Shaykh Mazhar Air Base, Military airbase in Wasit Governorate, Iraq.
Shaykh Mazhar Air Base is a military airfield in Wasit Governorate built with a 11,300-foot runway and parallel taxiways for operations. The facility contains eight hardened aircraft shelters positioned throughout the base to protect planes.
The base was developed in the 1970s as part of Iraq's Super-Base program based on lessons from earlier regional conflicts. During Operation Desert Storm in 1991, it sustained major damage from Coalition air strikes and was subsequently captured by ground forces.
The base underwent a name change to As Suwayrah Air Base after 2003, reflecting shifts in Iraq's military administration and regional identity.
The base is located roughly 46 miles southwest of Baghdad and about 13 miles west of As Suwayrah in the Wasit region. It remains a restricted military facility with no public access.
After 2003, the base was renamed As Suwayrah Air Base, reflecting changes in Iraq's military administration following the regime transition. This renaming marked a shift in how Iraq reorganized its military operations and command structure.
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