US embassy cable - 05BAGHDAD3719

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 003719 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/09/2015 
TAGS: MOPS, PREL, PGOV, PINS, EAID, PREF, ECON, IZ, Reconstruction, Security 
SUBJECT: TAL AFAR SITREP: SEPT. 10, 2005 
 
Classified By: Political-Military Affairs Counselor David C. Litt for r 
easons 1.4 (a), (b), and (d) 
 
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MILITARY DEVELOPMENTS 
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-- (S) Decisive operations in the Saria district of Tal Afar 
to root out foreign terrorists and extremists located there 
commenced at 0200 local time, September, 10, 2005.  6,000 of 
the 11,200 forces engaged are from the Iraqi Army (4,500) and 
Iraqi Police (1,500).  MNF-I estimates enemy strength at 
400-450, including 60-80 foreign fighters. 
 
-- (S) The 3rd Iraqi Army Division, elements of the 2nd Iraqi 
Army Division, the Ministry of Interior 4th Special Police 
Commando Brigade, and Coalition Forces, primarily the 3rd 
Armored Cavalry Regiment, continue offensive operations 
throughout the city. 
 
-- (S) MNF-I reports that since the commencement of 
preparatory operations on August 26, 189 insurgents have been 
detained, 12 arms caches have been discovered, and 8 
improvised explosive devices have been found and rendered 
safe. 
 
-- (S) A suicide car bomb attack on an Iraqi Police Commando 
unit killed 6 Iraqi police and wounded 2. 
 
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POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS 
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-- (C) A committee of Sunni and Shia tribal sheiks supports 
the combined operations and have agreed to participate in 
reconstituting the police force in a fair, equitable, and 
transparent way.  The mayor, who is also the police chief, 
publicly supports these operations. 
 
-- (U) Provincial Governor authorized emergency measures, 
including a city-wide curfew, a ban on civilian vehicular 
traffic, and 24 hour curfew in the Saria neighborhood. 
 
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HUMANITARIAN/REFUGEE DEVELOPMENTS 
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-- (SBU) Approximately 2500 local citizens have been 
temporarily displaced over the last 72 hours. 
 
-- (SBU) USAID/OFDA have fielded a team to Tal Afar to work 
with NGOs and the ITG with humanitarian assistance planning. 
 
-- (SBU) International Medical Corps (IMC), an AID 
implementing partner and principal NGO in the area, has set 
up two static health teams in the villages of Shaykh Ibrahim 
and Abu Maria.  They are also providing water, jerry cans and 
storage tanks to affected areas. 
 
-- (SBU) IDPs are reportedly not consuming some of the 
humanitarian daily rations provided, as they are concerned 
about the food's safety and origin.  IMC has trucks and 
warehouses to store food for up to 1000 families.  There are 
ongoing discussions for the ITG to release food and for IMC 
to distribute it. 
 
-- (SBU) The Iraqi Transitional Government's (ITG) 
Humanitarian Assistance Working Group meets today at 1600. 
Embassy Refugee Coordinator, UNAMI and USAID will attend. 
 
-- (SBU) The Minister of Displacement and Migration (DODM) 
has set up a Tal Afar operations center inside the Green Zone 
at the Adnon Palace, which USG personnel can easily access. 
It had previously been set up in a building located in the 
Red Zone.  Similar Iraqi interagency operations centers have 
been established in Mosul and Tal Afar. 
 
--  (C) Embassy Baghdad continues to work to confirm the 
scope and timing of the humanitarian assistance the 
Government of Turkey will provide.  Current plans call for a 
convoy of Turkish trucks to depart Ankara on Sunday, Sept. 
11.  The Turks have confirmed they intend to ship 120 tons of 
food and water, as well as medical supplies although the 
quantities are not known. 
 
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PUBLIC AFFAIRS DEVELOPMENTS 
--------------------------- 
 
-- (U) Al-Mashriq published a front page story on an official 
statement by the ITG announcing its commitment and capability 
to restore security and order in Tal Afar, as well as its 
desire to return to their homes those who have fled the city. 
 
-- (U) Iraqi Defense Minister Sadoun Al-Dulime gave a press 
conference, broadcast on al-Jazira at which he announced that 
Iraqi and Coalition Forces have killed 141 gunmen and 
arrested 197 others in two days of military operations in Tal 
Afar.  He also announced the ITG's intention to launch 
similiar operations against terrorists in al-Ramadi, al-Qaim, 
Rawah, and Samarra once the Tal Afar operation is completed. 
 
-- (U) Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari has issued 
press statements on Sept. 9 and 10 explaining the need for 
the operation and highlighting the role being played by Iraqi 
forces. 
Satterfield