on the evening of 31 august 2010, a c-130 crew completed the last mission of a u.s. aircraft in support of operation iraqi freedom (oif) as they departed from ali al salem air base, kuwait, for sather air base, baghdad international airport, iraq. that same aircrew flew back to kuwait, refueled, and then returned to sather ab on 1 september to complete the first sortie of an american aircraft in support of operation new dawn. under operation new dawn, american combat forces redeployed from the country, and the focus for the remaining u.s. forces-iraq shifted to train, mentor, advise and assist the armed forces of iraq in preparation for the exit of u.s. military forces from iraq in december 2011.