U.S. COUNTER-TUNNELING EQUIPMENT TEAM VISIT TO

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 CAIRO 001436 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ELA AND NEA/IPA OSD FOR AGUIRRE NSC FOR PASCUAL CENTCOM FOR AMMONS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/09/2018 TAGS: PARM PREL MASS EG SUBJECT: U.S. COUNTER-TUNNELING EQUIPMENT TEAM VISIT TO EGYPT, JUNE 15-30 REF: CAIRO 1029 Classified By: ECPO Mincouns William R. Stewart per 1.4 (b). ¶1. (S) Summary: A U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Team visited Egypt June 15-30 to conduct site surveys on the Gaza Border and at the Giza training site in preparation for the GOE's deployment of seismic-acoustic counter-tunneling equipment on the Gaza Border, expected in January 2009 (reftel). We expect the equipment to begin arriving in Egypt at the end of September. The team, accompanied by OMC, visited the Gaza Border between June 16 and June 20 to conduct a site survey to identify ground for deploying Phase I of the system along 3.6 kilometers from the Egyptian Rafah terminal north to Border Stone 4, and to conduct technical readings. The GOE facilitated the team's work with excellent security and logistical support. USACE conducted a site survey at the Giza training site from June 21 to June 26 in preparation for the start of training in October 2008. The USACE team advised the GOE to be discreet about the location of the equipment on the border, and addressed GOE questions regarding material to fill tunnel openings and continuing training on the border after the January 2009 deployment. To conclude the visit, the team briefed senior MOD officials, including A/Minister of Defense for Policy MG Mohammed Al-Assar. End summary. ¶2. (S) During their June 16-20 Rafah border visit, team members met with senior Liaison with International Organizations (LAWIO) officers to discuss the site survey and the capabilities of the system. The team identified ground behind Border Stone 4 on the Egyptian side of the border, west of the Egyptian border wall, as a suitable spot to deploy the underground sensors. The team requested that the GOE clear this area of stone debris that remains from the border wall construction, so that the equipment can be deployed. The area along the border where Phase I of the equipment will be deployed covers 3.6 kilometers running north from the Egyptian Rafah Terminal to Border Stone 4. The GOE determined that this section of the border is at the highest risk for smuggling, and has therefore decided to deploy the equipment there in Phase I. We expect equipment to begin arriving in Egypt at the end of September for installation on the Gaza border and at the Giza training site, just outside Cairo. ¶3. (C) During Phase II, the GOE would deploy the equipment from the Rafah crossing approximately 3 kilometers south to the Kerem Shalom crossing. In Phase III, the GOE would deploy the system from Border Stone 4 approximately 2 kilometers north toward the Mediterranean Sea. In preparation for installing the equipment, the USACE team conducted several tests on the border, including various seismic acoustic readings, weather surveys and soil measurements to calibrate the equipment for deployment. The USACE team plans to set up the command and control center for the system in the parking lot of the Egyptian Rafah Terminal. ¶4. (C) The team also conducted a site survey from June 21-26 at the "Engineer Institute" training site in Giza. In preparation for the training, which is expected to begin in October, the team will lay 1.2 kilometers of sensors and cables at the Giza site and set up the command and control center. When the training is completed at the end of November, the USACE will transfer the command and control center to the Rafah border. ¶5. (S) During the visit, the USACE team advised the GOE to be discreet regarding the locations on the border where the equipment will be deployed to avoid alerting Palestinian and Egyptian smugglers. In response to GOE concerns about smugglers destroying or disabling the equipment, the USACE team advised Egyptian Border Guard Forces to be vigilant in protecting the system. Regarding GOE questions about theft, USACE noted that the seismic-acoustic components are commercially encrypted so they will not work effectively if stolen. USACE stressed that the watch analysts who will view the seismic-acoustic data from inside the command and control center will need to be conscientious about studying the information and honing their skills in order to use the system effectively. ¶6. (C) The USACE team met with senior Egyptian MOD officials CAIRO 00001436 002 OF 002 June 29 to review the visit. The senior Egyptians included A/Minister of Defense for Policy MG Mohammed Al-Assar, A/Minister of Defense for Armaments MG Fouad Al-Halim, U.S. Affairs Chief MG Ahmed Motaz, Training Chief MG Mohsen, and senior LAWIO officers. In response to a GOE request, USACE said that they would provide the GOE with instructions for producing a concrete and soil mixture that the GOE could use to fill tunnel openings. The GOE officials expressed appreciation for the USACE team's visit, and noted that they looked forward to deploying the equipment. MG Fouad asked about the possibility of additional training on the border following the January 2009 deployment, and USACE assured him that the U.S. could conduct refresher training on the border. SCOBEY