"Amal al-Atrash (Arabic: آمال الأطرش‎ Āmāl al-Aṭrash; 25 November 1912 – 14 July 1944),[1] better known by her stage name Asmahan (أسمهان Asmahān), was a Syrian Druze singer and actress. Having immigrated to Egypt in childhood, her family knew the composer Dawood Hosni, and she sang the compositions of Mohamed El Qasabgi and Zakariyya Ahmad.[2][3] She also sang the compositions of Mohammed Abdel Wahab and her brother Farid al-Atrash, a then rising star musician in his own right. Hers was the only female voice in Arab music to pose serious competition to that of Umm Kulthum,[4] who is considered to be one of the Arab world's most distinguished singers of the 20th century.[5] Her mysterious death in an automobile accident shocked the public. Journalists spread gossip about her turbulent personal life and an alleged espionage role in World War II." - Eivind from Bookmarklet

"In 1941, during World War II, Asmahan returned to the French Mandate of Syria (Syria, under the rule of Vichy France at that time) at the request of the British and the Free French. She was on a secret mission to notify her people in Jabal al-Druze that the British and Free French forces would be invading Syria through their territory, and to convince them they should not fight. The British and Free French had promised the independence of Syria and Lebanon to all inhabitants on the date of the invasion. The Druze agreed, even though some groups did not receive word in time and fought the invading forces. After the Allies secured Syria during the Syria-Lebanon Campaign, General Charles de Gaulle visited Syria. When the Allies failed to carry out their promise for Syrian independence, Asmahan tried to contact the Nazis in Turkey, but was stopped at the border and sent to Lebanon. It was also possible that Asmahan needed money because her husband had cut off her expenses, so she may have tried to reach the Germans simply to obtain funds.[26] Asmahan told Mohamed al-Taba'i that she was to receive the sum of £40,000 from the British for her services to the allies.[35][36][37] General Charles de Gaulle's representative in Cairo was General Georges Catroux. Catroux's délégué in Damascus, Colonel Collet, stated that the British gave money to Asmahan (and to other Druze men, in his presence) and sent her to the Jabal to secure the support of the Druze before the Allies' invasion.[38] The same information is stated by Edward Spears in his memoirs.[39]" - Eivind

Reminds me of Mata Hari. - Eivind