Saturday, December 05, 2015

Germany 'Draws Up Plans to Prevent Sharing Intelligence' with NATO Ally Turkey


THE TELEGRAPH: German commanders fear Ankara may use intelligence of its flights to target Kurdish forces allied to the West

Germany has reportedly drawn up plans to prevent sharing intelligence with its Nato ally Turkey as it prepares to support international air strikes against Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil).

German Tornado aircraft are to commence reconnaissance flights over Syria and Iraq after the country’s parliament on Friday voted to deploy up to 1,200 military personnel.

Highly un[u]sual measures have been ordered to prevent Turkey getting access to intelligence from the flights, according to Spiegel magazine.

The aircaft are expected to operate from Incirlik airbase in southern Turkey, and as Nato allies, the two countries would normally expect to share intelligence.

But German commanders are concerned Turkey may use surveillance information from the flights to direct attacks against Kurdish forces allied to the West. » | Justin Huggler, Berlin | Friday, December 4, 2015