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.

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Normal Shelling Along Iraqi-Turkish Border
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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.

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Turkish Military and Bases and Logistical Offices
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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.

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Provincial Joint Coordination Center
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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.

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Background on General Faqi
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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