Naval Air Station Keflavik held a closing ceremony Sept. 8 officially ending its 45-year history in Iceland. To prepare for the transition, the Keflavik and tenant command team cleaned and cleared 500 facilities and shipped 6.6 million pounds of household goods, 850 privately owned vehicles, and 600 government vehicles, according to a Navy press release. Air Force personnel and equipment moved out earlier. The formal transfer back to Iceland is slated for Sept. 30.
The U.S. military is maintaining a beefed-up presence in the Middle East, including fighters and air defense assets, following the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities June 22 and subsequent retaliation by the Iranians against Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
