(AKnews) - After eight years of U.S. occupation and military development aid and only six weeks before U.S. forces leave the country, the Office of the Commander General of the Armed Forces claimed that Iraq needs another 360 days to develop its air defense.

The Office's spokesman Qassim Atta said during a conference Baghdad that the Iraqi government is working with the military on a plan to develop its air defense and supply it with improved military equipment.

Air defense seems to be one of the biggest challenges for the security situation in Iraq. In October, the Council of Representative's Committee for Security and Defense said it believes that al-Qaeda is returning to Anbar province due to a lack of airborne and aerial forces in the area.

Vice Chairman Iskandar Wattout said, al-Qaeda's influence was able to grow after the U.S. withdrew 40 aircraft units from the borders to Saudi Arabia and Syria.

Reported by Mouhammed al-Tayyeb