TFLE01: SAUDI HUMANITARIAN CONVOY TO BEIRUT

C O N F I D E N T I A L RIYADH 006040 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR LEBANON TASK FORCE (TF-1),ATTN: C. FAJARDO E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/30/2016 TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER EAID LE SA SUBJECT: TFLE01: SAUDI HUMANITARIAN CONVOY TO BEIRUT REF: (A) NEA/ARPI EMAIL 7/28 (B) RIYADH 6003 (C) RIYADH 6037 (D) TFLE01/RIYADH TELCONS (E) STATE 124258 Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Michael Gfoeller for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) NIACT precedence justified by urgent operational information and alternate work week. This message concerns the travel of a Saudi relief convoy to Lebanon. ¶2. (C) Poloff conveyed reftel E information to Emboff at the Saudi Embassy in Lebanon (Saudi POC) early on the morning of July 30. Saudi POC had arrived on site in Syria to meet the convoy and was meeting with representatives from the International Red Cross. Saudi POC informed Poloff that the convoy would comply with all Israeli requests. ¶3. (C) Saudi POC forwarded to Post a copy of a letter provided by the Saudi Red Crescent on behalf of the Saudi Government certifying that the materials transported by the convoy were strictly for humanitarian purposes. Post faxed the Arabic language letter and English translation to the Lebanon Task Force (TFLE01),and confirmed that the Task Force then faxed the letter to the IDF. Post received word via the Task Force at approximately 0940 hrs local time that the IDF had accepted the letter, and that the convoy had received the green light to begin crossing the border en route to Beirut. Post will continue to monitor the convoy's progress via telcons with the Saudi POC, who is traveling with it to Beirut. ¶4. (C) Update on Saudi Air Relief Plan: Post is still waiting to hear from the IDF regarding a second Saudi relief operation of approximately four Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) C-130 aircraft containing humanitarian supplies that the SAG plans to fly to Beirut on July 30 and July 31. Specific flight itineraries will be forwarded as soon as possible. Post is coordinating directly with the IDF Center for the Coordination of Humanitarian Relief for aircraft clearance. The IDF informed Post that it also will pass updated information to TFLE01. SAG has already independently coordinated with government of Lebanon for the movement of these aircraft. ¶5. (C) Point of contact for the Saudi Embassy in Lebanon is Mr. Mohammed al-Hajjaj, cellular number: 00 961 338 8551. ¶6. (U) POCs for Embassy Riyadh are Political Officer Martin Dale; cellular 966 50 525 2815, Office: 966 1 488-3800 ext. 4526, dalema@state.gov; and Major Tim Shadid, cellular 966 50 441 9659, Office: 966 1 488-3800 ext. 4429, shadidtm@state.gov. OBERWETTER