A top US Army general on Tuesday flew in to an airbase south of Mosul that will prove vital in Iraqi forces’ operation on the city held by ISIL Takfiri terrorists.
US Army General Joseph Votel, who heads the military’s Central Command, arrived at the base, which boasts a newly repaired runway, on a cargo plane to see the facility and receive an update on the battle for Mosul, now in its second week.
Qayyarah West, located about 60 kilometers (40 miles) south of the city, has been resurrected after insurgents smashed it to pieces when they seized much of northern Iraq in 2014.
A dusty wasteland of twisted reinforcement bars, booby traps and smashed buildings until only a few months ago was turned it into a key military installation for Iraqi security forces pushing north.
Votel’s C-130 cargo plane touched down in total darkness, one of the first fixed-wing aircraft in years to land at the base.
“This is where supplies will come into, it’s where Iraqi forces will come into. Being able to sustain the fight for the Iraqi forces will be critical, and this airfield will play a very important role,” Votel told reporters travelling with him.
The four-star general was accompanied by Lieutenant General Stephen Townsend, who heads the US-led coalition which is allegedly fighting ISIL.
Source: AFP
