US embassy cable - 05ANKARA5306

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 005306 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/11/2015 
TAGS: MOPS, PREL, TU, IZ 
SUBJECT: TURKS ALLEGE COALITION F-16S VIOLATED TURKISH 
AIRSPACE 
 
 
Classified By: Acting DCM Timothy A. Betts for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1. (C) Turkish General Staff informed ODC Turkey Sept. 9 that 
it had data indicating that on the same day two F-16 aircraft 
"assumed having taken off from Iraq" violated Turkish 
airspace 20 km southeast of Sirnak.  TGS's note claimed that 
the aircraft entered Turkish airspace at 1155 local time at 
3721 north - 4242 east and exited at 1159 at 3722 north - 
4317 east. 
 
2. (C) MNF-I reported to ODC Turkey Sept. 10 that there were 
no USAF F-16s airborne during the time provided by TGS. 
There were two F-18 aircraft that were airborne in the 
vicinity of Talafar during that time frame, but they flew no 
closer than 90 miles away from the Turkish border. 
Additionally, the Combined Air Operations Center's Joint 
Interface Control Cell replayed all the aircraft tracks 
during the time provided by TGS.  CAOC's analysis of the data 
showed that these U.S. F-18 aircraft never came close to 
Turkish airspace.  In the review of the tapes, however, CAOC 
did find an aircraft track that originated in the Baghdad 
area, with a mode 3 code of 1025.  This mode 3 code 
corresponds to mission number GFA005, an Iraqi-tasked A330 
that flew up through Iraq and entered Turkish airspace at the 
approximate coordinates and times listed.  ODC Turkey 
provided this information to TGS on Sept. 12. 
 
3. (C) MFA Deputy Director General for the Middle East Vakur 
Gokdenizler called in PolMilCouns Sept. 12 to discuss the 
alleged violation.  Gokdenizler made it clear he was acting 
on instructions from Under Secretary Tuygan, and emphasized 
that Turkey was only seeking verification of its claim. 
PolMilCouns deployed MNF-I's findings.  Gokdenizler said he 
would pass this information on, but also asked if we would 
check the coordinates and date and time group provided by the 
Turks "one more time." 
MCELDOWNEY