The air base was a primary air base for the Iraqi Air Force prior to the 2003 U.S. invasion. It had a 10,000 foot runway with numerous taxi-ways leading right out of Hardened Aircraft Shelters (HAS) and laid diagonally to the runways - known as "Trapezoids" or "Yugos". It was a large, expansive base. It is undetermined if it contains underground facilities for aircraft sheltering.
It was apparently abandoned after Operation Desert Storm in March 1991, its proximity to the Kuwaiti border making it unsuitable for use by the Iraqi Air Force.
During the Iraq War, the air base was turned into an operating base for the United States Army with addition of barracks and helipads.
Deployed units:
In 2011, rocket attacks against the site injured 3 soldiers and killed 1 soldier. 3rd Battalion 8th Cavalry regiment 1st Cavalry division 10
Anthony Tucker-Jones, Operation Iraqi Freedom: Iraq 2003. /wiki/Anthony_Tucker-Jones ↩
Allen 2020, p. 73. - Allen, G (2020). The Paras in Iraq - Operation Telic 1. UK: Key Books. ISBN 978-1-913295-90-5. ↩
"Cooks work long hours to feed troops". DVIDS. April 1, 2020. https://www.dvidshub.net/news/22290/cooks-work-long-hours-feed-troops ↩
"Iraqis, Long Knives partner to improve base, increase job opportunities". DVIDS. April 1, 2020. https://www.dvidshub.net/news/21781/iraqis-long-knives-partner-improve-base-increase-job-opportunities ↩
"Soldiers take lead in supporting COS Garry Owen". United States Army. 30 June 2010. Retrieved April 1, 2020. https://www.army.mil/article/41619/soldiers_take_lead_in_supporting_cos_garry_owen ↩
"As Iraq pullback nears, US still at war in south". Deseret News. April 1, 2020. https://www.deseret.com/2011/9/15/20216197/as-iraq-pullback-nears-us-still-at-war-in-south#in-this-monday-aug-29-2011-photo-a-u-s-army-captain-from-the-3rd-battalion-8th-cavalry-regiment-from-ford-hood-texas-left-and-a-translator-talk-with-an-iraqi-army-soldier-while-delivering-toys-and-water-to-residents-in-the-village-of-bani-hashem-iraq-the-soldiers-based-out-of-cos-garry-owen-in-maysan-province-are-part-of-efforts-by-the-u-s-military-to-battle-shiite-insurgents-who-have-attacked-american-forces ↩
"Hawaii unit trains Iraqi local nationals". DVIDS. April 1, 2020. https://www.dvidshub.net/news/55750/hawaii-unit-trains-iraqi-local-nationals ↩
"FOB Garry Owen". USAF. April 1, 2020. https://www.afcent.af.mil/News/Art/igphoto/2000684632/ ↩
"Militants Aided by Iran Fired at G.I.'s in Iraq, Officials Say". The New York Times. April 1, 2020. https://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/14/world/middleeast/militants-aided-by-iran-fired-at-american-forces-in-iraq.html ↩