Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ANKARA3097
2006-05-26 13:53:00
SECRET//NOFORN
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:
TURKEY/IRAQ: SMALL-SCALE ACTIVITY ON BORDER
how-toVZCZCXRO9332 PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK RUEHMOS DE RUEHAK #3097 1461353 ZNY SSSSS ZZH P 261353Z MAY 06 FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6025 INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEKJCS/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY RUEHAK/USDAO ANKARA TU PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC//USDP:PDUSDP/ISA:EUR/ISA:NESA// PRIORITY RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEUITH/ODC ANKARA TU PRIORITY RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J-3/J-5// PRIORITY RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK PRIORITY RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY RHMFISS/425ABS IZMIR TU//CC// PRIORITY RHMFISS/39ABG INCIRLIK AB TU PRIORITY RUEPGAB/MNF-I C2X BAGHDAD IZ PRIORITY
S E C R E T ANKARA 003097
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/25/2031
TAGS: PTER MOPS PREL TU IZ IR
SUBJECT: TURKEY/IRAQ: SMALL-SCALE ACTIVITY ON BORDER
REF: A. ANKARA 2903 AND PREVIOUS
B. ANKARA 2876
C. ANKARA TU 3032 (USDAO ANKARA IIR 6 898 0298 06)
D. NGA NES WASHINGTON DC SERIAL IP0600051 (DTG
242119Z MAY 06)
Classified By: DCM Nancy McEldowney for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
S E C R E T ANKARA 003097
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/25/2031
TAGS: PTER MOPS PREL TU IZ IR
SUBJECT: TURKEY/IRAQ: SMALL-SCALE ACTIVITY ON BORDER
REF: A. ANKARA 2903 AND PREVIOUS
B. ANKARA 2876
C. ANKARA TU 3032 (USDAO ANKARA IIR 6 898 0298 06)
D. NGA NES WASHINGTON DC SERIAL IP0600051 (DTG
242119Z MAY 06)
Classified By: DCM Nancy McEldowney for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (S/REL USA, GBR, AUS, CAN) Turkish Special Forces
Headquarters near the Iraq border have confirmed that Turkish
forces have fired mortars against PKK forces on two occasions
(May 16 and 20) just across the border. The military also
claims to have received small arms fire and indirect fire
(NFI) in separate incidents on May 19 from PKK terrorists at
or near the border. Turkish Special Forces further claim
that a May 12 firing of two mortar rounds near Kani Masi (see
ref b) was the result of a Jandarma training accident (there
were no casualties). Special Forces maintain that it is
standard procedure to engage any group of persons attempting
to cross the border in these mountainous border regions.
Such persons are assumed to be PKK terrorists or smugglers
and, the military asserts, the region in question is
otherwise uninhabited by civilians (see ref c).
2. (S/NF) NGA reporting suggests that Turkey continues to
deploy troops in the southeast to carry out counterinsurgency
operations within Turkey. There is no indication of large
movements of troops toward the border. A separate NGA report
(ref d) indicates that Turkey has deployed artillery pieces
along the Turkey-Iraq border in slightly greater number than
it did in 2005. This has been normal practice for the
Turkish military during periods of PKK violence. NGA
assesses that the placement of these artillery pieces
indicate that the Turkey-Iraq-Iran tri-border area could be a
focal point of counterinsurgency activity this year.
3. (S/REL USA, GBR, AUS, CAN) In our view, these small-scale
incidents near the border do not foreshadow a Turkish
cross-border operation (CBO). They are, we believe, more or
less business as usual along a poorly demarcated, mountainous
border which the military is trying to seal against terrorist
infiltration. However, as we have pointed out previously, a
spectacular PKK attack in Turkey could be an immediate
catalyst for a large-scale CBO. Steadily mounting PKK
violence, which is a current reality, will also mean a
buildup of pressure on the GOT to act.
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/
WILSON
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/25/2031
TAGS: PTER MOPS PREL TU IZ IR
SUBJECT: TURKEY/IRAQ: SMALL-SCALE ACTIVITY ON BORDER
REF: A. ANKARA 2903 AND PREVIOUS
B. ANKARA 2876
C. ANKARA TU 3032 (USDAO ANKARA IIR 6 898 0298 06)
D. NGA NES WASHINGTON DC SERIAL IP0600051 (DTG
242119Z MAY 06)
Classified By: DCM Nancy McEldowney for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (S/REL USA, GBR, AUS, CAN) Turkish Special Forces
Headquarters near the Iraq border have confirmed that Turkish
forces have fired mortars against PKK forces on two occasions
(May 16 and 20) just across the border. The military also
claims to have received small arms fire and indirect fire
(NFI) in separate incidents on May 19 from PKK terrorists at
or near the border. Turkish Special Forces further claim
that a May 12 firing of two mortar rounds near Kani Masi (see
ref b) was the result of a Jandarma training accident (there
were no casualties). Special Forces maintain that it is
standard procedure to engage any group of persons attempting
to cross the border in these mountainous border regions.
Such persons are assumed to be PKK terrorists or smugglers
and, the military asserts, the region in question is
otherwise uninhabited by civilians (see ref c).
2. (S/NF) NGA reporting suggests that Turkey continues to
deploy troops in the southeast to carry out counterinsurgency
operations within Turkey. There is no indication of large
movements of troops toward the border. A separate NGA report
(ref d) indicates that Turkey has deployed artillery pieces
along the Turkey-Iraq border in slightly greater number than
it did in 2005. This has been normal practice for the
Turkish military during periods of PKK violence. NGA
assesses that the placement of these artillery pieces
indicate that the Turkey-Iraq-Iran tri-border area could be a
focal point of counterinsurgency activity this year.
3. (S/REL USA, GBR, AUS, CAN) In our view, these small-scale
incidents near the border do not foreshadow a Turkish
cross-border operation (CBO). They are, we believe, more or
less business as usual along a poorly demarcated, mountainous
border which the military is trying to seal against terrorist
infiltration. However, as we have pointed out previously, a
spectacular PKK attack in Turkey could be an immediate
catalyst for a large-scale CBO. Steadily mounting PKK
violence, which is a current reality, will also mean a
buildup of pressure on the GOT to act.
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/
WILSON