United States flaunts the world its dominance through the presence of its military bases
across the globe. These bases arguably serve as critical infrastructures to assist the
United States achieves its strategic interests through military operations. In an era of
heightened conflict in the Middle East, the United States harbors their advanced defense
equipment and sophisticated weapon system in Al-Udeid Air Base, Qatar. Despite the commitment
and statement made by the U.S. official to pull out from the conflict in the Middle East,
there has been a decision to expand the Al Udeid Air Base. Then the question arises,
how exactly important is the Al Udeid Air Base?
Hello everyone. Welcome back to another episode of Military TV. In today’s session, we are
going to discuss why Al Udeid Air Base is so imperative to American presence in the
Middle East. So, stay tuned and don’t go anywhere.
In 1991, following the success of Operation Desert Storm led by United States to fight
Iraq, U.S. established a notable cooperation with Qatar in the area of defense, leading
to the construction of Al Udeid Air Base at a price of more than $1 billion. Initially,
the United States used the base discreetly, mainly to support its operation in Afghanistan.
However, in March 2002, when Vice President Dick Cheney visited Qatar during a trip to
the region, the United States finally exposed Al Udeid Air Base and officially acknowledge
it as one of the U.S. military bases in the Middle East. Following this, Washington decided
to moved its Combat Air Operations Center (CAOC) from Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi
Arabia to what was then a backup military base in Qatar shortly after the start of US
invasion to Iraq. Since then, Al Udeid Air Base is home to the
US Air Force Central Command, Combined Air and Space Operations Center and the 379th
Air Expedition Wing. In addition, it also provides control and command of air power
throughout Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq and other nations. Due to the large area, Al Udeid Air
Base can even accommodate around 120 aircrafts. This drape desert facility is no other the
hub for more than 50 American KC-135 refuelling planes, surveillance planes, B-1 bombers,
C-17 and C-130 transport aircraft. In recent years, Al Udeid Air Base is critical
to maintain U.S. missions in fighting the terrorists located in several Middle Eastern
countries like Iraq, Yemen and Syria. In 2016, the United States launched its first airstrike
from Al Udeid using the B-52 Stratofortresses to fight ISIS in Mosul, Iraq. This is the
first combat deployment of the United States in the Middle East since the 1991 Gulf War.
The strike targeted ISIS’s weapon facility in Qayyarah, south of Mosul.
On the other hand, following the political chaos in Afghanistan, Al Udeid Air Base served
as a significant ground for the U.S. troops to evacuate as many as Americans and allies
from the Taliban-controlled cities in Afghanistan. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin promised that
the U.S. military would rescue the people until the clock runs out.
To conclude, the presence of the United States military forces in Middle East still remains
as a sensitive matter until today, and it seems contradictory to the commitment of the
U.S. to pull out from the conflict in the Middle East. In spite of this concern, it
is worth to note that Qatar is not only giving permission to the expansion of Al-Udeid Air
Base, but also funding it and controlling the construction at a cost approximately as
high as $1.8 billion. This phenomenon clearly exhibits Qatar’s
willingness to start building a friendly relation with the United States, especially in terms
of defense cooperation. It also shows us that Qatar’s tensed relations with its neighbours
forced this country to look for another key ally in the region, and the United States
is likely the best candidate for that. That’s all for today! Don’t forget to
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