there was concern that the germans might attempt to capture the large british-owned oilfield at kirkuk in northern iraq. although far from the war zones, the germans were interested in the region. there were pro-nazi factions in iraqi politics, german aircraft had reached baghdad via vichy syria (see anglo-iraqi war), and some german special forces had been planning to establish bases in the kirkuk area using aircraft from kampfgeschwader 200, a specialist unit.