realisation of te political an" economic costs of te current approac+ !ut congress as
struggle" to fin" a mi""le groun"# 'ere is a ig le&el of "epen"ence on signals intelligence in te
programmes te ,-A a&e rolle" out since =911+ wic 0- lawma%ers are struggling to !alance against te
economic costs#
A ,ew America 5oun"ation report pu!lise" in late @uly is ma%ing a strong case troug attempts to
1uantify an" categorise some of te economic an" political costs associate" wit ,-A sur&eillance
programmes#
12
'e report igligts tat 0- !usinesses a&e reporte" "eclining sales in clou" computing
ser&ices+ $-) ser&ices+ "ata-management ser&ices an" $' ar"ware as customer attempt to a&oi" 0-
companies for fear of in!uilt &ulnera!ilities or !roa" sur&eillance an" "ata retention# -ome go&ernments
are now implementing "ata localisation strategies+ wic may su!stantially sift international internet
traffic# $f tese tren"s continue+ tey may increasingly callenge 0- economic interests+ particularly in
"e&eloping countries consi"ering new telecommunication infrastructure# 'e report also igligts te
"amages "one to 0- multilateral an" !ilateral relations wit countries suc as BraDil an" /ermany an" te
general wea%ening of encryption stan"ar"s an" effecti&eness#


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americans9201490791;9=<"2ac22-0!=<-11e4-!;e5-"0"e;07:7fc2Qstory#tml
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Open Briefing | 1"
#ther developments
!ustralia and Canada&s political establishments are contending with contentious reforms to the
surveillance and data-retention activities of %ey intelligence agencies0 $n Australia+ te ina!ility of te
attorney general to clearly e.plain propose" sur&eillance reform le" to te "irector general of te
Australian -ecurity an" $ntelligence Organisation+ 7a&i" $r&ine+ ma%ing a rare me"ia appearance to e.plain
propose" legislation# $r&ine also tol" te Australian senate3s legal an" constitutional affairs references
committee tat it is appropriate tat telecommunication companies retain meta"ata upwar"s of two
years# $n (ana"a+ a Globe and Mail article re&eale" tat reforms to (ana"a3s electronic intelligence agency+
te (ommunications -ecurity 2sta!lisment (ana"a 4(-2(6+ flagge" as a critical legislati&e priority !y ten
"efence minister )eter >acGay+ were "eraile" in 200= wen an unrelate" police-sur&eillance !ill was
ta!le" an" pro&e" "eeply unpopular#
1<
'e reforms woul" a&e pro&i"e" greater o&ersigt of (-2(3s
interpretation of its legislati&e an" ministerial autorisations#
Recorded )uture produced analysis in !ugust of the encryption techni5ues employed by al-Iaeda
and its affiliates after the Snowden -S! lea%s0
1;
'e analysis re&iews an" re&erse engineers encryption
tools pu!lise" !y two me"ia arms of al-Mae"a+ Al 5ar* an" te /lo!al $slamic >e"ia 5ront 4/$>56#
Recor"e" 5uture foun" tat encryption tools pu!lise" for mu*ai"een figters an" operati&es are
generally not tailore" crypto tools "e&elope" !y al-Mae"a# $nstea"+ te a&aila!le encryption tools are
generally off-te-self open-source tools+ some of wic may a&e !ac%"oors or in-!uilt &ulnera!ilities
tat can !e e.ploite" !y some intelligence agencies# 'is a""s comple.ity to te issue of weter or not
-now"en3s lea%s a&e actually pro&i"e" *ia"ist organisations wit impro&e" a!ilities to a&oi" $-R#
4he #ffice of the U- @igh Commissioner for @uman Rights released a report in mid-1uly on the right
to privacy in a digital age as re5uested by the U- 7eneral !ssembly0
1(
'e report e.amines te
protection of pri&acy in te conte.t of mass "ata collection an" sur&eillance an" interception of "igital
communications# 'e report suggests ci&ilian o&ersigt !o"ies to com!at te current lac% of go&ernment
transparency aroun" sur&eillance policies+ laws an" practices+ wic may or may not coere wit
international uman rigts law# -ome go&ernments may use te report at te ne.t 0, /eneral Assem!ly
session as a spring !oar" for furter "iscussion on te nee" for international norms on cy!er security#
!lso of note
4ur%ey became one of only 1" countries with an established satellite manufacture and
testing centre when it opened the Satellite !ssembly and Integration 4est Centre 8U+.46 at
te A%inci air force !ase in An%ara# 'e centre will greatly e.pan" 'ur%is $-R capa!ilities#
4he Intercept ran an article in !ugust on the high number of people on the )$I&s 4errorist
Screening :atabase tat a&e no i"entifia!le or recognisa!le lin% wit a liste" terrorist
organisation#
1:


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Open Briefing | 1,
In early !ugust -S! documents lea%ed by .dward Snowden underscored the significant
signals intelligence support the United States provides Israel an" re&eale" tat te ,-A an"
$srael3s -$/$,' ,ational 0nit sare e.tensi&e information on access+ interception+ analysis an"
reporting#
17

4he US state department has suggested that China&s P/! anti-missile tests on ", 1uly ",
were a cover for anti-satellite tests0 (ina as complete" similar tests in 2007 an" 2010+ an" 0-
"efence e.perts suggest te )IA is trying to refine an anti-satellite capa!ility to allow te option
to attac% na&igation+ sur&eillance an" communication satellites#
/ea%ed intelligence indicates that 7erman surveillance firm )in)isher helped the $ahrain
government install spyware on target computers between "C1C and "C1" "uring pro-
"emocracy protests in te country#
:igital7lobe have launched their new *orldBiew , satellite that can move from pole to pole
in GH minutes and provide ,C-centimetre resolution0 2arlier in te year+ 0- go&ernment agencies
were trying to force 7igital/lo!e to "egra"e te resolution for pu!lic salesH owe&er te ,ational
Oceanic an" Atmosperic A"ministration as now gi&en permission for te sale of iger-
resolution images on open mar%ets#




Commissioned by the Remote Control Project
remotecontrolpro6ect0org




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