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| Iraq |
| Kurdish air force readying air strips for offensive |
| 2003-02-17 |
| Engineers in the Kurdish self-rule area of northern Iraq are upgrading airstrips to make them key elements in the logistical and emergency support network for the planned US air and ground offensive against Iraqi forces to the south. As part of US preparations for the campaign to oust Saddam Hussein, American military observers in Iraqi Kurdistan, which has been free from Baghdad's control since 1991, have been taking a close interest in the work at three airstrips: Bermani in the north of the autonomous region, Harir in the centre, and Sulaymaniyah to the east. They'll be working in collaboration with the Iraqi Kurdish air force out of these bases. Kurdish F-16s provide combat air patrol while their Tornadoes have been practicing low-altitude bombing runs over the northern mountainous region. The US and Brits don't let them help out in the northern no-fly zone yet, but that's only for political reasons. The runways, which were visited by the Guardian last week, form part of a rudimentary aviation infrastructure in Kurdistan, some of which dates back to the British mandate in Iraq in the 1920s. Sources close to the Kurdish leadership said the US would also move soon to install Patriot missile systems to protect the runways at Harir and Sulaymaniyah. That will supplement the Kurdish Air Forces' recent purchase of a turnkey system of Arrows from Israel. The Americans' main focus revolves around the Bani Harir airstrip, 25 miles north of Irbil, and the Bakrajo runway near the city of Sulaymaniyah. The airstrip at Harir is expected to play a role in the distribution of humanitarian aid, but it could also act as a major staging post for incoming US ground troops. They'll link up with the Iraqi Kurdish army which will get them to the front lines in the new Hummvees they've been buying. The airstrip is clearly visible from the road. The asphalt runway has been cleaned and markings have been painted on it. Two weeks ago, one eyewitness said, a C-130 transport plane landed and offloaded 30 vehicles. There have also been numerous unconfirmed sightings of American troops. Yep, the Kurdish Transport Air Command has been busy. They've been flying C-123s in and out of there as well. Busy place. The airstrip at Bermani, nine miles from the Turkish border, is controlled by Turkish forces monitoring the movement of 5,000 guerrillas of the Kurdistan Workers' party who fled into the Kurdish mountains from Turkey after the arrest of their leader, Abdullah Ocalan. Built by the Iraqis, the runway is in poor condition. Damn, the camoflauge is better than I thought. Kurds have always been good at that kind of stuff. It was last used by fixed-wing aircraft in 1991 and is now thought to be fit for use only by helicopters. Its chief function is likely to be to provide support for the Turkish army in its plan to establish a "buffer zone" along its border with Iraq. There is so far no sign of any allied military presence at the airstrip in Sulaymaniyah. The two-mile-long runway is less than 35 miles from the frontline with Iraqi troops, and a short flying distance from the oil-rich city of Kirkuk. Kurdish army has been coordinating their Gazelle and Lynx helicopter squadrons with both the Turks and the US forces. It's a delicate situation, you see. Forces of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan secured the base three weeks ago. Since then there has been little sign of activity, though Kurdish soldiers have recently refurbished the runway and installed landing lights. The strip is long enough to allow Hercules troop carriers to land, as well as Jaguar and Tornado aircraft. It's only apparently deserted; most of the activity occurs at night, since that's when the Kurds like to operate. They upgraded the Gazelles with new night-flying gear and have been training hard. But its position is within comfortable range of Iraqi field guns. Military experts believe the strip will not be used for offensive operations but mainly as a forward supply base. Once the American-led invasion of Iraq begins, allied troops are likely to be rapidly deployed by helicopter to secure the northern cities of Mosul and Kirkuk. Like I was just saying. The Kurdish air force will provide the heavy lift capacity to get the troops to the front. Wonder if Saddam knows about the 1st Paratroop Regiment the Kurds have? |
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #1 If I were Saddam, I'd be more concerned about their new aircraft carriers. "We don't have a port for them yet, but we expect to remedy that shortly." |
| Posted by: Dishman 2003-02-17 01:41:37 |