“K1 has served as a critical location for the Coalition, the ISF and Iraqi Counter Terrorism Service in the fight to find and destroy ISIS safe havens in the rugged Hamrin Mountains. It will continue to be a key location in our partnered efforts to eliminate the evils of Daesh [Islamic State terror group, IS, or ISIS, banned in Russia]. Today’s transfer was coordinated with the Government of Iraq and is possible thanks to the efforts and successes of our ISF partners," Barker said.
Today, @Coalition troops transferred $1 million of property as they depart the @CJTFOIR compound inside K1 Iraqi Air Base. This long-planned move was coordinated w/ @IraqiGovt. The ISF are successful against ISIS, Coalition troops will support from fewer places w/ fewer faces. pic.twitter.com/pgeqrbi8cF
— OIR Spokesman Col. Myles B. Caggins III (@OIRSpox) March 29, 2020
The coalition cited a successful campaign against Daesh* by the Iraqi military as the reason behind the transfer of K1 and said that the move was pre-planned and unrelated to the spread of COVID-19 in the Middle Eastern country or recent attacks by Shiite militias against Iraqi bases hosting foreign troops.
The transfer of equipment to Iraqi forces on the K1 airbase will be complete in the next few days, according to CJTF-OIR.
*Daesh [the Islamic State, ISIS, ISIL] - a terrorist group banned in Russian and a number of other countries
