Online dictionary of Iraq war: town

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Baghdad

alternative words: Bagdad
keywords: town
related topics: Iraq , Tigris river
related web sites: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baghdad , http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2865747.stm , http://www.baghdadmuseum.org , http://i-cias.com/e.o/baghdad.htm , http://www.bartleby.com/65/ba/Baghdad.html
explanation: Baghdad was founded (762) on the west bank of the Tigris by the Abbasid caliph Mansur, when he moved the capital of the Muslim empire from Damascus. The prosperity of Baghdad at that epoch is well illustrated by the tales of Thousand and One Nights. In 1258, the army of Mongols destroyed completely Baghdad. Now Baghdad is spread over the both sides of the Tigris river and its population is around 5 millions. National Museum of Iraq contains the treasure of Mesopotamian civilisation.

Baquba

alternative words: Baqubah, Ba'qubah
keywords: town
related topics: Baghdad
related web sites: http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/iraq/baqubah.htm
explanation: Located 60 kilometers northeast of Baghdad on Diyala river, Baquba town was founded in the pre-Islamic period and means "Jacob's house" in Aramaic. Baquba was prosperous during Abbasid caliphate as an important way station between Baghdad and Iran, and for its fruit orchards. The current population is about 280,000. Americans have settled one of recruiting centers for Iraqi Armed Forces there.

Basra

alternative words: Al Basrah, Basrah, Basara, Busra, Busrah, Bassorah
keywords: town
related topics: Ottoman Empire , Shatt al Arab
related web sites: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basrah , http://www.bartleby.com/65/ba/Basra.html
explanation: Located near Persian Gulf and Iranian border on Shatt al-Arab, Basra is the Iraq's second largest city with the population of 1.4 millions. It was founded by Caliph Omar in 636. In the tales of Thousand and One Nights, Sindbad the sailor began his voyage there. Turkish Ottoman conquered Basra in 1668 and became the theatre of repeated battles against Iranians. During Iran-Iraq war of 1980's, Basra was heavily shelled by Iranians. Surrounded by many petroleum wells, the oil refinery is its main activity.

Falluja

alternative words: Fallujah, Al Fallujah
keywords: town
related topics: Euphrates river
related web sites: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fallujah
explanation: Located 70km west of Baghdad, on the road to Syria and Jordan and on the Euphrates river. Though Fallujah has been inhabited since Babylonian times, it had remained relatively anonymous until April 2004, when a fierce battle between the coalition force and Al Sadr's militia took place. Belonging to so called Sunni triangle, many residents got Saddam's favour during his reign. Its population is at 285,000.

Hilla

alternative words: Al Hillah
keywords: town
related topics: Karbala , Euphrates River , Gulf war , Ottoman Empire
related web sites: http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/iraq/hilla.htm
explanation: Located 100 km south of Baghdad, on the Euphrates River and near Karbala, Hilla was founded in 11th century by using bricks from Babylon ruins nearby. Famous battle of Kadisiya between Persian and Arabic cavalries took place also nearby in 637. Ottoman empire chose Hilla as an administrative center. During Shia revolts in 1991 following the Gulf war, many summary executions were performed by Saddam´s loyalists. The current population is about 360,000 and the main activities are grain market and the harbor.

Karbala

alternative words: Kerbala
keywords: town
related web sites: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karbala , http://wind.prohosting.com/mojoiq/pics_kerbala.htm
explanation: Located 100km southwest of Baghdad, Kerbala is renowned for the tomb of Hussein, a grandson of Prophet. He was killed by the army of Yazid during the battle of Karbala that took place nearby in 680. An ancient city, Karbala was founded during Babylonian epoch, well before Islamic conquest. Its population is at 570,000.

Kirkuk

alternative words: Karkuk, Kerkuk
keywords: town
related topics: Kurd , Ottoman Empire , Turkmen
related web sites: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kirkuk , http://www.kirkukcenter.com/main.asp , http://members.lycos.nl/Kerkuk/ , http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/iraq/kirkuk.htm
explanation: Located in the northern Iraq, Kirkuk region had been already inhabited 5000 years ago. During the Assyrian reign, about 3000 years ago, a great citadel was built there. After the fall of the Ottoman Empire, British began the oil exploration in Iraq and in 1927, an oil field was discovered in Kirkuk. Producing now 70% of Iraqi oils, Kirkuk has become the centre of a bitter dispute, not only among Arabs and Kurds but also Turkmen who had settled during the Ottoman empire.

Kut

alternative words: Al Kut
keywords: town
related topics: Tigris river , Euphrates river , Ottoman Empire , Baghdad
related web sites: http://i-cias.com/e.o/kut.htm , http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/iraq/kut.htm
explanation: Located 170 km southeast of Baghdad on the bank of Tigris river and at the bifurcation point of canal Shatt al-Gharraf which joins Euphrates river, Kut is the market town of a rich agricultural region. During WWI, fierce battles took place between Ottoman and British armies and ended with a capitulation of the latter led by General Townsend in April 1916 after a long siege. The population of Kut is about 380,000.

Mosul

alternative words: Al Mawsil, Moswl
keywords: town
related topics: Tigris river
related web sites: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mosul , http://i-cias.com/e.o/mosul.htm
explanation: Built near the ancient Assyrian city of Nineveh, in the northwest of Iraq on the Tigris river, Mosul has developed on a caravan route which connected Iran with the Mediterranean sea. In 1258, Mosul was destroyed by Mongol invaders. Mosul was renowned as the producer of muslin textile but the main industry nowadays is the oil refinery thinks to the vicinity of oil fields. Its population is about 1.7 millions and composed of Kurdish majority and Arabic speaking Assyrian Christians.

Najaf

alternative words: Al Najaf, An Najaf
keywords: town
related web sites: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Najaf
explanation: An Islamic holy city, located 160km south of Baghdad, Najaf is renowned for the tomb of Ali ibn Abi Talib, a nephew of Prophet and the 4th caliph. The site is particularly venerated by Shia Muslims because they only recognise Ali as successor of Prophet. The town is frequented by Shia scholars such as Ayatollah Khomeini who sojourned 13 years during exiles. The population is at 560,000. Najaf means "high land without waters" in Arabic.

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15 articles extracted from postgresql database.