TURKISH MILITARY ACTIVITY ALONG THE IRAQ BORDER:

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 001577 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/14/2017 TAGS: PGOV PBTS PTER MOPS IZ TU SUBJECT: TURKISH MILITARY ACTIVITY ALONG THE IRAQ BORDER: AN IRAQI VIEW REF: BAGHDAD 1040 Classified by Regional Coordinator James Yellin for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). This is a Regional Reconstruction Team (RRT) Cable. ¶1. (C) SUMMARY. A well-placed Kurdish security official told IPAO that the level of recent shelling along the Iraqi-Turkish border was not unusual. He confirmed the location of seven Turkish military positions and two Turkish logistical offices inside Dohuk Province. END SUMMARY. -------------- Normal Shelling Along Iraqi-Turkish Border -------------- ¶2. (C) IPAO met with General Salaam Faqi of the Dohuk Joint Provincial Coordination Center (PJCC) on April 15 in Dohuk. General Faqi said the recent Turkish shelling in the Kurdistan border area was not unusual and been carried out from within Turkish territory. From January 1 to April 7, he noted, there were 15 instances of shelling that occurred along this border area, initiated by the Turkish forces. Between April 4-7, there were four instances of shelling, each lasting on average 15 minutes. When asked why there were four instances in such a short time span, General Faqi commented that during spring there is increased traffic and tourism, notably festivals, as well as a planned rotation of Turkish soldiers in May * which did not seem relevant to the question at hand. ¶3. (C) General Faqi said that during the course of the shelling, Turkish troops did not cross the border into Iraqi Kurdistan. He noted that no casualties or injuries were reported on the Iraqi side of the border. He also said he lacked information on whether there were any casualties on the Turkish side of the border. While General Faqi told IPAO that there had been engagement between the PKK and Turkish forces, he could provide no details. -------------- -------------- Turkish Military and Bases and Logistical Offices -------------- -------------- ¶4. (C) General Faqi specified the location of nine Turkish positions inside Dohuk Province and described them as follows: -- Batofa. He said this is the military headquarters for the Turkish forces inside Iraq. Twenty Turkish officers. LG 2341 1606. -- Amadiya. 40 persons. LG 6548 05750. -- Grebiya. One half of a battalion. LG 3257 2183. -- Kany mase ) Barokh. 600 soldiers. LG 60401 20772. -- Bamarni. He said this includes an airport. One battalion. No exact grid coordinates provided. (Note: IPAO found for Bamarni: 38S LG 463801 09707.) -- Sarzeary. 60 persons. LG 687 227. -- Seeri. 60 persons. No exact grid coordinates provided. (Note: IPAO found for Seri or Suri: 38S LF 95748 99548.) -- Zahko city. Logistics Office. 15 persons. No exact grid coordinates provided. -- Dohuk city. Logistics Office. 15 persons. No exact grid coordinates provided. ¶5. (C) General Faqi noted he had not been to the logistics offices in quite awhile but assumed they were still staffed. -------------- Provincial Joint Coordination Center -------------- ¶6. (C) The Provincial Joint Coordination Center is an integrated public safety system that links several Iraqi security forces: the Iraqi Army, the Iraqi Police services, and the Department of Border Enforcement. Its role is to collect information about terrorist, insurgent, and criminal trends and to coordinate efforts to fight anti-Iraqi and anti-coalition groups. The PJCC is used by local officials, Iraqi security forces, and coalition forces to understand and BAGHDAD 00001577 002 OF 002 address the security needs of the population. It uses a public tip line as a tool to gather information on terrorists, insurgents, and criminals. Iraqis can use the tip line to report suspicious activity directly to an Iraqi police officer. The PJCC also holds conferences among the Iraqi security forces to promote interagency cooperation and information sharing. Finally, the PJCC has a 911 system or Advanced First Responder Network designed to determine the location of a security incident, mobilize appropriate security forces, and maintain secure communications. -------------- Background on General Faqi -------------- ¶7. (C) General Faqi was recommended to be head of the Dohuk PJCC by the Iraqi Army Chief of Staff (a Kurd),Babaker B. Shawkat Zebari. General Faqi reports directly to the Governor of Dohuk, the Prime Minister,s office in Baghdad, as well as the Ministries of Interior and Defense in Baghdad. CROCKER