US hands over another air base to Iraqi forces – By Shawn Snow (Military Times) / April 4 2020
The U.S. handed over the al-Taqaddum Air Base to Iraqi forces on Saturday — it’s the fourth base to be handed over to Iraqi Security Forces over the last several weeks.
The al-Taqaddum Air Base is located between Ramadi and Fallujah. The coalition says the base transfers are a result of success against ISIS.
“These pre-planned base transfers are not related to recent attacks against Iraqi bases hosting Coalition troops, or the ongoing COVID-19 situation in Iraq,” Operation Inherent Resolve, said in a news release.
The coalition has been consolidating troops across a number of smaller outposts to bigger bases. Some coalition troops have left Iraq as a result of COVID-19.
The coalition has also been criticized for its inability to protect bases from rocket attacks believed to be orchestrated by Iran-backed militias.
An attack on Camp Taji in March resulted in the deaths of two U.S. troops and one U.K. service member.
Continue to article: https://www.militarytimes.com/flashpoints/2020/04/04/us-hands-over-another-air-base-to-iraqi-forces/
