Austria indicts former head of Syrian intelligence in alleged Mossad-related affair
Khaled al-Halabi, received political asylum in Austria, allegedly with the help of Israeli and French intelligence
Cmdr. (res.) Eyal Pinko
| 19/10/2022
Syria's President Bashar al-Assad and Austria's then-Chancellor Werner Faymann in Damascus, December 23, 2009. REUTERS/Khaled al-Hariri
Austria’s Economic and Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (WKStA) completed its 80-page indictment against the former head of Syrian Intelligence, Khaled al-Halabi, who had received political asylum in Austria. This, according to a report by Intelligence Online.
The Commission for International Justice and Accountability (CIJA) and other international human rights organizations and NGOs are accusing al-Halabi of committing crimes against humanity during the time he headed Syria’s General Security Directorate.
A large number of people is expected to testify during the trial, which is expected to start soon. Initially, only Austrian civilians and intelligence experts are expected to testify. The list includes former head of counterintelligence, Bernhard Pircher, and Peter Gridling, the current head of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution and Counterterrorism (BVT).
Various international intelligence organizations – such as the Israeli Mossad and the French DGSI and DGSE – had been involved in this case from the very beginning, as was reported in an extensive New Yorker article last year.
“Operation White Milk”
Following his defection from Syria, al-Halabi was in contact with the French DGSE (Directorate-General for External Security) in Amman since 2013. From Jordan, he was secretly moved to France, where he filed an asylum petition. However, his presence in France turned out to be an embarrassment for the government, and his petition was denied.
Next, according to reports, the Mossad intervened, and together with Austria’s BVT negotiated al-Halabi’s transfer to Austria, as a political asylum. The negotiations were successful and the Syrian official entered Austria via Germany in 2015.
It is possible to assume that the Mossad’s alleged intervention, reported by the press, points to the option of al-Halabi being an Israel-directed operative.
The legality of the operation, dubbed “White Milk”, was soon called into question. Austria’s intelligence services were already under strong political pressure at the time and shortly after al-Halabi’s arrival in Vienna, this affair was investigated by both the press and parliamentary committees.
Khaled al-Halabi, received political asylum in Austria, allegedly with the help of Israeli and French intelligence
Syria's President Bashar al-Assad and Austria's then-Chancellor Werner Faymann in Damascus, December 23, 2009. REUTERS/Khaled al-Hariri
Austria’s Economic and Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (WKStA) completed its 80-page indictment against the former head of Syrian Intelligence, Khaled al-Halabi, who had received political asylum in Austria. This, according to a report by Intelligence Online.
The Commission for International Justice and Accountability (CIJA) and other international human rights organizations and NGOs are accusing al-Halabi of committing crimes against humanity during the time he headed Syria’s General Security Directorate.
A large number of people is expected to testify during the trial, which is expected to start soon. Initially, only Austrian civilians and intelligence experts are expected to testify. The list includes former head of counterintelligence, Bernhard Pircher, and Peter Gridling, the current head of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution and Counterterrorism (BVT).
Various international intelligence organizations – such as the Israeli Mossad and the French DGSI and DGSE – had been involved in this case from the very beginning, as was reported in an extensive New Yorker article last year.
“Operation White Milk”
Following his defection from Syria, al-Halabi was in contact with the French DGSE (Directorate-General for External Security) in Amman since 2013. From Jordan, he was secretly moved to France, where he filed an asylum petition. However, his presence in France turned out to be an embarrassment for the government, and his petition was denied.
Next, according to reports, the Mossad intervened, and together with Austria’s BVT negotiated al-Halabi’s transfer to Austria, as a political asylum. The negotiations were successful and the Syrian official entered Austria via Germany in 2015.
It is possible to assume that the Mossad’s alleged intervention, reported by the press, points to the option of al-Halabi being an Israel-directed operative.
The legality of the operation, dubbed “White Milk”, was soon called into question. Austria’s intelligence services were already under strong political pressure at the time and shortly after al-Halabi’s arrival in Vienna, this affair was investigated by both the press and parliamentary committees.
