TURKEY: JAN 15 AIR STRIKES ON PKK TARGETS IN

S E C R E T ANKARA 000080 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/15/2023 TAGS: PREL MOPS TU IZ SUBJECT: TURKEY: JAN 15 AIR STRIKES ON PKK TARGETS IN NORTHERN IRAQ Classified By: DCM Nancy McEldowney for reasons 1.4 (b,d). ¶1. (S) Turkish warplanes attacked suspected PKK terrorist positions in the Zap-Sivi, Avasin-Basyan, and Hakurk regions in northern Iraq on January 15. The air strikes took place between 1045 and 1400 hours local time. The Turkish General Staff (TGS) provided approximately 12 hours of advance notice to the Ankara Coordination Center (ACC) located in the Office of Defense Cooperation in Ankara. ACC personnel coordinated with relevant U.S. military authorities to ensure battlespace over northern Iraq was appropriately cleared. ¶2. (S) According to information provided by the ACC, at least 11 aircraft participated in the strikes. Turkish aircraft penetrated further south and east than the coordinated and deconflicted battlespace, according to initial reports, going as far south as Kandil mountain, and as far east as five nautical miles (NM) into Iranian airspace. However, no ordnance was reported to have been dropped more than about 25 miles south of the Turkish border. ¶3. (U) The Turkish General Staff released a press statement shortly following the air strikes, an unofficial translation of which follows: Begin TGS Statement: Date: January 15, 2008 NO: BA-05/08 The positions of the PKK/Kongra-Gel terrorist organization in Zap-Shivi, Avasin and Hakurk region of northern Iraq were effectively hit during an air raid operation by Turkish Air Forces fighters on January 15, 2008. The planes which participated in the operation returned safely to their base. During the operation, the targets which were confirmed to have belonged to the organization were attacked. As announced by the TGS previously, every effort is being made to prevent civilian populations from being affected by the operations. The PKK/Kongra-Gel terrorist organization, which targets everyone including military personnel and civilians, has shown its real intention once again during its latest actions and has become the target of the civilized world adopting the basic principle of humanity. End TGS Statement Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Turk ey WILSON