Shaibah Air Base (Wahda Air Base)

Shaibah Air Base is an Iraqi military airfield located in the Basrah Governorate. The Royal Air Force (RAF) established the facility in 1920 as RAF Station Shaibah. A 1930 treaty maintained British access to the site until 1956. During the RAF period, the base hosted various units including No. 84 Squadron and No. 244 Squadron. It expanded during the Second World War, hosting Vickers Wellingtons from Nos 37 and 70 Squadrons. In April 1941, No. 31 Squadron used the base to transport reinforcements from India to RAF Habbaniya. Other RAF units stationed at Shaibah included Nos 6, 8, 30, 55, 73, 74, 249, and 261 Squadrons, which operated aircraft such as the de Havilland DH.9A, Bristol Blenheim, Hawker Hurricane, Gloster Gladiator, and de Havilland Vampire.

The base was transferred to the Iraqi Air Force on March 1, 1956, and renamed Wahda Air Base. During the Iran-Iraq War, the base was a station for Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 and MiG-25 aircraft. In May 1987, a modified Dassault Falcon 50 of No. 81 Squadron deployed to the base to conduct an Exocet missile strike against the USS Stark. During the 1991 Gulf War, the airfield was targeted by US Navy A-6E Intruders and F/A-18A Hornets, as well as RAF Panavia Tornados utilizing JP233 anti-runway dispensers.

The facility was abandoned after 1991 and later captured by Coalition forces in 2003. It was designated the Shaibah Logistics Base and functioned as a site for a British Military Hospital. The base hosted forces from the United Kingdom, Netherlands, Czech Republic, Denmark, and Norway. In 2007, control of the facility was transferred to the Iraqi Army. The Iraqi military currently operates the base. Infrastructure includes original RAF buildings dating from the station's establishment.