Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ANKARA1882
2007-07-23 15:23:00
SECRET//NOFORN
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:
TURKEY/IRAQ: NO EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT IRAQI CLAIMS
how-toVZCZCXYZ0010 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHAK #1882 2041523 ZNY SSSSS ZZH O 231523Z JUL 07 FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3097 INFO RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD PRIORITY 1001 RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK PRIORITY RHMFISS/39ABG INCIRLIK AB TU PRIORITY RHMFISS/425ABS IZMIR TU//CC// PRIORITY RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J-3/J-5// PRIORITY RUEUITH/ODC ANKARA TU PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC//USDP:PDUSDP/ISA:EUR/ISA:NESA/DSCA// PRIORITY RUEHAK/USDAO ANKARA TU PRIORITY
S E C R E T ANKARA 001882
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NOFORN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/23/2022
TAGS: PGOV PREL MOPS IZ TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY/IRAQ: NO EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT IRAQI CLAIMS
OF MAJOR CROSS-BORDER STRIKES
REF: A. BAGHDAD 02422
B. IIR 6 898 0555 07
C. ECCLES-SIEBENTRITT E-MAILS
Classified By: DCM NANCY MCELDOWNEY FOR REASONS 1.4 (b,c,d).
S E C R E T ANKARA 001882
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NOFORN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/23/2022
TAGS: PGOV PREL MOPS IZ TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY/IRAQ: NO EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT IRAQI CLAIMS
OF MAJOR CROSS-BORDER STRIKES
REF: A. BAGHDAD 02422
B. IIR 6 898 0555 07
C. ECCLES-SIEBENTRITT E-MAILS
Classified By: DCM NANCY MCELDOWNEY FOR REASONS 1.4 (b,c,d).
1. (S/NF) Summary: We have investigated and found no
evidence to support Iraqi claims (ref a) that Turkey
undertook major cross-border strikes into Iraq on July 18.
JAC Molesworth, as well as the NATO Combined Air Operations
Center (CAOC) in Eskisehir, which monitors regional airspace,
report no evidence that Turkish aircraft entered Iraqi
airspace. Imagery analysis from JAC Molesworth indicates
that, as of July 19, Turkish artillery remained targeted at
PKK camps in the eastern regions of Iraq, and is not facing
the Zakho region which the Iraqis assert was under massive
fire. The US Liaison Officer (LNO) in Silopi, just across
the border from Zakho, has seen no on-the-ground evidence of
a large scale operation. This lack of evidence
notwithstanding, we believe the Turkish military continues to
undertake both hot pursuit and limited artillery fire across
the border. Definitive confirmation of this type of activity
is exceptionally difficult given the mountainous terrain.
The potential for hot pursuit and artillery fire to escalate
into a more sustained and larger scale undertaking -- without
advance warning -- cannot be ruled out. End Summary
2. (S/NF) Embassy has investigated allegations made by Masood
Barzani to Embassy Baghdad that Turkey conducted massive
artillery fire and aircraft bombing runs against multiple
villages in several districts of northern Iraq, to a reported
depth of 30 kilometers, on July 18 (ref a). Post inquiries
to CAOC-6 and to JAC Molesworth reveal no evidence of
cross-border sorties by Turkish aircraft nor significant air
activity on the Turkish side of the border on July 18.
3. (S/NF) KRG authorities allege that some of these strikes
occurred in the Zakho district. JAC Molesworth reports that
the 20 self-propelled artillery pieces in range of Zakho were
faced east towards PKK camps and not towards Zakho as of July
19. Our LNO located in Silopi, just across the border from
Zakho, has been unable to confirm artillery fire or
airstrikes in that area after inquiries with the Turkish army
and MNF(N). According to our information, the Zakho mayor
has denied knowledge of any cross-border shelling (ref b).
(Note: Artillery fires elsewhere along the border would be
more difficult to confirm or deny from our vantage point. End
Note).
4. (S/NF) We note that Iraqi President Jalal Talabani's
widely publicized claims that there are 140,000 Turkish
soldiers on the Turkey-Iraq border are grossly exaggerated.
NGA assesses that, while Turkey has a large number of troops
in the southeast part of the country engaged in
counter-terrorism operations, only 25,000 of them are within
10 kilometers of the border (ref c). No major changes in
deployment patterns have been observed recently.
5. (S/NF) Turkish military authorities have admitted that
Turkish forces conduct cross-border artillery fires and
limited hot pursuit operations on occasion against suspected
PKK targets, but generally will not provide us with
information on specific occurrences.
6. (S/NF) Embassy requests that CENTCOM and other agencies,
as appropriate, provide us with specific evidence or
intelligence to support Barzani's claims that Turkey
conducted massive cross-border artillery fires and/or
airstrikes in northern Iraq on July 18.
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/
WILSON
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NOFORN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/23/2022
TAGS: PGOV PREL MOPS IZ TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY/IRAQ: NO EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT IRAQI CLAIMS
OF MAJOR CROSS-BORDER STRIKES
REF: A. BAGHDAD 02422
B. IIR 6 898 0555 07
C. ECCLES-SIEBENTRITT E-MAILS
Classified By: DCM NANCY MCELDOWNEY FOR REASONS 1.4 (b,c,d).
1. (S/NF) Summary: We have investigated and found no
evidence to support Iraqi claims (ref a) that Turkey
undertook major cross-border strikes into Iraq on July 18.
JAC Molesworth, as well as the NATO Combined Air Operations
Center (CAOC) in Eskisehir, which monitors regional airspace,
report no evidence that Turkish aircraft entered Iraqi
airspace. Imagery analysis from JAC Molesworth indicates
that, as of July 19, Turkish artillery remained targeted at
PKK camps in the eastern regions of Iraq, and is not facing
the Zakho region which the Iraqis assert was under massive
fire. The US Liaison Officer (LNO) in Silopi, just across
the border from Zakho, has seen no on-the-ground evidence of
a large scale operation. This lack of evidence
notwithstanding, we believe the Turkish military continues to
undertake both hot pursuit and limited artillery fire across
the border. Definitive confirmation of this type of activity
is exceptionally difficult given the mountainous terrain.
The potential for hot pursuit and artillery fire to escalate
into a more sustained and larger scale undertaking -- without
advance warning -- cannot be ruled out. End Summary
2. (S/NF) Embassy has investigated allegations made by Masood
Barzani to Embassy Baghdad that Turkey conducted massive
artillery fire and aircraft bombing runs against multiple
villages in several districts of northern Iraq, to a reported
depth of 30 kilometers, on July 18 (ref a). Post inquiries
to CAOC-6 and to JAC Molesworth reveal no evidence of
cross-border sorties by Turkish aircraft nor significant air
activity on the Turkish side of the border on July 18.
3. (S/NF) KRG authorities allege that some of these strikes
occurred in the Zakho district. JAC Molesworth reports that
the 20 self-propelled artillery pieces in range of Zakho were
faced east towards PKK camps and not towards Zakho as of July
19. Our LNO located in Silopi, just across the border from
Zakho, has been unable to confirm artillery fire or
airstrikes in that area after inquiries with the Turkish army
and MNF(N). According to our information, the Zakho mayor
has denied knowledge of any cross-border shelling (ref b).
(Note: Artillery fires elsewhere along the border would be
more difficult to confirm or deny from our vantage point. End
Note).
4. (S/NF) We note that Iraqi President Jalal Talabani's
widely publicized claims that there are 140,000 Turkish
soldiers on the Turkey-Iraq border are grossly exaggerated.
NGA assesses that, while Turkey has a large number of troops
in the southeast part of the country engaged in
counter-terrorism operations, only 25,000 of them are within
10 kilometers of the border (ref c). No major changes in
deployment patterns have been observed recently.
5. (S/NF) Turkish military authorities have admitted that
Turkish forces conduct cross-border artillery fires and
limited hot pursuit operations on occasion against suspected
PKK targets, but generally will not provide us with
information on specific occurrences.
6. (S/NF) Embassy requests that CENTCOM and other agencies,
as appropriate, provide us with specific evidence or
intelligence to support Barzani's claims that Turkey
conducted massive cross-border artillery fires and/or
airstrikes in northern Iraq on July 18.
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/
WILSON