The U.S.-led coalition announced on March 26 that it is handing over the al-Qayyarah Air Base to the Ministry of Defense of Iraq.
A spokesman for the coalition, Col. Myles B. Caggins III, said hundreds of coalition troops will “temporarily” evacuate the base as a protective measure to prevent coronavirus widespread.
“The Coalition is in Iraq at the invitation of the Government of Iraq to defeat Daesh [ISIS] remnants—this is our only purpose. Period. In fact, we’re transferring bases to the Ministry of Defense of Iraq and 100s of training troops are departing temporarily for COVID-19 safety,” the spokesman wrote on Twitter.
According to the spokesman, the handover of the al-Qayyarah Air Base to the Iraqi military was “long-planned” and a result of “success in the campaign against ISIS.”
Approximately 800 troops of the U.S.-led coalition were located in the airbase, which hosted $1,7 million of coalition equipment.
The @Coalition is in Iraq at the invitation of the Government of Iraq to defeat Daesh remnants—this is our only purpose. Period. In fact, we’re transferring bases to @modmiliq and 100s of training troops are departing temporarily for COVID-19 safety. pic.twitter.com/RPPIKyYDlT
— OIR Spokesman Col. Myles B. Caggins III (@OIRSpox) March 26, 2020
Happpening now…@CJTFOIR transfers Coalition area of Qayyarah base to @modmiliq. This long-planned transfer was coordinated with the ISF, due to their success in the campaign against ISIS. #DefeatDaesh pic.twitter.com/x2gHwaExAx
— OIR Spokesman Col. Myles B. Caggins III (@OIRSpox) March 26, 2020
A day earlier, the Iraqi military announced that French troops operating in the framework of the U.S.-led coalition have withdrawn from the country.
The U.S.-led coalition is clearly moving to minimize its presence in Iraq. While the COVID-19 pandemic and success against ISIS are being presented as the only reasons behind this move, other factors may be involved. Most notably, the recent wave of rocket attacks on coalition bases in the country.
This bases was not used for attacking ISIS it was used to attack the PMU and Hezbollah. They can’t even own up to the simple fact that they have been forced to leave. It is nothing to do with Covid19, this is just an excuse to cover for them leaving with their tails between their legs
The good news is that Iran now has total control over Tehran-Damascus highway.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/5d93e870523e59293b79fd7bb70639976fb9307810c130982e7423b212313fc0.jpg
Iranian Safir jeep with 106mm rockets at al-Qaim crossing.
AND NEVER COME BACK!
they’ll be forced to leave unless they bring in more troops and change into a malevolent occupation force rather than the good guys they pretend to be today -the iraqi people won’t be fooled and know that it’s nothing but occupation with intent to steal the resources of iraq and protect the jews in palestine.
whatever be the reasons the important thing is which they leave, forever sovereign Iraqi territories will remain in Iraq hands and americans must came back home,… possibly in black plastic bags
Perhaps they can be used to go and arrest the Venezuelan President now that he drug dealing. I hear he was smuggling asprin into Venezuela and breaking them into dust and selling each speck for exorbitant prices. Yeah , take the drug dealer down. And the sheep go baaa..
Don’t worry, this is only a temporary movement because of COVID-19. The US is staying in Iraq to deal with ISIS and Iranian Shia terrorists alike. :)
Aw Azriel. I read ” this is only a temporary movement ” and I was so excited thinking you meant you were going to move elsewhere until this virus thing was over. Can you imagine the disappointment when I read on and you were waffling on about the US staying to deal with their other unit . Oh well it is wanker waffle weekend again..
Die you Jew scum.
hey there, rocket nose!
Run, run, run loser lardass cowards :)
as usual the yankeetwats are on the run, back to mom and apple-pie and pretend there was no defeat, like in vietnam, like in afghanistan and like in syria. hate the fools!
everywhere the insecure amerikan cowards r in retreat—the 2 most despicable terorist nations on earth: USA/Israel
US is not Iraq’s friend, so all the equipment left behind needs to be checked for GPS locators and other bugs. They can be used against Iraq if left in place.