TURKEY ALLEGES U.S. UAV FLIGHTS AT TURKEY-IRAQ

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 003839 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/29/2021 TAGS: PREL MOPS TU IZ SUBJECT: TURKEY ALLEGES U.S. UAV FLIGHTS AT TURKEY-IRAQ BORDER Classified By: Acting Pol-Mil Counselor Maggie Nardi for reasons 1.4 (b ) and (d). ¶1. (C) Turkish Special Forces in northern Iraq reported to Task Force Band of Brothers Liaison Officer June 8 that Turkish forces just inside northern Iraq and Jandarma forces in Turkey had witnessed significant activity by "one of those American planes with no pilots" (e.g., a UAV) on June 6. TU SOF leadership asked why the U.S. would spy on their activities. ¶2. (C) Subsequently, Major General Hikmet Celik, Chief of TGS's Command and Control Department, called in ODC Chief to request verification of this report. After checking with CAOC-6 and CENTCOM, ODC notified TGS in writing June 21 that no UAV flights occurred anywhere near the Turkish border on June 6. ¶3. (C) MFA Head of Section for Aviation Affairs Baris Kalkavan also called us in June 29 to inquire about UAV flights. We showed him a copy of ODC's written response to TGS. Kalkavan said the matter was now considered closed, but asked that, if we plan to make UAV flights near the Turkish border, we follow the standard procedure for other airops in the area. (NOTE: Turkey has access to CENTCOM's Air Tasking Order, and also receives information on flights near the border through CAOC-6. END NOTE.) Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/ WILSON