Baqubah Airport

Military base handover and cessation of U.S. military operations. The airfield was an integral part of a U.S. military base (FOB Warhorse) that was officially transferred to the control of the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) following the withdrawal of American troops from Iraq as stipulated by the U.S.–Iraq Status of Forces Agreement.

The site is currently an active military base for the Iraqi Army, serving as the headquarters for the 5th Iraqi Army Division. It is sometimes referred to as Camp Diyala. Satellite imagery shows the runway is in a state of significant disrepair and is partially obstructed by new structures and storage areas, rendering it unusable for fixed-wing aircraft. While the base is active, the airfield itself is not maintained for its original purpose, though open areas may still be used for helicopter operations.

The site was originally an Iraqi military installation known as Muaskar Saad. Following the 2003 invasion of Iraq, it was taken over by U.S. forces and significantly expanded into Forward Operating Base (FOB) Warhorse. The airfield, designated with the non-standard ICAO code IQ-0012, was critically important for military logistics and operations in the volatile Diyala Governorate. It handled a high volume of military air traffic, including C-130 Hercules transport aircraft for supplies and personnel, a fleet of helicopters for tactical transport, air assault, and medical evacuation (e.g., UH-60 Black Hawks, CH-47 Chinooks), attack helicopters (AH-64 Apaches), and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance. The airfield was a lifeline for the base and a key strategic asset during major counter-insurgency operations, particularly during the 'Iraq War troop surge of 2007'.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening Baqubah Airport, either for military or civilian use. Its current function as a critical headquarters for the Iraqi Army, the deteriorated condition of the runway, and its proximity to Baghdad International Airport (approximately 60 km southwest) make its redevelopment as a civilian airport highly unlikely from both a strategic and economic perspective.