Al Asad Air Base is a large military airfield located near the city of Hīt in Anbar Province, western Iraq. Originally built during the era of Saddam Hussein, it became one of the largest air bases in Iraq and was significantly expanded by U.S. forces following the 2003 invasion. The base served as a major hub for coalition military operations throughout the Iraq War and into the post-2003 period. It houses extensive runway infrastructure capable of accommodating heavy military transport and combat aircraft. The base gained international attention in January 2020 when it was struck by Iranian ballistic missiles in retaliation for the killing of General Qasem Soleimani. Al Asad continues to host Iraqi military forces and has periodically housed U.S. and coalition troops under various training and advising missions. It is not a commercial civilian airport and does not serve scheduled passenger traffic.