UNINTENDED BUT EFFECTIVE CLOSURE OF JORDAN-IRAQ

S E C R E T AMMAN 005965

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR NEA, NEA/ARN, NEA/NGA
CENTCOM ALSO FOR POLAD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/16/2013
TAGS: MOPS PREL IZ JO
SUBJECT: UNINTENDED BUT EFFECTIVE CLOSURE OF JORDAN-IRAQ
BORDER FOR TRAVELERS AGED 20-45

REF: AMMAN 4763

Classified By: CDA David M. Hale for reasons 1.5 (b)(d)

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SUMMARY
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1. (S) U.S. military units on the Jordan-Iraq border
unintentionally but effectively closed the border to
Iraq-bound traffic on September 15. GOJ MFA and security
officials queried the Embassy, seeking an explanation.
Embassy officers contacted U.S. military command units in
Iraq, who indicated that there was no intent to close the
Jordan-Iraq border, and any such orders would be rescinded.
An Embassy military liaison officer visited the border
September 16 and reported that the border was open again.
Post recommends that, if there is a need for more stringent
controls on the Jordan-Iraq border, CPA and the USG
coordinate in advance with the GOJ. END SUMMARY.

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3ACR CLOSES THE BORDER FOR A DAY
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2. (C) Personnel serving in the Humanitarian Assistance
Coordination Center (HACC-West) reported September 15 that
U.S. military forces on the Iraq-Jordan border (3ACR) had on
September 15 prevented entry to Iraq for most persons of both
genders aged 20-45 years, both Iraqi and non-Iraqi citizens.
According to 3ACR sources, they were also instructed to limit
commercial vehicles to drivers only, and humanitarian
assistance shipments to drivers and "assist teams" only.
3ACR said it permitted all westbound (i.e. Iraq to Jordan)
traffic to go to the Jordanian border crossing point.
However, all persons denied entry to Jordan were required to
wait until the following day before requesting re-admission
to Iraq (effectively making them spend the night in no mans
land).


3. (C) A Jordanian who does business in Iraq called PolOff
September 15 to report that "American soldiers" were
preventing access to Iraq for "a large group" of Jordanians
at the border. He claimed that this group included three
Iraqi-American women who carried U.S. passports.


4. (S) Embassy and HACC officers contacted U.S. military
units in Iraq on the evening of September 15 to clarify the
situation. We understood from the responses that a closure
of the Jordan-Iraq border had never been intended, and that
commanders in Baghdad would issue instructions to return
immediately to the status quo ante. A HACC liaison officer
arrived at the border September 16 and, after meeting with
Jordanian Armed Forces personnel and touring the border area,
determined that traffic is again moving into Iraq, and that
the backup resulting from the September 15 closure had been
cleared.

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GOJ ASKS FOR CLARIFICATION, COORDINATION
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5. (S) Separately, Jordanian MFA and security officials
asked the Embassy for clarification of coalition policy on
crossing into Iraq. The MFA asked that, in the future, the
coalition coordinate with the GOJ any steps that would have
the effect of restricting crossings into Iraq (ref).

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COMMENT
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6. (S) For use with GOJ contacts, it would be helpful to
have from CPA and CENTCOM clarification of the control policy
currently in effect on the Jordan-Iraq border. We had
understood that a draft order was working through CENTCOM to
apply an exclusion policy for males from 16-45 trying to
cross the Syrian border into Iraq. Jordan seems to have been
inadvertently included in this policy. Restricting the entry
of Jordanians into Iraq could complicate our efforts to
promote official exchanges between Jordan and Iraq. If there
is a need to restrict travel from Jordan into Iraq for
security reasons, we recommend advance coordination with the
GOJ to examine other, less draconian options.


7. (U) CPA Baghdad minimize considered.
HALE