TURKEY/IRAQ SITREP 7: DAY 6 OF GROUND OPERATIONS

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 000389 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/28/2028 TAGS: PREL MOPS MARR PTER TU IZ SUBJECT: TURKEY/IRAQ SITREP 7: DAY 6 OF GROUND OPERATIONS REF: A. ANKARA 0366 AND PREVIOUS ¶B. ANKARA 0376 Classified By: A/DCM Kim DeBlauw for reasons 1.4 (b,d). ¶1. (C) Turkish forces continued to engage PKK in the Zap Metina region of northern Iraq, backed by close air support and artillery. Operations at the Habur Gate crossing remained normal. ¶2. (U) A Turkish General Staff (TGS) statement on February 27 reported 77 terrorists and 5 Turkish soldiers killed on February 26-27, bringing the total to 230 and 24, respectively. TGS also reported 3 village guards KIA. (Note: No information is given on where the village guards, who are recruited and armed locally to protect Turkish villages from PKK attack, were killed. End Note). The military reported that, since the start of the ground operation, Turkish forces have partially or completely destroyed a significant number of PKK shelters and bunkers, light weapons positions, anti-aircraft emplacements, as well as transportation, training, command, logistics, and communications facilities. ¶3. (U) Turkish press continues to report on operations in northern Iraq. All media reported the GOT continues to stress its only goal in northern Iraq is the elimination of the PKK terrorist organization. Islamist-oriented Zaman quoted President Gul as saying, "We do not have any intention of invading Iraq. Our goal is to eliminate a danger that poses a threat to our state." Deputy PM Cicek stressed the same point saying, "No one should be concerned. We will leave Iraq as soon as we are done," adding, "We do not intend to remain any longer than necessary in minus 26 degree temperatures." According to the press, 225 PKK targets have been destroyed in air raids and 475 in ground operations. Mainstream Sabah reported 2,000 commandos are advancing to seize the main PKK camp in Zap. Leftist-nationalist Cumhuriyet claimed that Turkey and Iraq have agreed to set up a "common security zone," the term to be used instead of "buffer zone," involving Iraqi and US forces in northern Iraq and Turkish forces at the border. Commentators continued to discuss the importance of non-military solutions to the Kurdish issue. ¶4. (U) Numerous media outlets quoted Secretary Gates as telling reporters in New Delhi yesterday, "It's very important that the Turks make this operation as short as possible and then leave, and to be mindful of Iraqi sovereignty...I measure quick in terms of days, a week or two, something like that. Not months." Leftist-nationalist Cumhuriyet quoted Secretary Gates as saying, "I don't know whether the US will consider stopping sharing intelligence with Turkey if the operation continues for a longer period." ¶5. (U) Newspapers and television reported on the February 27 visit of PM Erdogan's senior foreign policy advisor Prof. Ahmet Davutoglu to Baghdad, where he met with President Talabani, VP Hashimi, FM Zebari and Ambassador Crocker. Davutoglu was quoted as saying, "We are not violating Iraq's sovereign rights but we are securing them by removing the PKK from the region." He later added, "We did not talk about any time frame for the withdrawal of Turkish forces." Mainstream Sabah reported that Davutoglu assured the Iraqis that the Turkish operation was limited, was not targeting civilians, and would avoid contact with Kurdish Peshmerga militia. Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Turk ey WILSON