THE TWO TARGETS

A sprawling air base in western Iraq that hosted President Donald Trump during his first visit to a combat zone and an air base near Irbil in northern Iraq were targeted last week by Iran in retaliation for a drone strike by the United States that killed a top Iranian commander.

What is the strategic importance of Ain al-Asad Air Base?

■ During the past two years, both Trump and Vice President Mike Pence made unexpected visits to the base, which is in Anbar province and about 135 miles from the Syrian border. At the time of Trump’s visit, which he left for on Christmas night in 2018, the president characterized the journey as harrowing and under the cloak of darkness.

■ In 2015, Iraqi security forces repelled an attack on the base by the Islamic State.

■ The remaining U.S. troops at the base are helping to train Iraqi security forces.

What is the significance of the base near Irbil?

■ In October, Delta Force commandos stationed at the base started the operation in Syria that led to the death of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of the Islamic State. Eight U.S. helicopters, primarily CH-47 Chinooks, took off from the base, flying low and fast to avoid detection during the mission.

■ The president, along with Pence, Defense Secretary Mark Esper and Gen. Mark A. Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, watched video of the raid piped into the White House Situation Room from surveillance aircraft orbiting over the battlefield. Pence visited the base in November.

■ Al-Baghdadi detonated a suicide vest, killing himself and three children.