Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ANKARA1396
2007-06-05 15:00:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:
TURKEY COMPLAINS ABOUT US C-130 CHAFF/FLARE
how-toVZCZCXYZ0002 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHAK #1396 1561500 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 051500Z JUN 07 FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2433 INFO RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD 0956 RUEAHQA/HQ USAF WASHINGTON DC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC//USDP:PDUSDP/ISA:EUR/ISA:NESA/DSCA// RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE RUEUITH/ODC ANKARA TU RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J-3/J-5//
C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 001396
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/05/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR MOPS TU IZ
SUBJECT: TURKEY COMPLAINS ABOUT US C-130 CHAFF/FLARE
RELEASE OVER TURKISH TERRITORY
REF: ANKARA 1291
Classified By: Political-Military Counselor Carl Siebentritt,
reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 001396
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/05/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR MOPS TU IZ
SUBJECT: TURKEY COMPLAINS ABOUT US C-130 CHAFF/FLARE
RELEASE OVER TURKISH TERRITORY
REF: ANKARA 1291
Classified By: Political-Military Counselor Carl Siebentritt,
reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (SBU) We received a diplomatic note from the Foreign
Ministry on June 4 registering a complaint that on May 20 a
US C-130 transiting Turkish airspace en route from Iraq to
Romania released chaff and flares just over the Iraqi border
in Cizre, Turkey, and requesting the Embassy urge relevant
USG authorities to take all necessary measures to avoid a
recurrence. This note followed a similar complaint from the
Turkish General Staff (TGS) to the Office of Defense
Cooperation (ODC).
2. (SBU) After investigating the incident, ODC notified TGS
and we advised the MFA that it was determined that the AIR
crew had violated US AIR FORCE policy and procedures. They
were counseled together with other AIR crews on the
appropriate use of flares in an effort to prevent future
occurrences.
3. (C) COMMENT: The May 20 incident was followed by the May
24 accidental overflight of Turkish airspace by US F-16s.
Both incidents took place just over the Turkish border from
Iraq in Sirnak province, an area of intensive military
operations against the PKK terrorist organization. Given
almost daily PKK terrorist attacks in Turkey and Turkish
government and public frustration both at the lack of
perceived concrete US action to halt the terrorist threat to
Turkey emanating from northern Iraq and at US disapproval of
unilateral Turkish action in Iraq, suspicions of US activity
in the border region are very high. As stated in reftel, we
urge the utmost caution to avoid unintended incidents that
could be misinterpreted. END COMMENT.
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/
WILSON
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/05/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR MOPS TU IZ
SUBJECT: TURKEY COMPLAINS ABOUT US C-130 CHAFF/FLARE
RELEASE OVER TURKISH TERRITORY
REF: ANKARA 1291
Classified By: Political-Military Counselor Carl Siebentritt,
reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (SBU) We received a diplomatic note from the Foreign
Ministry on June 4 registering a complaint that on May 20 a
US C-130 transiting Turkish airspace en route from Iraq to
Romania released chaff and flares just over the Iraqi border
in Cizre, Turkey, and requesting the Embassy urge relevant
USG authorities to take all necessary measures to avoid a
recurrence. This note followed a similar complaint from the
Turkish General Staff (TGS) to the Office of Defense
Cooperation (ODC).
2. (SBU) After investigating the incident, ODC notified TGS
and we advised the MFA that it was determined that the AIR
crew had violated US AIR FORCE policy and procedures. They
were counseled together with other AIR crews on the
appropriate use of flares in an effort to prevent future
occurrences.
3. (C) COMMENT: The May 20 incident was followed by the May
24 accidental overflight of Turkish airspace by US F-16s.
Both incidents took place just over the Turkish border from
Iraq in Sirnak province, an area of intensive military
operations against the PKK terrorist organization. Given
almost daily PKK terrorist attacks in Turkey and Turkish
government and public frustration both at the lack of
perceived concrete US action to halt the terrorist threat to
Turkey emanating from northern Iraq and at US disapproval of
unilateral Turkish action in Iraq, suspicions of US activity
in the border region are very high. As stated in reftel, we
urge the utmost caution to avoid unintended incidents that
could be misinterpreted. END COMMENT.
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/
WILSON