UPDATE ON REO BASRAH PARTIAL REDEPLOYMENT

C O N F I D E N T I A L BASRAH 000124 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 7/27/2016 TAGS: AMGT ASEC IZ SUBJECT: UPDATE ON REO BASRAH PARTIAL REDEPLOYMENT REF: (A) BAGHDAD 2657 (B) BASRAH 123 (C) BASRAH 121 CLASSIFIED BY: Mark F. Marrano, Deputy Regional Coordinator, Basrah Regional Embassy Office, Department of State. REASON: 1.4 (b),(d) ¶1. (C) In the past 24 hours, the Regional Embassy Office (REO) has redeployed 115 personnel to other locations in Iraq. In the next 24 hours, another 22 personnel will be redeployed completing the bulk of REO Basrah's redeployment. The redeployment was accomplished utilizing existing transportation resources and schedules keeping the movement very low profile. As a result of the redeployment, REO Basrah will be at a level to manage more effectively the current threat from sustained indirect fire (IDF). Partial Redeployment -------------- ¶2. (C) The bulk of the REO's redeployment was conducted on the night of July 25 and in the early morning of July 26. No special flights were requested and no extra resources were needed. Redeploying personnel were manifested for the previously scheduled outbound leg of REO Basrah's US military air bridge to Kuwait. In addition, some redeploying personnel utilized the Royal Air Force's routine helicopter runs between the Basrah Palace Compound and the Basrah Air Station (BAS). Finally, the redeploying Personal Security Detail (PSD) team of AEGIS moved overland to BAS. The redeployment involved close coordination and communication between the REO, the Embassy, ISU Kuwait and CFLCC at Arifjan, Kuwait. After the remaining 22 personnel are redeployed, the total numbers of redeployed personnel will stand at 137 and those remaining will be 298. REO Basrah will continue to work with some agencies and organizations to determine whether a further redeployment is possible. Indirect Fire -------------- ¶3. (C) The REO has not had IDF for the nights of July 24 and ¶25. However, on the night of July 25, the RSO received information of possible IDF and RPG attacks from both the British military and the Strategic Counter Intelligence Directorate (SCID) and alerted REO personnel to remain in their trailers starting at 2200hrs. The REO will continue to monitor and provide updates on the current situation. MARRANO