Al-Asad Airbase
Airbase located in Al Anbar Governorate, Iraq / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dear Wikiwand AI, let's keep it short by simply answering these key questions:
Can you list the top facts and stats about Al-Asad Airbase?
Summarize this article for a 10 year old
Al-Asad Airbase (IATA: IQA[1], ICAO: ORAA) is an Iraqi airbase located in al-Anbar Governorate of western Iraq. It was originally known as Qadisiyah Airbase.
Al-Asad Airbase Qadisiyah Airbase | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Al Anbar Governorate in Iraq | |||||||||||
Coordinates | 33°48′N 42°26′E | ||||||||||
Site information | |||||||||||
Owner | Ministry of Defence | ||||||||||
Operator | United States Airforce Iraqi Air Force | ||||||||||
Site history | |||||||||||
Built | 2003 (2003) | ||||||||||
In use | 2003-current | ||||||||||
Airfield information | |||||||||||
Identifiers | IATA: IQA[1], ICAO: ORAA, LID: MAA | ||||||||||
Elevation | 188 metres (617 ft) AMSL | ||||||||||
| |||||||||||
Other airfield facilities | ILS planned in 2016[2] |
It was the second largest US military airbase in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Until January 2010, it was the home of the II Marine Expeditionary Force/Multi-National Force West. Other major tenants have included the 3rd ID's 4th IBCT, 82nd Airborne Division Advise & Assist Brigade, 332nd Medical Brigade, 321st Sustainment Brigade, Vertical Onboard Delivery Detachment-1 (VOD-1),[3][unreliable source?] VAQ-141, Navy Customs Battalion Juliet, elements of the Iraqi Army's 7th Division, and the United States Air Force (USAF).[4]
On December 26, 2018, President Donald Trump and his wife Melania visited the soldiers stationed at the base.[5] On November 23, 2019, Vice President Mike Pence and his wife Karen, visited the troops ahead of Thanksgiving.[6] On January 8, 2020, the air base came under an Iranian ballistic missile attack in retaliation for the killing of Quds leader Qasem Soleimani in a U.S. drone strike a few days earlier.[7]