TURKEY: A CONVOY CARRYING JEEPS AND MILITARY EQUIPMENT FOR THE U.S. INFANTRY HAS LEFT THE PORT OF IKSENDERUN

Record ID: 645784

  • Title: TURKEY: A CONVOY CARRYING JEEPS AND MILITARY EQUIPMENT FOR THE U.S. INFANTRY HAS LEFT THE PORT OF IKSENDERUN
  • Date: 9th March 2003
  • Summary: (U3) ISKENDERUN, TURKEY (MARCH 9, 2003) (REUTERS) LV PORT SLV U.S. SOLDIERS WALKING IN PORT LV U.S. SOLDIERS STANDING BY MILITARY VEHICLES AND BULLDOZER LV/SLV U.S. MILITARY EQUIPMENT ON TURKISH TRUCKS DRIVING THROUGH PORT (2 SHOTS) SLV MILITARY JEEP DRIVING LV SHIP IN PORT LV OF CONTAINERS BEING UNLOADED FROM SHIP IN PORT (2 SHOTS) SLV CONVOY OF U.S. MILITARY EQUIPMENT MOVING ALONG ROAD TOWARDS MARDIN (4 SHOTS)
  • Embargoed: 24th March 2003 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: ISKENDERUN AND LOCATION NEAR SILOPI AND HABUR BORDER CROSSING POINT WITH IRAQ, TURKEY
  • Country: Turkey
  • Reuters ID: LVAC1A0ZPUKS0OJBLDQJCHETURGO
  • Story Text: A convoy carrying jeeps and military equipment for the U.S. Infantry has left the southern Turkish port of Iskenderun, heading to a waiting station outside the city of Mardin, close to the Turkish-Iraqi border.
    Meanwhile, Turkish troops and military vehicles are on standby near the southeastern Turkish town of Silopi, two kilometres from the border with Iraq.
    A convoy of 27 vehicles left the port of Iskenderun on Sunday (March 9) morning, escorted by Turkish police and armoured vehicles.
    The convoy, carrying jeeps and military equipment for the U.S. Infantry, left the southern Turkish port heading to a logistics centre outside the city of Mardin close to the Turkish-Iraqi border.
    Debate continues in Turkey about whether to let U.S.
    troops deploy on its territory to launch a northern front in a war against its southern neighbour Iraq, a key element of U.S.
    pre-war planning.
    The military has expressed its support for U.S. forces to be allowed in, saying it would make for a shorter, less costly conflict.
    The Turkish government has given permission to the United States to modernise several Turkish bases in preparation for a possible conflict against Iraq.
    Ships carrying equipment for the U.S. Fourth Infantry Division are currently waiting off Turkey's Mediterranean coast and at Iskenderun a cargo ship offloaded jeeps, medical supplies and military equipment on Friday (March 7).
    Hundreds of Turkish army vehicles were parked at Silopi, two kilometres from the Habur border crossing point with Iraq on Sunday, amid increased military activity that Turkey's armed forces have described as security precautions.
    Turkish Red Crescent tents have also been set up near the Turkish military vehicles' position.
    A long queue of vehicles has built up at the Habur border crossing because cross border commercial traffic has been halted.
    Last weekend the Turkish parliament narrowly rejected a U.S. request to station up to 62,000 U.S. troops in Turkey, but the government has signalled it may present a fresh motion to the assembly as early as next week.
    There is overwhelming opposition in Turkey to a war in Iraq amid fears that the turmoil could spread across the border and undermine its fragile economic recovery.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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