Forward Operating Base Falcon

Forward Operating Base Falcon, referred to by some media sources as Camp Falcon, Joint Service Station (JSS) Falcon, or Combat Outpost Falcon, was a United States military forward operating base in Iraq a short distance outside Baghdad, some 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) south of the Green Zone. For a time it was designated as "Camp Ferrin-Huggins". As of 2009, the base housed up to 5,000 troops.[1]

In September 2003, the construction of FOB Falcon (as-Saqr Base) in Iraq was a major engineering project for the 439th Engineering Battalion. The battalion transported more than 100,000 tons of gravel for constructing roads, and took part in construction of the base's structures.[2]

Because FOB Falcon was considered by Iraqi officials to be outside of Baghdad proper, it was not affected by the planned withdrawal of American combat troops from Iraqi cities by June 30, 2009.[1]

Contents

October 10, 2006 attack

On October 10, 2006, at about 10:40 p.m. (1940 GMT), a major explosion rocked the base, reportedly due to the base's ammunition dump being hit by a 82mm mortar round fired by Iraqi insurgents. Further explosions continued for hours. Images of the explosions were carried live on CNN.[3] There were no casualties. According to the official Department of Defense report released by US Central Command, the base resumed normal duties within 24 hours.[4]

Conspiracy theory surrounding the attack

Website Jihadunspun.com, which is the source and subject of several conspiracy theories, estimated that the attack caused 300 casualties[5] (similar but edited article here). The article even included a casualty list, consisting entirely of males. It also claimed that the surrounding 'shelling' that occurred as a result of errant munitions was indeed retaliation by the US military. A particularly large explosion and flash in the Al-Jazeera video led some to an unsubstantiated speculation[6] that a nuclear weapon had detonated.

Operation New Dawn

During Operation New Dawn, JSS Falcon was manned by 2nd AAB, 1st Infantry Division out of Fort Riley, Kansas. The base was closed by 5th Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment and transferred to Iraqi authorities in late July of 2011. [7]

References

  1. ^ a b Nordland, Rod (April 26, 2009). "Exceptions to Iraq Deadline Are Proposed". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/27/world/middleeast/27withdraw.html. Retrieved June 20, 2009. 
  2. ^ "Rasheed Airbase". GlobalSecurity.org. January 21, 2007. http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/iraq/rasheed.htm. Retrieved June 20, 2009. 
  3. ^ "U.S. Ammo Dump Erupts in Baghdad; North Korean Nuke Test Yield Still Uncertain". CNN. October 10, 2006. http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0610/10/sitroom.03.html. Retrieved June 20, 2009. 
  4. ^ "Iraqi Resistance Strikes Camp Falcon in Major Military Assault". Global Research. October 22, 2006. http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=viewArticle&code=20061022&articleId=3566. Retrieved June 20, 2009. 
  5. ^ [1]
  6. ^ [2]
  7. ^ "‘Longknife’ Squadron departs Joint Security Station Falcon as part of transition to Iraqi self-sufficiency". http://www.1id.army.mil/NewsViewer.aspx?id=5411. 

External links