Al Udeid Air Base

According to media reports in June 2017, the base hosted over 11,000 U.S. and U.S.-led anti-ISIL coalition forces and over 100 operational aircraft.

The U.S. first used the then-secret base in late September 2001, when the Air Force needed to get aircraft in position for its operations in Afghanistan.

[6] The official acknowledgement of the base came in March 2002, when Vice President Dick Cheney stopped there during a trip to the region with a group of reporters.

The Orions flew long endurance missions over the Persian Gulf tracking vessels, curbing smuggling and guarding against the threat posed by suicide boats.

[12] Structure:[13] After the withdrawal of British Tornados and VC10s in Summer 2009 to other locations, Royal Air Force activities at Al Udeid were reduced.

[15] With its small territory and narrow population base, Qatar relies to a large degree on external cooperation and support for its security.

Qatar invested over US$1 billion to construct the Al Udeid airfield during the 1990s; it did not have a large air force of its own at the time.

[16] In early June 2017, the Pentagon said that the diplomatic rupture and tensions between Qatar and some of its Arab neighbors would not affect U.S. operations at the Air Base.

111-84) authorized $117 million in FY2010 spending to build new Air Force recreational, dormitory, and other facilities at Al Udeid.

An aerial view of "Ops Town" at Al Udeid Air Base in 2004
An aerial view of "Log Town" at Al Udeid Air Base in 2004
A "no trespassing" sign at Al Udeid Air Base
U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotankers at Al Udeid Air Base in 2017
Combined Air and Space Operations Center (CAOC) provided command and control of air power throughout Iraq , Syria , Afghanistan , and 17 other nations.