Ayn al-Asad Airbase | |||||||||||||||||||
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Summary | |||||||||||||||||||
Airport type | Military: Airbase | ||||||||||||||||||
Operator | United States Marine Corps (2003–2011) | ||||||||||||||||||
Location | Al Anbar Province, Iraq | ||||||||||||||||||
Elevation AMSL | 618 ft / 188 m | ||||||||||||||||||
Coordinates | 33°48′N 42°26′E / 33.800°N 42.433°ECoordinates: 33°48′N 42°26′E / 33.800°N 42.433°E | ||||||||||||||||||
Runways | |||||||||||||||||||
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ILS planned in 2016
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2014–2015 Ayn al-Assad base attacks | |||||||
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Part of Operation Inherent Resolve and the Global War on Terrorism |
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Belligerents | |||||||
Republic of Iraq United States of America Denmark Australia |
Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant | ||||||
Units involved | |||||||
Royal Danish Army |
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Strength | |||||||
Iraqi Army:
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Unknown | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
Unknown | Unknown |
Ayn al-Asad Airbase (IATA: IQA, ICAO: ORAA) is an Iraqi Armed Forces and United States armed forces base located in the Al Anbar Governorate of western Iraq.
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),VAQ-142, Navy Customs Battalion Juliet, elements of the Iraqi Army's 7th Division, and the United States Air Force (USAF). Due to numerous amenities aboard the base, service members referred to it as "Camp Cupcake."
The base is located in the Hīt District of the largely Sunni Al Anbar Governorate, about 100 miles (160 km) west of Baghdad and 5 miles (8.0 km) west of the village of Khan al Baghdadi.
The airbase is divided by Wādī al Asadī (وادي الاسدي), a wadi whose course passes through the oasis along the base's western edge and then continues eastward, emptying into the Euphrates River at Khan al Baghdadi. This oasis is locally referred to as "Abraham's Well".