TURKEY/IRAQ: TURKEY REQUESTS US HELICOPTER SUPPORT

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 002860

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/30/2017
TAGS: PREL MARR MOPS IZ TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY/IRAQ: TURKEY REQUESTS US HELICOPTER SUPPORT
FOR ROTATION OF ITS IRAQ LNOS

Classified By: DCM Nancy McEldowney for reasons 1.4 (b,d).


1. (C) The Turkish military has requested U.S. support to
transport Turkish Special Forces liaison officers (LNOs)
co-located with US/Coalition forces in Northern Iraq to the
Habur Gate border crossing. MND-N has previously provided
helicopter support for this rotation on an informal basis but
now wishes to formalize the tasking. The Turkish Special
Forces Brigade headquartered at Silopi, Turkey rotates every
4 months. Associated with brigade headquarters change-out is
the rotation of 20 to 21 Turkish Special Forces LNOs working
at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Warrior in Kirkuk, TF Iron in
Marez, and Camp Sykes in Tal Afar. Departing LNOs are
transported from these locations to Habur Gate on the Iraqi
side of the border, and then the new LNOs are flown back to
US/Coalition facilities.


2. (C) The Turkish Special Forces brigade at Silopi has
agreed to use Turkish aviation assets to transport their LNOs
from Mosul and Marez to the Habur Gate border crossing.
However, rotating seven Turkish LNOs based in Kirkuk is more
problematic for Turkey and Iraq given the political
sensitivities surrounding Kirkuk. In addition, Turkish
helicopters are not equipped with sufficient countermeasures
to operate safely in the more hostile environment that exists
in the Kirkuk area.


3. (C) This mission contributes to improved relations and
transparency between US/Coalition forces and Turkish military
forces operating in Northern Iraq. The helicopter mission in
support of the Turkish Special Forces LNOs also supports
enhanced U.S. engagement with senior Turkish military leaders
during a period of stress in the relationship caused by PKK
terrorism and increases dialogue that helps to align Turkish
and U.S. political objectives. By providing secure transport
for allied military personnel in a combat zone, we are
demonstrating to Turkey our commitment to partnership in Iraq.


4. (C) We believe it is in the US interest to support LNO
rotation to and from Kirkuk, subject to MND-N aircraft
availability and other operational requirements. Once
support is approved, we recommend the US LNO serving at the
Turkish Special Forces Brigade Headquarters in Silopi, Turkey
be authorized to coordinate scheduling directly with MND-N.


5. (C) The Turkish SF Brigade has requested support for
personnel rotation as follows:

5 Dec 07: transport 4 Turkish LNOs from Kirkuk (FOB Warrior)
to Marez.

7 Dec 07: transport 7 Turkish LNOs from Marez to Kirkuk (FOB
Warrior).

9 Dec 07: transport 3 Turkish LNOs from Kirkuk (FOB Warrior)
to MArez.

Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/

WILSON