What happened

Iraqi government forces — a battalion of the 9th Armored Division, three battalions of the Counter-Terrorism Service, and the 92nd Brigade of the 15th Division — seized Qayyarah Airfield West from the Islamic State on 9 July 2016, backed by US-led coalition airstrikes and rocket support. Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi called the base, located about 60 kilometers south of Mosul, 'an important base for the liberation of Mosul,' and Defense Secretary Ash Carter announced 560 additional US troops would deploy there to help stage the eventual offensive on the city. Iraqi commanders described only light resistance from retreating ISIS fighters; the reviewed reporting (The Washington Post, citing wire dispatches) did not provide casualty figures. Mine and booby-trap clearance operations continued at the site in the following days.

When cited sources give different casualty, damage or spill figures for this event, they’re reported side by side above rather than merged into one number. See how confidence levels work.