TURKEY/IRAQ SITREP 8: DAY 7 OF GROUND OPERATIONS

S E C R E T ANKARA 000398

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/29/2028
TAGS: PREL MOPS MARR PTER TU IZ
SUBJECT: TURKEY/IRAQ SITREP 8: DAY 7 OF GROUND OPERATIONS

REF: A. ANKARA 0376 AND PREVIOUS

B. ANKARA 0389

Classified By: A/DCM Kim DeBlauw for reasons 1.4 (b,d).


1. (S//REL TO USA, GBR) Although we have received no formal
TGS notification, elements of the Turkish forces involved in
the cross-border operation in northern Iraq appear to have
begun withdrawing from their forward operating bases.
Turkish air force and artillery units conducted cross-border
CAS and fire missions the afternoon of 28 February likely in
support of redeployment operations. Elements of the Turkish
1st Jandarma Commando Brigade, and elements of either the 5th
Battalion of the Mountain Commando Brigade of the 3rd
Battalion of the 3rd Commando Brigade departed the morning of
28 February according to sensitive intelligence and imagery.
Turkey continues to conduct air strikes and probably will
conduct artillery strikes against KGK locations inside the
operating area of the Eastern Zap region. Indications of a
withdrawal were observed yesterday with continued movement
overnight and throughout this morning (29 Feb). Ankara
Coordination Directorate observations, along with reports
from TGS liaison officers, support the above analysis.


2. (U) A Turkish General Staff (TGS) statement on February 28
reported 7 terrorists were killed on the 7th day of the CBO,
bringing the total to 237. TGS said their personnel have not
been affected by the weather conditions and targets continued
to be struck. TGS also said reports that Turkish Armed
Forces (TAF) are destroying civilian infrastructure in
northern Iraq are false and that only primitive
infrastructure used by the PKK has been destroyed.


3. (U) All press outlets reported on the February 28 visit of
Defense Secretary Gates, who met with MOD Gonul, CHOD Gen.
Buyukanit, PM Erdogan, and President Gul. Media reported
that Gates expressed the U.S. position that the CBO should be
as short as possible. The English language daily Anatolia
noted Gates also stressed the need for non-military
initiatives and quoted Gates as telling Gonul, "This is the
only way to isolate terrorists from the population and
provide a long term solution to the problem." The paper
noted that Gates refuted speculation the U.S. would cut
intelligence support in response to a prolonged CBO.
Commentators wrote that when Gates told Turkish officials the
CBO should be short, his interlocutors responded the
operations would last until their goals are met, with Gen.
Buyukanit quoted as saying later, "A short time is a relative
notion. It is sometimes a day, sometimes a year."


4. (U) Turkish press continues to report on operations in
northern Iraq. Islamist-oriented Zaman reported the army
plans to establish 11 temporary bases in northern Iraq after
the majority of troops are pulled out. The paper also quoted
Kurdish regional government PM Barzani as saying, "We're not
convinced whether these attacks are truly against the PKK or
if they are actually against the Kurdistan region of Iraq."
Leftist-nationalist Cumhuriyet claims intelligence sharing
between the U.S. and TAF has dramatically decreased since the
CBO began, adding the need for such intelligence diminished
after the U.S. opened Iraqi airspace to Turkish jets. Press
outlets continued to report PKK terrorists in the Zap region
are besieged by Turkish troops. Zaman added TAF have
destroyed the Loran PKK Camp in Hakurk, noting PKK militants
in that area are reportedly joining with the PJAK, a
PKK-affiliate group based in Iran. Islamist-oriented Haber 7
noted the PKK has started to use YouTube to disseminate
propaganda videos. Commentators continued to discuss the
importance of non-military solutions to the Kurdish issue.

Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Turk ey

WILSON