276. Central Intelligence Agency Information Cable IN 1521111 2
Washington, August 28, 1970
[Page 1]
Country
- Iraq/The Persian Gulf
DOI
- As of 28 August 1970
Subject
- Plans of a Plotting Group led by Shi’a Muslims to Attempt Overthrow of the Government of Iraq About Mid-September
ACQ
- [text not declassified] (28 August 1970) Field No.
Source
- [text not declassified]
- 1.
- Muhammad Ja’far al-Numayri, a Shi’a Muslim from Basrah, Iraq, who claims he is a former Iraqi Minister, is involved in an anti-Communist coup plot against the Government of Iraq, which is led by the Shi’a Muslims, and is to be attempted about mid-September. Al-Numayri has been working in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. (Headquarters comment: Al-Numayri is probably identical with one Muhammad al-Numayri who was reported [Page 2] by FBIS on 22 January 1970 as having received a death sentence in absentia because of his involvement in the 22 January 1970 abortive coup against the Government of Iraq. We have no further information on al-Numayri and are not able to verify that he is a former Minister.)
- 2.
- According to al-Numayri, the Shi’a is fed up with the Ba’th regime’s discrimination against them. Al-Numayri said he has support from Shaykh Zayid of Abu Dhabi; Tariq bin Taymur of Oman; Imam Musa al-Sadr, Shi’a leader of Lebanon; and the Agha Khan, leader of the Shi’a Isma’ilis. Al-Numayri is working with the “Isma’ili office” in Beirut. It is planned to attempt the coup in mid-September because the Iraqi regime is shaken by internal disputes, and the regime would not know who is striking at this time, i.e., the UAR, Iran, Kuwait, or Saudi Arabia.
- 3.
- Al-Numayri, who was in possession of Iraqi and Abu Dhabi passports and a business card from Baghdad, said that included in the plotting group are former Ministers, religious leaders, engineers, and military officers. One of those involved is Mahmud Hasan Juma’, a former Iraqi Minister, who is an advisor to Shaykh Zayid of Abu Dhabi and Juma’ is coordinating Abu Dhabi and Omani aid to the plotters. These Gulf [Page 3] leaders want to counter the activities of the Iraqi regime in the Persian Gulf. Al-Numayri plans to stay in Beirut until 1 September, then he plans to go to Kuwait and enter Iraq from Kuwait.
- 4.
- Al-Numayri does not plan to inform Saudi Arabian or Iranian officials, but he does plan to inform the Kuwaitis “soon.” He plans to see the Kuwaiti ruler in Beirut. Al-Numayri also is in touch with Kurdish leader Mullah Mustafaal-Barzani. Al-Numayri said he is willing to cooperate with former Foreign Minister ‘Abd-al-Razzaq Nayif, but only at the last minute, because Nayif is not trustworthy (sic). (Headquarters comment: Nayif helped the Ba’this gain power in mid-1968 and was exiled two weeks later by the Ba’th regime.)
- 5.
- Al-Numayri contacted a Syrian arms dealer on urgent basis on 28 August because of al-Numayri’s need for explosive devices the arms dealer had in a warehouse. (Headquarters comment: The source did not say whether he had provided the explosives.)
- 6.
- [text not declassified] Dissem: State CINCMEAFSA. [text not declassified]