EMERGENCY ACTION COMMITTEE- REO BASRAH 07/17/2006

C O N F I D E N T I A L BASRAH 000120

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

POST FOR DCM AND RSO

E.O. 12958: DECL: 7/20/2016
TAGS: ASEC PTER IZ
SUBJECT: EMERGENCY ACTION COMMITTEE- REO BASRAH 07/17/2006

REF: (A) STATE 115373; (B) BASRAH 0084

CLASSIFIED BY: Ken Gross, Regional Coordinator, REO Basrah,
Department of State.
REASON: 1.4 (g)


1. (SBU) The Deputy Regional Coordinator (DRC) chaired a
session of the Emergency Action Committee (EAC) on July 17 to
discuss the security situation in Basrah and possible
implications from the current violence in Lebanon. Attending
the meeting were representatives from the agencies at the
Regional Embassy Office (REO). The main point of discussion was
the multiple mortar/rocket attacks on the REO and British
compound on July 16 and 17.


2. (SBU) In response to reftel (A) the EAC believes that anti
U.S. sentiment centers around events in Basrah rather than the
situation in Lebanon. Furthermore, any demonstrations in Basrah
regarding events in Lebanon would have little effect on the
already deteriorated security situation in which the REO is
targeted on a regular basis by indirect fire. Currently there
is a tent camp of 30-50 individuals in front of the British gate
of the compound who are protesting recent British arrest
campaigns. Violence in Lebanon has had no impact on this
protest.


3. (C) The REO and British compound were subjected to three
separate indirect mortar/rocket attacks during the night of July
16-17. The first round of attacks occurred at 2130 on July 16
and consisted of eleven rounds, one of which landed inside the
US compound and several close to the front gate. The second
attack occurred at 2330 and consisted of 4 rounds, one of which
landed close to one of the guard towers of the REO section of
the compound and three in the Romanian sector. The third attack
occurred at 0300 on July 17 and consisted of two rounds, one of
which landed near the British front gate and one near an
American guard tower.


4. (SBU) The attacks are believed to be a reaction to a
coalition-led arrest campaign conducted on July 15 that resulted
in the arrest of two Jaysh Al-Mahdi (JAM) members. The Basrah
APOD and Shatt Al Arab bases were also attacked on July 16-17.
The attacks on the REO compound were preceded by mortar/rocket
attacks on the Shatt Al Arab base at 0300 and 1500 on July 16.


5. (C) The EAC is closely monitoring IDF attacks directed
against Basrah Palace. In recent months the EAC has noticed
increased accuracy of IDF (reftel B). The EAC recognizes the
limited capability of the bunkers to house the all REO personnel
for an entire night. In response to the risk of further
attacks, the EAC decided to close all MWR facilities at 2000
until further notice. All REO personnel must wear their
personal protective equipment when traveling to the British or
Romanian sides of the compound. MREs have been prepared for
distribution in the event that further attacks prevent the
dining facility from operating. The EAC tasked KBR to determine
how many personnel can be accommodated within the existing hard
structures within the REO compound in the event prolonged
attacks continue.


6. (U) The EAC will monitor events and reconvene as necessary.

MARRANO