{"id":48896,"date":"2020-05-14T16:31:24","date_gmt":"2020-05-14T16:31:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2020\/05\/14\/tensions-with-iran-and-its-proxies-led-to-accelerated-transfer-of-bases-housing-coalition-troops-to-iraqi-forces\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T04:13:45","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T04:13:45","slug":"tensions-with-iran-and-its-proxies-led-to-accelerated-transfer-of-bases-housing-coalition-troops-to-iraqi-forces","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/flashpoints\/2020\/05\/14\/tensions-with-iran-and-its-proxies-led-to-accelerated-transfer-of-bases-housing-coalition-troops-to-iraqi-forces\/","title":{"rendered":"Tensions with Iran and its proxies led to accelerated transfer of bases housing coalition troops to Iraqi forces"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">An inspector general report detailed how tensions between Iran and its militia forces with the U.S. led to an accelerated transfer of several bases to Iraqi troops over force protection issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">From March 17 to March 30 the U.S. handed over <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/flashpoints\/2020\/03\/26\/us-transfers-q-west-airfield-to-iraqi-forces-citing-progress-in-fight-against-isis\/\" target=\"_blank\">four bases <\/a>to Iraqi forces, to include an airfield near Mosul and a strategic outpost near the Iraq-Syria border known as al-Qaim. In April the coalition handed over a fifth base, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/flashpoints\/2020\/04\/04\/us-hands-over-another-air-base-to-iraqi-forces\/\" target=\"_blank\">Taqaddum<\/a> air field, which fell outside the reporting quarter for the IG report.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Operation Inherent Resolve \u2014 the U.S.-led mission to defeat ISIS in Iraq and Syria \u2014 detailed in several news releases that the base transfers were long planned in advanced and were the result of successful operations against ISIS.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/flashpoints\/2020\/03\/17\/us-hands-over-base-to-iraqi-forces-in-area-known-to-be-a-hotbed-for-iran-backed-militia\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Qaim.jpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">US hands over base to Iraqi forces in area known to be a hotbed for Iran-backed militia<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">\u201cWho wants to bet that 6 months from now, #Iran-backed militias will be the \u201cISF\u201d  [Iraq security forces] in command of al-Qaim base?&quot;<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But in a recent IG report, the coalition admitted the base transfers \u2014 while long planned in advanced \u2014 were accelerated \u201cin some part due to increased threats presented by malign actors.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">OIR told the IG that the \u201cnascent threat of malign actors\u201d and the \u201cchange in focus from [defeat-ISIS] operations to force protection&#8221; resulted in a force posture change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">OIR noted that a coalition task force \u201cdiscontinued face-to-face interaction with their Iraqi partners, and ground travel to partner locations halted, &#8216; which reduced OIR\u2019s \u201cvisibility into partner force activity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The transfers came amid tensions with Iran following a January U.S. decapitation strike that killed Iranian <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/flashpoints\/2020\/05\/04\/29-purple-hearts-approved-for-injuries-sustained-in-iran-ballistic-missile-attack\/\" target=_blank>Quds Force <\/a>commander Qassem Soleimani and a subsequent retaliatory ballistic missile strike launched by Iran that wounded dozens of American troops stationed on two Iraq bases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Iran-backed militias continued deadly rocket attacks targeting coalition troops housed across Iraq bases. Two U.S. troops and a British service member were killed when more than a dozen rockets slammed <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/flashpoints\/2020\/03\/11\/more-than-15-small-rockets-slam-iraqi-base-housing-coalition-troops\/\" target=\"_blank\">Camp Taji<\/a> in March.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThis base transfer occurred amid force protection concerns sparked by escalating tensions between the United States and Iran and its proxy militias, which CJTF-OIR [Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve] said led to an acceleration of the long-term transfer plan,\u201d Sean W. O\u2019Donnell, the acting inspector general for the DoD said in IG report.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">OIR told the IG that \u201cthe frequency and increasing lethality of these attacks\u201d from \u201cmalign actors\u201d resulted in the U.S. shifting priorities from defeat ISIS to force protection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The DoD Office of the Undersecretary for Policy, International Security Affairs told the IG that the coalition\u2019s shift to force protection \u201cdiminished\u201d support to Iraqi force and \u201cprobably sowed doubt within the ISF [Iraqi Security Forces]\u201d whether support would return.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There was another factor as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The IG report also detailed that COVID-19 caused disruptions for Iraqi and Syrian partner forces. Iraqi forces paused training while Syrian Democratic Forces paused operations against ISIS fighters due to the pandemic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">OIR told the IG that it \u201cresumed most relationships\u201d with Iraqi forces over a four-week period but not all relationships returned to \u201cpre-pause levels.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">OIR reported a decrease in some visibility of the OIR mission since the consolidation of forces, according to the report.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;This base transfer occurred amid force protection concerns sparked by escalating tensions between the United States and Iran and its proxy militias, which CJTF-OIR said led to an acceleration of the long-term transfer plan.&#8221;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":67534,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-nofollow":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_acf":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":8,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","_smg_distribution_targets":[]},"categories":[101,8,23,89,12,26,62],"tags":[],"coauthors":[3399],"class_list":["post-48896","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-daily-news-roundup","category-flashpoints","category-home","category-middle-column","category-news","category-newsletters","category-pentagon-congress"],"acf":{"subheadline":"","legacy_arc_id":"CRTUYPM5TFBTXGGBCMDGT677KE","arc_canonical_url":"\/flashpoints\/2020\/05\/14\/tensions-with-iran-and-its-proxies-led-to-accelerated-transfer-of-bases-housing-coalition-troops-to-iraqi-forces\/","remove_feature_photo":false,"is_sponsored":false,"subtype":"","redirect_url":"","disable_inline_ads":false,"native_logo_pretext":"Presented By:"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.0 (Yoast SEO v28.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Tensions with Iran and its proxies led to accelerated transfer of bases housing coalition troops to Iraqi forces - Navy Times<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"&quot;This base transfer occurred amid force protection concerns sparked by escalating tensions between the United States and Iran and its proxy militias, which CJTF-OIR said led to an acceleration of the long-term transfer plan.&quot;\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Tensions with Iran and its proxies led to accelerated transfer of bases housing coalition troops to Iraqi forces\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"&quot;This base transfer occurred amid force protection concerns sparked by escalating tensions between the United States and Iran and its proxy militias, which CJTF-OIR said led to an acceleration of the long-term transfer plan.&quot;\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/flashpoints\/2020\/05\/14\/tensions-with-iran-and-its-proxies-led-to-accelerated-transfer-of-bases-housing-coalition-troops-to-iraqi-forces\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Navy Times\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2020-05-14T16:31:24+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-08-08T04:13:45+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Shawn Snow\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Shawn Snow\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"2 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\n\t    \"@context\": \"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\n\t    \"@graph\": [\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"Article\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/navytimes\\\/flashpoints\\\/2020\\\/05\\\/14\\\/tensions-with-iran-and-its-proxies-led-to-accelerated-transfer-of-bases-housing-coalition-troops-to-iraqi-forces\\\/#article\",\n\t            \"isPartOf\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/navytimes\\\/flashpoints\\\/2020\\\/05\\\/14\\\/tensions-with-iran-and-its-proxies-led-to-accelerated-transfer-of-bases-housing-coalition-troops-to-iraqi-forces\\\/\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"author\": {\n\t                \"name\": \"migration\",\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/navytimes\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/cc76c831bb37a926738c8391fca7a3b1\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"headline\": \"Tensions with Iran and its proxies led to accelerated transfer of bases housing coalition troops to Iraqi forces\",\n\t            \"datePublished\": \"2020-05-14T16:31:24+00:00\",\n\t            \"dateModified\": \"2026-08-08T04:13:45+00:00\",\n\t            \"mainEntityOfPage\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/navytimes\\\/flashpoints\\\/2020\\\/05\\\/14\\\/tensions-with-iran-and-its-proxies-led-to-accelerated-transfer-of-bases-housing-coalition-troops-to-iraqi-forces\\\/\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"wordCount\": 514,\n\t            \"commentCount\": 0,\n\t            \"publisher\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/navytimes\\\/#organization\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"image\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/navytimes\\\/flashpoints\\\/2020\\\/05\\\/14\\\/tensions-with-iran-and-its-proxies-led-to-accelerated-transfer-of-bases-housing-coalition-troops-to-iraqi-forces\\\/#primaryimage\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"thumbnailUrl\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/08\\\/TQ.jpg.jpg\",\n\t            \"articleSection\": [\n\t                \"Daily News Roundup\",\n\t                \"Flashpoints\",\n\t                \"Home\",\n\t                \"Middle Column\",\n\t                \"News\",\n\t                \"Newsletters\",\n\t                \"Pentagon &amp; Congress\"\n\t            ],\n\t            \"inLanguage\": \"en-US\",\n\t            \"potentialAction\": [\n\t                {\n\t                    \"@type\": \"CommentAction\",\n\t                    \"name\": \"Comment\",\n\t                    \"target\": [\n\t                        \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/navytimes\\\/flashpoints\\\/2020\\\/05\\\/14\\\/tensions-with-iran-and-its-proxies-led-to-accelerated-transfer-of-bases-housing-coalition-troops-to-iraqi-forces\\\/#respond\"\n\t                    ]\n\t                }\n\t            ]\n\t        },\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"WebPage\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/navytimes\\\/flashpoints\\\/2020\\\/05\\\/14\\\/tensions-with-iran-and-its-proxies-led-to-accelerated-transfer-of-bases-housing-coalition-troops-to-iraqi-forces\\\/\",\n\t            \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/navytimes\\\/flashpoints\\\/2020\\\/05\\\/14\\\/tensions-with-iran-and-its-proxies-led-to-accelerated-transfer-of-bases-housing-coalition-troops-to-iraqi-forces\\\/\",\n\t            \"name\": \"Tensions with Iran and its proxies led to accelerated transfer of bases housing coalition troops to Iraqi forces - Navy Times\",\n\t            \"isPartOf\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/navytimes\\\/#website\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"primaryImageOfPage\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/navytimes\\\/flashpoints\\\/2020\\\/05\\\/14\\\/tensions-with-iran-and-its-proxies-led-to-accelerated-transfer-of-bases-housing-coalition-troops-to-iraqi-forces\\\/#primaryimage\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"image\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/navytimes\\\/flashpoints\\\/2020\\\/05\\\/14\\\/tensions-with-iran-and-its-proxies-led-to-accelerated-transfer-of-bases-housing-coalition-troops-to-iraqi-forces\\\/#primaryimage\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"thumbnailUrl\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/08\\\/TQ.jpg.jpg\",\n\t            \"datePublished\": \"2020-05-14T16:31:24+00:00\",\n\t            \"dateModified\": \"2026-08-08T04:13:45+00:00\",\n\t            \"description\": \"\\\"This base transfer occurred amid force protection concerns sparked by escalating tensions between the United States and Iran and its proxy militias, which CJTF-OIR said led to an acceleration of the long-term transfer plan.\\\"\",\n\t            \"breadcrumb\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/navytimes\\\/flashpoints\\\/2020\\\/05\\\/14\\\/tensions-with-iran-and-its-proxies-led-to-accelerated-transfer-of-bases-housing-coalition-troops-to-iraqi-forces\\\/#breadcrumb\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"inLanguage\": \"en-US\",\n\t            \"potentialAction\": [\n\t                {\n\t                    \"@type\": \"ReadAction\",\n\t                    \"target\": [\n\t                        \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/navytimes\\\/flashpoints\\\/2020\\\/05\\\/14\\\/tensions-with-iran-and-its-proxies-led-to-accelerated-transfer-of-bases-housing-coalition-troops-to-iraqi-forces\\\/\"\n\t                    ]\n\t                }\n\t            ]\n\t        },\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n\t            \"inLanguage\": \"en-US\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/navytimes\\\/flashpoints\\\/2020\\\/05\\\/14\\\/tensions-with-iran-and-its-proxies-led-to-accelerated-transfer-of-bases-housing-coalition-troops-to-iraqi-forces\\\/#primaryimage\",\n\t            \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/08\\\/TQ.jpg.jpg\",\n\t            \"contentUrl\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/08\\\/TQ.jpg.jpg\"\n\t        },\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"BreadcrumbList\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/navytimes\\\/flashpoints\\\/2020\\\/05\\\/14\\\/tensions-with-iran-and-its-proxies-led-to-accelerated-transfer-of-bases-housing-coalition-troops-to-iraqi-forces\\\/#breadcrumb\",\n\t            \"itemListElement\": [\n\t                {\n\t                    \"@type\": \"ListItem\",\n\t                    \"position\": 1,\n\t                    \"name\": \"Home\",\n\t                    \"item\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/navytimes\\\/\",\n\t                    \"ad_zone\": \"home\"\n\t                },\n\t                {\n\t                    \"@type\": \"ListItem\",\n\t                    \"position\": 2,\n\t                    \"name\": \"Flashpoints\",\n\t                    \"item\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/navytimes\\\/flashpoints\\\/\",\n\t                    \"ad_zone\": \"flashpoints\"\n\t                },\n\t                {\n\t                    \"@type\": \"ListItem\",\n\t                    \"position\": 3,\n\t                    \"name\": \"Tensions with Iran and its proxies led to accelerated transfer of bases housing coalition troops to Iraqi forces\"\n\t                }\n\t            ]\n\t        },\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"WebSite\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/navytimes\\\/#website\",\n\t            \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/navytimes\\\/\",\n\t            \"name\": \"Navy Times\",\n\t            \"description\": \"Independent News For Sailors | Navy Times\",\n\t            \"publisher\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/navytimes\\\/#organization\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"potentialAction\": [\n\t                {\n\t                    \"@type\": \"SearchAction\",\n\t                    \"target\": {\n\t                        \"@type\": \"EntryPoint\",\n\t                        \"urlTemplate\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/navytimes\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"\n\t                    },\n\t                    \"query-input\": {\n\t                        \"@type\": \"PropertyValueSpecification\",\n\t                        \"valueRequired\": true,\n\t                        \"valueName\": \"search_term_string\"\n\t                    }\n\t                }\n\t            ],\n\t            \"inLanguage\": \"en-US\"\n\t        },\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/navytimes\\\/#organization\",\n\t            \"name\": \"Navy Times\",\n\t            \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/navytimes\\\/\",\n\t            \"logo\": {\n\t                \"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n\t                \"inLanguage\": \"en-US\",\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/navytimes\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\n\t                \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/navy-logo-white.png\",\n\t                \"contentUrl\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/navy-logo-white.png\",\n\t                \"caption\": \"Navy Times\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"image\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/navytimes\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"\n\t            }\n\t        },\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"Person\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/navytimes\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/cc76c831bb37a926738c8391fca7a3b1\",\n\t            \"name\": \"migration\",\n\t            \"image\": {\n\t                \"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n\t                \"inLanguage\": \"en-US\",\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/9e8d47be443ce94ce7fc357677b5f9c70235bb1f59e7267a102a74af58c04f59?s=96&d=mm&r=gcf4cb6ee0ec29e49e7a963234e4340ec\",\n\t                \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/9e8d47be443ce94ce7fc357677b5f9c70235bb1f59e7267a102a74af58c04f59?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\n\t                \"contentUrl\": \"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/9e8d47be443ce94ce7fc357677b5f9c70235bb1f59e7267a102a74af58c04f59?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\n\t                \"caption\": \"migration\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/navytimes\\\/author\\\/migration\\\/\"\n\t        }\n\t    ]\n\t}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Tensions with Iran and its proxies led to accelerated transfer of bases housing coalition troops to Iraqi forces - Navy Times","description":"\"This base transfer occurred amid force protection concerns sparked by escalating tensions between the United States and Iran and its proxy militias, which CJTF-OIR said led to an acceleration of the long-term transfer plan.\"","robots":{"index":"noindex","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Tensions with Iran and its proxies led to accelerated transfer of bases housing coalition troops to Iraqi forces","og_description":"\"This base transfer occurred amid force protection concerns sparked by escalating tensions between the United States and Iran and its proxy militias, which CJTF-OIR said led to an acceleration of the long-term transfer plan.\"","og_url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/flashpoints\/2020\/05\/14\/tensions-with-iran-and-its-proxies-led-to-accelerated-transfer-of-bases-housing-coalition-troops-to-iraqi-forces\/","og_site_name":"Navy Times","article_published_time":"2020-05-14T16:31:24+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-08-08T04:13:45+00:00","author":"Shawn Snow","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Shawn Snow","Est. reading time":"2 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/flashpoints\/2020\/05\/14\/tensions-with-iran-and-its-proxies-led-to-accelerated-transfer-of-bases-housing-coalition-troops-to-iraqi-forces\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/flashpoints\/2020\/05\/14\/tensions-with-iran-and-its-proxies-led-to-accelerated-transfer-of-bases-housing-coalition-troops-to-iraqi-forces\/"},"author":{"name":"migration","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/#\/schema\/person\/cc76c831bb37a926738c8391fca7a3b1"},"headline":"Tensions with Iran and its proxies led to accelerated transfer of bases housing coalition troops to Iraqi forces","datePublished":"2020-05-14T16:31:24+00:00","dateModified":"2026-08-08T04:13:45+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/flashpoints\/2020\/05\/14\/tensions-with-iran-and-its-proxies-led-to-accelerated-transfer-of-bases-housing-coalition-troops-to-iraqi-forces\/"},"wordCount":514,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/flashpoints\/2020\/05\/14\/tensions-with-iran-and-its-proxies-led-to-accelerated-transfer-of-bases-housing-coalition-troops-to-iraqi-forces\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/TQ.jpg.jpg","articleSection":["Daily News Roundup","Flashpoints","Home","Middle Column","News","Newsletters","Pentagon &amp; Congress"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/flashpoints\/2020\/05\/14\/tensions-with-iran-and-its-proxies-led-to-accelerated-transfer-of-bases-housing-coalition-troops-to-iraqi-forces\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/flashpoints\/2020\/05\/14\/tensions-with-iran-and-its-proxies-led-to-accelerated-transfer-of-bases-housing-coalition-troops-to-iraqi-forces\/","url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/flashpoints\/2020\/05\/14\/tensions-with-iran-and-its-proxies-led-to-accelerated-transfer-of-bases-housing-coalition-troops-to-iraqi-forces\/","name":"Tensions with Iran and its proxies led to accelerated transfer of bases housing coalition troops to Iraqi forces - Navy Times","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/flashpoints\/2020\/05\/14\/tensions-with-iran-and-its-proxies-led-to-accelerated-transfer-of-bases-housing-coalition-troops-to-iraqi-forces\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/flashpoints\/2020\/05\/14\/tensions-with-iran-and-its-proxies-led-to-accelerated-transfer-of-bases-housing-coalition-troops-to-iraqi-forces\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/TQ.jpg.jpg","datePublished":"2020-05-14T16:31:24+00:00","dateModified":"2026-08-08T04:13:45+00:00","description":"\"This base transfer occurred amid force protection concerns sparked by escalating tensions between the United States and Iran and its proxy militias, which CJTF-OIR said led to an acceleration of the long-term transfer plan.\"","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/flashpoints\/2020\/05\/14\/tensions-with-iran-and-its-proxies-led-to-accelerated-transfer-of-bases-housing-coalition-troops-to-iraqi-forces\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/flashpoints\/2020\/05\/14\/tensions-with-iran-and-its-proxies-led-to-accelerated-transfer-of-bases-housing-coalition-troops-to-iraqi-forces\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/flashpoints\/2020\/05\/14\/tensions-with-iran-and-its-proxies-led-to-accelerated-transfer-of-bases-housing-coalition-troops-to-iraqi-forces\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/TQ.jpg.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/TQ.jpg.jpg"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/flashpoints\/2020\/05\/14\/tensions-with-iran-and-its-proxies-led-to-accelerated-transfer-of-bases-housing-coalition-troops-to-iraqi-forces\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/","ad_zone":"home"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Flashpoints","item":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/flashpoints\/","ad_zone":"flashpoints"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Tensions with Iran and its proxies led to accelerated transfer of bases housing coalition troops to Iraqi forces"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/#website","url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/","name":"Navy Times","description":"Independent News For Sailors | Navy Times","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/#organization","name":"Navy Times","url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/navy-logo-white.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/navy-logo-white.png","caption":"Navy Times"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/#\/schema\/person\/cc76c831bb37a926738c8391fca7a3b1","name":"migration","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/9e8d47be443ce94ce7fc357677b5f9c70235bb1f59e7267a102a74af58c04f59?s=96&d=mm&r=gcf4cb6ee0ec29e49e7a963234e4340ec","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/9e8d47be443ce94ce7fc357677b5f9c70235bb1f59e7267a102a74af58c04f59?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/9e8d47be443ce94ce7fc357677b5f9c70235bb1f59e7267a102a74af58c04f59?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"migration"},"url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/author\/migration\/"}]}},"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"Navy Times","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes","push-errors":false,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/TQ.jpg.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48896","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=48896"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48896\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":48898,"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48896\/revisions\/48898"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/67534"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=48896"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=48896"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=48896"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=48896"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}