IRAQ POLICE AT SYRIAN BORDER: NO NEW MOVEMENT

S E C R E T BAGHDAD 002396 NOFORN SIPDIS C O R R E C T E D COPY CAPTION NSC FOR M. PHEE, P. VROOMAN OVP FOR H. MUSTAFA E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/07/2019 TAGS: PREL MOPS PINR PTER SY IZ SUBJECT: IRAQ POLICE AT SYRIAN BORDER: NO NEW MOVEMENT REF: BAGHDAD 2395 Classified By: Political Military Minister Counselor Cameron Munter for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) As of 0700 EST, there are no confirmed reports of an increase in security personnel along the Syrian border, despite numerous media accounts of thousands of Iraqi police heading west. According to Interior Minister Senior Advisor Dr. Norman Ricklefs, at this time this is more about the Prime Minister's public posturing through the media than a serious intention -- or capability -- to boost security at the Syrian border. Ricklefs confirmed that the Prime Minister's office issued a directive to the Interior Ministry to increase security by shifting current forces in and around the border. MNF-I sources corroborate this statement, but add that the PM did not allocate additional Iraqi Security Forces for this mission. ¶2. (C) Per reftel, the Interior Minister's staff told Ricklefs on September 5 that the MoI was moving some federal police and local police units to the border. However, according to MNF-I, all of the units assigned to the second Department of Border Enforcement (DBE),responsible for the entire length of the Iraq-Syrian border, are already committed and therefore could not be called upon to beef up the security presence. (Note: One MNF-I report suggested that the MoI called second DBE personnel back from leave. End note.) The Anbar Operations Center, in western Iraq, reported that there has been no movement of MoI forces to the border. In addition, multiple MNF-I entities in west and northwest Iraq have reported that there has been no movement west of forces or security personnel. ¶3. (C) Comment: The reported increase in security at the Syrian border appears to be currently limited to press reports, with the Prime Minister eager for a show of strength as he calls for the extradition of two Iraqi Baathists residing in Syria. End Comment. ¶4. (S/NF) In the context of this report, please see TDX-315/059566-09. HILL