70th Squadron (Iraq)
Encyclopedia
The 70th Squadron is one of two reconnaissance
squadrons of the Iraqi Air Force
(the other being the 3rd based in Kirkuk). The 70th Squadron is based in Basra
and is responsible for securing the southern Iraqi border and protecting Iraqi infrastructure. It currently consists of 12 CH2000 reconnaissance/ liaison aircraft. 2 Seabird Seeker
s had been previously used by the squadron, but now appear to have been withdrawn.
During the Iraqi Army offensive
against the Mahdi Army
in March 2008, the squadron flew 53 missions over Basra, providing 91 hours of intelligence and reconnaissance to Iraqi Army
forces on the ground, including information about enemy troop concentration and bomb damage assessment
s.
Reconnaissance
Reconnaissance is the military term for exploring beyond the area occupied by friendly forces to gain information about enemy forces or features of the environment....
squadrons of the Iraqi Air Force
Iraqi Air Force
The Iraqi Air Force or IQAF is the military branch in Iraq responsible for the policing of international borders, surveillance of national assets and aerial operations...
(the other being the 3rd based in Kirkuk). The 70th Squadron is based in Basra
Basra
Basra is the capital of Basra Governorate, in southern Iraq near Kuwait and Iran. It had an estimated population of two million as of 2009...
and is responsible for securing the southern Iraqi border and protecting Iraqi infrastructure. It currently consists of 12 CH2000 reconnaissance/ liaison aircraft. 2 Seabird Seeker
Seabird Seeker
-External links:* *...
s had been previously used by the squadron, but now appear to have been withdrawn.
During the Iraqi Army offensive
Battle of Basra (2008)
The Battle of Basra began on March 25, 2008, when the Iraqi Army launched an operation to drive the Mahdi Army militia out of the southern Iraqi city of Basra...
against the Mahdi Army
Mahdi Army
The Mahdi Army, also known as the Mahdi Militia or Jaish al-Mahdi , was an Iraqi paramilitary force created by the Iraqi Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr in June 2003....
in March 2008, the squadron flew 53 missions over Basra, providing 91 hours of intelligence and reconnaissance to Iraqi Army
Iraqi Army
The Iraqi Army is the land component of the Iraqi military, active in various forms since being formed by the British during their mandate over the country after World War I....
forces on the ground, including information about enemy troop concentration and bomb damage assessment
Bomb damage assessment
Bomb, or battle damage assessment, often referred to as BDA, is the practice of assessing damage inflicted on a target by an air campaign. It is part of the larger discipline of combat assessment...
s.