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Iraqi government takes control of base in Tikrit

November 23, 2005

TIKRIT, Iraq (Army News Service, Nov. 23, 2005) -- The Iraqi government took control of Saddam Hussein’s palace complex in Tikrit from U.S. coalition forces during a ceremony Nov. 22 which continued despite a dud round fired by terrorists.

Terrorists fired what officials called "unidentified explosive ordnance" that impacted about 300 yards from the ceremony. The projectile failed to explode, and no one was injured in the incident, officials said. The ceremony halted only briefly, they said, and was completed without further disruption.

This was the 25th coalition operating base turned over to the people of Iraq so far, officials said, adding that the Tikrit palace complex is the most significant. The complex is on more than 1,000 acres of land along the Tigris River. There are 136 buildings on the property, with a combined 1.5 million square feet of administrative and living space.

The palace complex has been used by three different U.S. Army units as a forward operating base since 2003.

“Now it is the property of the Iraqi people,” said Hamad Hamood Shekti, governor of the Salah Ad Din Province. “Tourists will be allowed to see the palaces.”

Col. Mark McKnight, commander of 1st Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, handed the “key to the palace” to Shekti during the ceremony, signifying the release of U.S. control.

“The passing of this facility is a simple ceremony that vividly demonstrates the continuing progress being made by the Iraqi government and their people,” McKnight said.

“Two years ago, coalition forces fought to rid this nation of an oppressive regime. Since that time, coalition forces… have resided on FOB Danger, working alongside Iraqis to protect the four provinces of north-central Iraq,” McKnight added.

The province was and will stay “a symbol of national unity and brotherhood in Iraq” Shekti said.

“[Today], we celebrate the transfer of the presidential palaces to the patriotic Iraqi hands, signifying the many aspirations and goals of the great citizens of the Salah Ad Din province,” Shekti said.

Shekti said he looks forward to Iraq’s independence, when all multi-national forces are able to leave Iraq, and wants to prove the people of Iraq can manage their issues independently.

“These palaces are owned by not one person anymore,” he said, “and no one will be prevented from entering them in the future, because now it is the property of the Iraqi people.”

The palace complex was initially secured by the 4th Infantry Division in 2003 and designated as Camp Iron Horse during Operation Iraqi Freedom I. Saddam Hussein was captured near Camp Iron Horse in December 2003.

The base was redesignated FOB Danger once it came under the control of the 1st Infantry Division out of Wurzburg, Germany.

The 42nd Infantry Division, a National Guard unit based in New York, took over the FOB Feb. 14, and in July, began the process of returning the complex to the Iraqi people.

Many Iraqi officials attended the momentous event, including Lt. Gen. Shahid Aziz, commander of the 4th Iraqi Army; Rasheed Ahmad, chairman of the Salah Ad Din provincial council; and Judge Abd al Hussein Shandal, the minister of justice. U.S. Ambassador Dr. Zalmay Khalilzad and Gen. George Casey, commander of Multi-National Force – Iraq were also in attendance.

(Editor's note: Information provided by Task Force Band of Brothers, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) Public Affairs and a report by the American Forces Press Service.)