US embassy cable - 05BAGHDAD3727

S E C R E T BAGHDAD 003727 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/10/2015 
TAGS: EAID, ECON, IZ, MOPS, PGOV, PINS, PREF, PREL, Security 
SUBJECT: TAL AFAR SITREP: SEPT. 11, 2005 
 
Classified By: Political-Military Affairs Counselor David C. Litt 
for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
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MILITARY DEVELOPMENTS 
--------------------- 
 
-- (S) Operation Restoring Rights is ongoing as Iraqi 
Security Forces (ISF), backed by Coalition Forces (CF), are 
conducting house-to-house searches in the Sarai neighborhood. 
 Anti-Iraqi Forces (AIF) 
resistance is diminishing, with much of its leadership on 
the run.  Many AIF are attempting to escape to the 
southeast, although lower-level AIF are told to fight to 
the death. 
 
-- (S) Casualties since September 10, according to MNF-I, 
are: 0 civilians killed or wounded; 2 AIF killed; 15 AIF 
detained. 
 
-- (S) AIF leadership has apparently moved from Sarai 
neighborhood to Qadisiyah neighborhood. 
 
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POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS 
---------------------- 
 
-- (SBU) Prime Minister al-Jaafari ordered the Rabiyah border 
crossing 
(60 km from Tal Afar) closed to commercial traffic in an 
attempt to stop the flow 
of insurgents and supplies from Syria. 
 
-- (SBU) The ITG will send representatives to Tal Afar on 
Sept. 
12 to discuss humanitarian assistance and rebuilding the 
Tal Afar police with local government and sheiks. 
 
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HUMANITARIAN/REFUGEE DEVELOPMENTS 
--------------------------------- 
 
-- (U) USAID/OFDA/IMC relief efforts are ongoing.  OFDA 
reports a major concern at this point is food supplies. Many 
displaced people will not eat Humanitarian Daily Rations as 
they do not find them to be an acceptable food and also 
distrust their safety and origin.  The potential for a food 
crisis to arise is real. 
 
-- (SBU) Charge' met with Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) 
President Masood Barzani, who said there would be no 
problem with allowing Turkish-donated humanitarian relief 
supplies to cross the Iraqi border and pass through 
KRG-controlled areas. 
 
-- (U) We have confirmed the Turks are preparing to send 120 
tons of food, 30 tons of water, 500 tents, and 2 trucks of 
medical supplies to Tal Afar.  One convoy left Ankara this 
morning and will arrive at the Habur Gate crossing Tuesday 
evening.  A second convoy carrying additional relief supplies 
is scheduled to depart Ankara Tuesday morning.  It is 
possible the first convoy will wait for the second to catch 
up before entering Iraq.  Details are being confirmed. 
 
-- (U) Iraqi Police have screened 3259 citizens at the 
Displaced 
Civilian Rest Area since Sep 1, of which 47 remained at the 
rest area. 
 
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PUBLIC AFFAIRS DEVELOPMENTS 
--------------------------- 
 
-- (U) MNF-I will hold a press conference this afternoon 
(Baghdad time) to update the international press on 
Tal'Afar developments.  We expect wide media coverage of 
this press conference. 
 
-- (U) Local press coverage has generally been favorable, 
stressing the ITG's role in leading operations.  However, 
the website of the Iraqi Association of Muslim Scholars is 
referring to the operation as a "massacre" and calls it 
Jafari's Falluja. 
Satterfield