March 23, 2003
www.iraqwar.ru
The IRAQWAR.RU analytical
center was created recently by a group of journalists
and military experts from Russia to provide accurate
and up-to-date news and analysis of the war against
Iraq. The following is the English translation of the
IRAQWAR.RU report based on the Russian military intelligence
reports.
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March 18,
2003, 0126hrs
MSK (GMT +3), Moscow
- According to the information received from one of the
Russian Defense Ministry's radio intercept
units, certain aspects of the planned military operation
against Iraq were uncovered by the Russian military intel.
During one of the radio communications between Kurd troops
information was intercepted indicating that during the
next 48 hours there may be a large-scale airdrop of US
troops in Kurd-controlled northern Iraq.
Information
obtained from additional sources shows that Turkey's
refusal to permit a large number of US ground troops
on its territory threw into turmoil the US plans for
invading Iraq from the north. However, after a further
analysis of the situation, the US command concluded that
Turkey's refusal creates a possibility for an element
of surprise in the US attack from the north.
Radio intercepts
of Kurdish and some Turkish sources allow for a reasonable
conclusion that with the beginning of the military operation
the US will rely on Turkey's permission to use its airspace
to transport between 18,000-22,000 troops
in two days to Northern Kurdistan. This fast-response
group of forces will form the core of the northern attack
force.
It is believed
that by the end of the fifth day of the war this attack
group will be able to initiate full-scale combat operations
against the Iraqi forces. In their advance from the north
the US forces are expected to make full use of the Kurdish
troops and the sympathetic local population. In connection
with these plans some 300 British Commandos from the
22-nd SAS regiment have been already deployed to the
Kurdish-controlled territories. These troops are conducting
reconnaissance of the Iraqi forces deployed in the region,
organizing cooperation between the Kurdish forces and
the US and British commanders in the region, and preparing
landing sites for the upcoming drops of airborne troops.
Communication
specialists and electronic equipment already have been
delivered to Northern Kurdistan along with "Patriot"
surface-to-air
missile systems and are ready to support the air drop
of troops.
(source: iraqwar.ru,
03-18-03, translated by Venik)
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