Qayyarah West Airport (RQW)

Qayyarah West Airport operates as a strategic military and civil airfield positioned approximately 60 miles south of Mosul and 300 kilometers north of Baghdad, originally constructed in the 1970s as an Iraqi 'super base' following conflicts with Israel and serving as a crucial hub during the Iran-Iraq War when it hosted Mirage F.1EQ and MiG-23ML operations. At 749 feet elevation with a 20-kilometer security perimeter, the airport operates dual runways including a 12,087-foot runway (16/34) and an 11,486-foot runway (15/33) capable of supporting C-5 Galaxy aircraft, along with 33 dispersed hardened aircraft shelters, though current operations focus on supporting Iraqi Security Forces and regional stabilization efforts following the defeat of ISIS.

The airfield gained international prominence during the 2016 Battle of Mosul when Iraqi forces recaptured it from ISIS control on July 9, 2016, subsequently serving as the Coalition headquarters for operations to liberate Mosul with 560 U.S. troops from the 101st Airborne Division deployed to coordinate the offensive. Following one of the largest and most expeditious airfield repair operations in modern U.S. military history, including the first C-130J landing on October 21, 2016, the facility provided crucial command and control, logistics, and tactical airlift capabilities supporting the successful campaign to defeat ISIS in northern Iraq.

Operational transition occurred in March 2020 when U.S.-led Coalition forces formally transferred control to Iraqi Security Forces, marking the complete withdrawal of international troops and establishing Iraqi sovereignty over this strategic installation. Current operations under Iraqi military control focus on maintaining regional security, supporting counter-terrorism operations, and providing logistical infrastructure for military and humanitarian missions throughout northern Iraq's recovering territories, though civilian passenger facilities remain minimal with no customs, lodging, or commercial services available.

Strategic importance extends beyond military operations to supporting Iraq's reconstruction efforts, with the massive runway complex capable of handling large cargo aircraft delivering humanitarian supplies, construction materials, and equipment essential for rebuilding communities devastated by ISIS occupation. Located 16 kilometers west of the Tigris River in Ninawa Governorate, the airfield's position enables rapid response to security threats while facilitating economic recovery throughout the region, though ground transportation requires military or government coordination given ongoing security considerations in post-conflict northern Iraq where stability remains fragile despite significant progress since ISIS's territorial defeat.