Iraq's Troop Buildup Against Kurdis

[mchyet at library.berkeley.edu]

From: mchyet at library.berkeley.edu
Subject: Iraq's Troop Buildup Against Kurdish Region

7 March 1995

IRAQ'S TROOP BUILDUP AGAINST KURDISH REGION

        Qala-Cholan, Iraq -- Kurdish leader Jalal Talabani today received a 
delegation from the UN Guard Contingent stationed in Iraqi Kurdistan.  Mr. 
Talabani submitted a detailed account of the order of battle of Iraqi armed 
forces deployed on the fringes of the Kurdish region:

        Three army corps (the First, the Fifth and the Second) are massed 
against the Kurdish region.  These three corps include a total of 17 divisions 
comprising nine infantry divisions, one armored division, two mechanized 
infantry divisions, four Republican Guard divisions including an armored 
division, and one Border Guard division.  In addition to these, a further 25 
tank units (katiba), eight armored regiments (fawj), seven mechanized regiments,
four armored units and 27 infantry brigades are deployed.

        Mr. Talabani expressed his surprise at a recent statement by a UN 
official in Iraq underestimating the significance of Iraqi troop buildup against
the Kurdish region, and pointed out that the strength of these forces equals 
that of the invasion forces deployed against Kuwait in August 1990.

7 March 1995

IRAQI AGGRESSION AGAINST KURDISH AREAS CONTINUES: HELICOPTER GUNSHIPS ATTACK 
KURDISH POSITIONS

        Iraqi armed forces continue with their agression and provocation against
Kurdish communities and positions on the fringes of the Kurdish administered 
region.  Amid continued artillery shelling of Kurdish positions, Iraqi infantry 
and armored units have engaged Kurdish and Iraqi National Congress (INC) forces 
in various locations.  Kurdish forces in coordination with the INC are 
maintaining defensive positions against Iraqi offensives and provocation.

        Kurdish officials in Erbil confirmed that Iraqi helicopter gunships 
attacked Kurdish positions near Chemchamal throughout today.  More Iraqi 
infantry and armored reinforcements have been observed taking up positions in 
the no-man's land near Chemchamal.

        Last night, in response to persistent shelling and provocation by Iraqi 
armed forces, Kurdish and INC forces gained control over the artillery regiment 
of the 38th Division in the Gwer district (northwest of Erbil).  In this 
engagement, opposition forces captured eight 122mm artillery pieces and large 
amounts of light weapons and ammunition.  Nearly 70 Iraqi soldiers and officers 
defected to the opposition side, including members of the 2nd and 3rd regiments 
of the 848th Brigade of the 38th Division.
        
        Sporadic clashes with Iraqi armed forces were also reported in the Kifri
area last night.

        We call upon the international community to restrain the government of 
Iraq from persisting with its aggression against the Kurdish region.


for more information, call (703) 354-3056 [Patriotic Union of Kurdistan]