IRBIL, IRAQ — Vice President Mike Pence and Second Lady Karen Pence made an unannounced Thanksgiving-week visit to Erbil Air Base, about 100-miles west of Iraq's capital city of Baghdad, on Saturday. The visit was meant to reassure U.S. allies in the region and to surprise U.S. troops ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday with a festive meal.

.@SecondLady and I were so inspired being with our incredible military in Iraq! God bless our troops. Happy Thanksgiving! 🦃🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/lEQH5r0BGj — Vice President Mike Pence (@VP) November 23, 2019

It was an honor to meet with President Barzani in Erbil on behalf of @realDonaldTrump today to reiterate the strong bonds forged in the fires of war between the United States and Kurdish people across this region. pic.twitter.com/ctHNBIdxlD — Vice President Mike Pence (@VP) November 23, 2019

Happy Thanksgiving from Iraq. @SecondLady and I are so honored to be with our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines here in Iraq! We are so proud of you and thankful for you all! pic.twitter.com/bzcM1fGgiG — Vice President Mike Pence (@VP) November 23, 2019

With your courageous service here at Erbil Air Base, you’ve taken the fight to radical Islamic terrorism on our terms, on their soil. We are so proud of you! @SecondLady pic.twitter.com/QukSaiuJF8 — Vice President Mike Pence (@VP) November 23, 2019

BREAKING: Vice President Mike Pence made an unannounced visit to Iraq to reassure Kurdish allies and greet troop ahead of Thanksgiving pic.twitter.com/nvhUSK1YQl — Jordan Fabian (@Jordanfabian) November 23, 2019

More background, per Fox News: