VZCZCXRO1317
OO RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHAK #2867/01 3361142
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 021142Z DEC 07
FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4507
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD PRIORITY 1080
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RHMFISS/EUCOM POLAD VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J-3/J-5// PRIORITY
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEUITH/ODC ANKARA TU PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEUITH/TLO ANKARA TU PRIORITY
RUEHAK/USDAO ANKARA TU PRIORITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 002867 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/01/2107 
TAGS: PREL MOPS MARR TU
SUBJECT: TURKISH FORCES FIRE ON PKK CAMP IN NORTHERN IRAQ 
 
 
Classified By: DCM NANCY McELDOWNEY for reasons 1.4(b),(d) 
 
¶1. (C)  Summary.  Turkish artillery fired on a terrorist PKK 
camp in the eastern Zap region along Iraq's northern border 
from 10:38 til 11:05 Zulu December 1.  In two announcements 
made following the action, the Turkish General Staff (TGS) 
confirmed the operation, asserting TGS forces killed 30 
PKKers in a strike on 50-60 PKKers targeted in Iraqi 
territory.  A later TGS announcement stressed the operation 
was aimed solely at the PKK; Turkish forces would not target 
northern Iraqis or local groups unless they took hostile 
action against Turkish forces.  Both announcements stated 
Turkey will continue military operations based on 
intelligence reports, as authorized by the GOT.  A spokesman 
for Massoud Barzani reportedly denied a Turkish strike had 
occurred.  We have confirmed the December 1 operation was 
solely an artillery strike, despite Turkish and Western press 
reports.  End summary. 
 
¶2. (C) The Turkish action took place pursuant to the 
cooperation launched following PM Erdogan's November 5 
meeting with President Bush.  A cluster of likely PKK 
personnel was identified in our Combined Intelligence Fusion 
Cell (CIFC), and a senior Turkish military officer ordered 
the artillery fire, which was carried out from within Turkey. 
 Overall coordination with us matched that in three previous 
artillery strikes against suspected PKK locations within the 
last week -- all strikes that hit wide of their target. 
Information from the scene indicates the December 1 artillery 
strike hit near its intended target.  It is impossible to 
determine at this point if casualties resulted. 
 
¶3. (C) Within an hour of the strike, CHOD General Buyukanit 
called Ambassador to thank the US for its help.  He commended 
US-Turkish efforts since November 5.  He had earlier spoken 
with Erdogan and other government officials and said he would 
similarly call CJCS Admiral Mullen to express appreciation. 
Buyukanit told Ambassador further actions will take place as 
opportunities arise, and Turkey will continue to be 
completely transparent in its dealing with us on this issue. 
Buyukanit referred only to artillery fire that had apparently 
been successful and not to any other forces being used, but 
also suggested that further operations near the December 1 
strike might be conducted from the air.  We understand the 
weather in northern Iraq is marginal for further Turkish 
operations on December 2.  That said, Turkish planners are 
intensely focused on the eastern Zap region, where they 
believe significant numbers of PKK fighters are (or were 
before December 1) located.  We will advise as further 
information is available.  We have every reason to believe 
that coordination mechanisms with our military will continue 
to be honored. 
 
¶4. (U) Initial reporting in the Turkish media is 
wide-ranging.  Media attributed actionable intelligence 
obtained from the USG with helping TGS locate the PKK 
targets.  In addition to reports that Cobra helicopters 
bombed the PKK camp along with artillery fire, some media 
reported that a unit of 100 special forces crossed the border 
and carried out a strike.  A military official told 
"Radikal", "From now on, anything can happen anytime," 
leading the daily to conclude land forces might also launch 
an anti-PKK operation in northern Iraq, despite winter 
conditions.  Erdogan responded to questions by noting the GOT 
has tried to work the issue politically and diplomatically at 
home and abroad.  "The issue does not have a sole dimension," 
he said, adding, "This is not solely a cross border 
operation." 
 
¶5. (C) Ambassador has been in touch with a key aide to 
Erdogan to urge that government statements include a positive 
reference to Turkey's cooperation with the US.  Ambassador is 
reiterating this in his conversations December 2, and 
repeating to Turkish officials previous appeals from various 
USG officials that Turkey be in direct contact with Iraq in 
advance of, or at least simultaneous with, the initiation of 
Turkish military actions.  That said, both Turkey and Iraq 
will likely view the December 1 artillery strike as akin to 
fire that has taken place over the last couple of months and 
therefore not regard it as the "cross border operation" under 
public discussion for weeks. 
 
ANKARA 00002867  002 OF 002 
 
 
 
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/ 
 
WILSON