Al-Asad Airbase
Al-Asad Airbase (IATA: IQA, ICAO: ORAA) is an Iraqi Armed Forces base 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 | |||||||||||
Al Asad Al Asad Al Asad | |||||||||||
| Coordinates | 33°48′N 42°26′E | ||||||||||
| Site information | |||||||||||
| Owner | Ministry of Defence | ||||||||||
| Operator | Iraqi Army | ||||||||||
| Site history | |||||||||||
| Built | 2003 | ||||||||||
| In use | 2003-current | ||||||||||
| Airfield information | |||||||||||
| Identifiers | IATA: IQA, ICAO: ORAA, LID: MAA | ||||||||||
| Elevation | 188 metres (617 ft) AMSL | ||||||||||
| |||||||||||
| Other airfield facilities | ILS planned in 2016 | ||||||||||
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-141, Navy Customs Battalion Juliet, elements of the Iraqi Army's 7th Division, and the United States Air Force (USAF).
On December 26, 2018, President Donald Trump and his wife Melania visited the soldiers stationed at the base. On November 23, 2019, Vice President Mike Pence and his wife Karen, visited the troops ahead of Thanksgiving. 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.