H5 used to be a pumping station for the oil pipeline from Iraq to Haifa and had a landing strip which was used by RAF and IPC (Iraq Petroleum Company) mail aircraft flying between Baghdad/Amman/Cairo.

The Base was opened in 1969 and named after HRH Prince El Hassan. No 9 Squadron was established there with F104As and Bs. Presently No 6 Fighter Reconnaissance Squadron and No 17 OCU Squadron, both with F5s, are based there. In 1994 the Fighter Weapons Instructor School came to H5.