After weekly rocket attacks, US moves forces from Taji base

For six years, Taji was a key base for the Americans and other countries.

By SETH J. FRANTZMAN
Maj. Gen. Kenneth P. Ekman, Deputy Commander of Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve, shakes hand with Brigadier General Salah Abdullah during a handover ceremony of Taji military base from US-led coalition troops to Iraqi security forces, in the base north of Baghdad, Iraq August 23 (photo credit: REUTERS/THAIER AL-SUDANI)
Maj. Gen. Kenneth P. Ekman, Deputy Commander of Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve, shakes hand with Brigadier General Salah Abdullah during a handover ceremony of Taji military base from US-led coalition troops to Iraqi security forces, in the base north of Baghdad, Iraq August 23
(photo credit: REUTERS/THAIER AL-SUDANI)
Camp Taji in Iraq has been an important base for the US-led anti-ISIS campaign. It historically held up to 2,000 members of the coalition force.
However, recent challenges, such as COVID-19 and rocket attacks by pro-Iranian groups that have increased to almost weekly threats, come as the US and partner countries are leaving numerous bases in Iraq. Camp Taji is the biggest and most symbolic so far.
American forces are in Iraq at the invitation of the Iraqi government. In a meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi last week, US President Donald Trump said he planned to withdraw all US troops from Iraq as quickly as possible. Pro-Iranian groups have demanded that the US leave Iraq.

More than 47,000 Iraqis were trained at Camp Taji during the anti-ISIS campaign, some of the 200,000 or so who were mentored and trained by the coalition. The success of the war on ISIS and the increased pressure on the US has led the coalition to leave various bases, including Abu Ghraib, Ninewa near Mosul, K-1 near Kirkuk, Q-West south of Mosul and Besmaya in the last six months.
Coalition troops no longer go on raids on the ground with the Iraqis. But air forces from the US and other nations do conduct air strikes. The UK, for instance, has recently carried out air strikes.
The coalition transferred $347 million worth of equipment as part of the handover. That includes an airfield, aircraft shelters and training ranges and vehicles. Some 90 million rounds of ammo were also given over. This is what success looks like, Brig.-Gen. Simon Johnstone said during the handover.
It is a historic day, Maj.-Gen. Kenneth Ekman said. For six years, Taji was a key base for the Americans and other countries. There are more than 70 partners of the coalition, but only about a dozen of them had boots on the ground in Iraq. Many of those men and women have left due to COVID-19 challenges in the last six months.
Rocket attacks also endangered lives. In March, three members of the coalition were killed. The US carried out airstrikes against Iranian-backed Kataib Hezbollah in retaliation. Forces from Spain, Canada, Australia, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, New Zealand and the UK all served at some point in Taji.
This represents a turning point in Iraq in terms of the US’s role and that of the coalition. It remains to be seen what Washington will do with the remaining base at Ayn al-Assad and others, such as Union III in Baghdad and near the airport, which are targeted by rockets on a weekly basis by pro-Iranian groups.