- published: 13 Aug 2015
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Coordinates: 33°N 44°E / 33°N 44°E / 33; 44
Iraq (/ɪˈræk/, i/ɪˈrɑːk/, or /aɪˈræk/; Arabic: العراق al-‘Irāq, Kurdish: Êraq), officially the Republic of Iraq (Arabic: جمهورية العراق Jumhūrīyat al-‘Irāq; Kurdish: كۆماری عێراق Komar-i ‘Êraq), is a country in Western Asia. The country borders Turkey to the north, Iran to the east, Kuwait to the southeast, Saudi Arabia to the south, Jordan to the southwest, and Syria to the west. The southern part of Iraq is within the Arabian Peninsula. The capital, Baghdad, is in the centre of the country and its largest city. The largest ethnic groups in Iraq are Arabs and Kurds. Other ethnic groups include Assyrians, Turkmen, Shabakis, Yazidis, Armenians, Mandeans, Circassians, and Kawliya. Around 95% of the country's 36 million citizens are Shia or Sunni Muslims, with Christianity, Yarsan, Yezidism, and Mandeanism also present.
Iraq has a narrow section of coastline measuring 58 km (36 mi) on the northern Persian Gulf and its territory encompasses the Mesopotamian Alluvial Plain, the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, and the eastern part of the Syrian Desert. Two major rivers, the Tigris and Euphrates, run south through the centre of Iraq and flow into the Shatt al-Arab near the Persian Gulf. These rivers provide Iraq with significant amounts of fertile land.
Iraqi Kurdistan, officially known as the Kurdistan Region (Central Kurdish: ههرێمی کوردستان, translit. Herêmî Kurdistan; Arabic: إقليم كردستان, translit. Iqlīm Kurdistān), is located in the north of Iraq and constitutes the country's only autonomous region. Bordering the Kurdish-inhabited regions of Iran to the east, Turkey to the north, and Syria to the west, it is frequently referred to as Southern Kurdistan (Central Kurdish: باشووری کوردستان; Northern Kurdish: Başûrê Kurdistanê). The region is officially governed by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), with the capital being Erbil.
Kurdistan is a parliamentary democracy with a regional assembly that consists of 111 seats.Masoud Barzani, who was initially elected as president in 2005, was re-elected in 2009. In August 2013 the parliament extended his presidency for another two years. His presidency concluded on 19 August 2015 after the political parties failed to reach an agreement over extending his presidency term. The new Iraqi constitution defines the Kurdistan Region as a federal entity of Iraq, and establishes Kurdish and Arabic as Iraq's joint official languages. The four governorates of Duhok, Hawler, Silemani, and Halabja comprise around 41,710 square kilometres (16,100 sq mi) and have a population of 8.35 million (2013 estimate). In 2014, during the 2014 Iraq Crisis, Iraqi Kurdistan's forces also took over much of the disputed territories of Northern Iraq.
Saddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti (Arabic: صدام حسين عبد المجيد التكريتي Ṣaddām Ḥusayn ʿAbd al-Maǧīd al-Tikrītī; 28 April 1937 – 30 December 2006) was the fifth President of Iraq, serving in this capacity from 16 July 1979 until 9 April 2003. A leading member of the revolutionary Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party, and later, the Baghdad-based Ba'ath Party and its regional organization Ba'ath Party – Iraq Region—which espoused Ba'athism, a mix of Arab nationalism and socialism—Saddam played a key role in the 1968 coup (later referred to as the 17 July Revolution) that brought the party to power in Iraq.
As vice president under the ailing General Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr, and at a time when many groups were considered capable of overthrowing the government, Saddam created security forces through which he tightly controlled conflict between the government and the armed forces. In the early 1970s, Saddam nationalized oil and other industries. The state-owned banks were put under his control, leaving the system eventually insolvent mostly due to the Iran–Iraq War, the Gulf War, and UN sanctions. Through the 1970s, Saddam cemented his authority over the apparatuses of government as oil money helped Iraq's economy to grow at a rapid pace. Positions of power in the country were mostly filled with Sunni Arabs, a minority that made up only a fifth of the population.
Islamic state is a type of government based on Islamic religious law (sharia).
Islamic state may also refer to:
This video shows how Peshmerga forces from the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and Kurdish militias in northern Iraq have bulldozed, blown up and burned down thousands of homes in an apparent effort to uproot Arab communities in revenge for their perceived support for the so-called Islamic State (IS) and to establish control of a disputed area of the country they have long claimed as theirs. All images filmed on the road, in a camp for displaced Yezidi in Sinjar, in Barzanke and Umm Khabari are courtesy SRF. Images from in Jalawla and Jiri belong to Amnesty International. Satellite image of Sibaya © CNES 2015, Distribution AIRBUS DS Satellite image of Tabaj Hamid © Digital globe Music is by Niraj Chag.
T/I: 10:08:03 Iraqi President Saddam Hussein on Thursday (12/03) visited areas of northern Iraq under government control, bringing out large crowds of supporters. SHOWS: SAMARRA, SALAHEDDINE PROVINCE, IRAQ - 13/03 WS Mosque; people chanting in streets and surrounding Iraqi President Saddam Hussein; Saddam Hussein coming down steps from mosque; VS interiors mosque and Saddam Hussein praying; crowds thronging streets and chanting; Saddam Hussein exits; MS Saddam seated at desk using telephone; Saddam meeting and greeting officials; VS chanting crowds thronging streets and waving banners in support of Saddam. 1.54 You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/08dc5ae7d2f604ed5238b92b2d248e6b Find out more about AP Arch...
Witnesses in the Iraqi city of Kirkuk say armed militants have attacked a local police compound and that fighting is underway. They say multiple explosions have rocked the city so far in Friday's assault and that gunfire could be heard. (Oct. 21) Subscribe for more Breaking News: http://smarturl.it/AssociatedPress Get updates and more Breaking News here: http://smarturl.it/APBreakingNews The Associated Press is the essential global news network, delivering fast, unbiased news from every corner of the world to all media platforms and formats. AP’s commitment to independent, comprehensive journalism has deep roots. Founded in 1846, AP has covered all the major news events of the past 165 years, providing high-quality, informed reporting of everything from wars and elections to champion...
Charles Morris, President & Speaker of Haven Ministries, reports from one of Iraq's largest cities that remains free from the control of ISIS. Life goes on, though the danger of an attack is imminent. Watch the full mini documentary at http://www.rescueforrefugees.com.
ASH-SHARQAT, IRAQ — Sadiq al-Husseini, head of security for the Iraqi central government in the province of Diyala, recently announced that ISIS fighters killed a baby during a training exercise. Reports suggest that the militant Islamic group blew up the infant as part of a demonstration in improvised explosives. al-Husseini said that the child fell into ISIS’s hands after the group executed of his father. ISIS accused the child’s father of killing a number of ISIS fighters near ash-Sharqat, a city in the ISIS controlled portion of northern Iraq. So far, no information has emerged other than al-Husseini’s statements, where he denounced the Islamic State group for their “crimes against all segments of Iraqi society [that] have not stopped, and doesn’t exclude an elderly man or woman or...
Matthew Glanville, former special advisor to Governor of Anbar province, explains the #FreeSinjar operation
The Yazidis lived peacefully in northern Iraq. Then Islamic State arrived. Watch the victims of the region's worst atrocities tell their stories. Click here to subscribe to Maclean's on YouTube: http://bit.ly/macleanssubscribe Check out our full video catalogue: http://bit.ly/macleansvideos Videos, stories, interactives, charts, and more: http://www.macleans.ca Sign up for our Archives, a digitized collection of more than a century of magazines: http:///www.macleans.ca/archives Download Maclean's Daily App for mobile and tablet: http://bit.ly/macleansapp Like Maclean's on Facebook: http://fb.com/macleans Follow Maclean's on Twitter: http://twitter.com/macleansmag Follow Maclean's on Flipboard: https://flipboard.com/@MacleansMag Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/macleansmag...
A US service member has died in northern Iraq after being wounded in an IED attack. CNN's Barbara Starr reports.
Planning to visit Iraq? Check out our Iraq Travel Guide video and see top most Tourist Attractions in Iraq. Top Places to visit in Iraq: Ziggurat of Ur, National Museum of Iraq, Baghdadi Museum, Wadi-us-Salaam Cemetery, Al-Shaheed Monument, Baghdad Zoo, Great Mosque of Samarra, Imam Husayn Shrine, Imam Ali Mosque, Hatra Ruins, Kurdish Textile and Cultural Museum, Sami Abdul Rahman Park, Erbil Kurdistan, Mazi Plus Mall, Shanadar Park Subscribe to Social Bubble: https://www.youtube.com/c/SocialBubbleNashik?sub_confirmation=1 To go to the World Travel Guide playlist go to: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL3wNXIKi7sz3IilVSbByNJzEsCmsbIgv1 Visit our Website: http://socialbubble.global Follow us on Google+: https://plus.google.com/+SocialBubbleNashik Follow us on Facebook: https://www...
Baghdad Travel - Iraq Tourist Information Baghdad Travel - Iraq Tourist Information Baghdad Travel - Iraq Tourist Information Baghdad Travel - Iraq Tourist Information Baghdad Travel - Iraq Tourist Information Baghdad Travel - Iraq Tourist Information Baghdad Travel - Iraq Tourist Information Baghdad Travel - Iraq Tourist Information Baghdad Travel - Iraq Tourist Information Baghdad Travel - Iraq Tourist Information 10. Barcelona - The city is a pioneer in smart city and low-carbon solutions. 9. Hong Kong - The city has also been a leader in the use and adoption of smart cards, which are already used by millions of residents for services like public transit, library access, building access, shopping, and car parks. 8. Copenhagen - The city has committed to carbon neutrality by 2025 and 40%...
Iran – formerly Persia - is the biggest country of the Middle East. Due to the fact that sky-high snowy mountains, extended deserts, verdant oases, turquoise cupola mosques and cultural and architectural relic sites of World Heritage are waiting for all visitors it can be a very desirable destination even for tourists who continuously look for the new and varied.In Tehran the luxurious palaces of Persian shahs, the Museum of Archaeology and the Museum of Carpets and Rugs are the sights that “must” be seen. Yazd and Kerman is well-known for their mosques and bazaars, Naqsh-e Rustam is for its rock-hewn tombs, Rayen and Persepolis are for the remains of their palaces and castles from the time of the Persian Empire. The two most beautiful cities of Iran are the splendidly situated Shiraz and ...
The ancient city of Baghdad and the largest city and capital of Iraq... This movie showcases the beauty of this magnificent, vibrant, awesome and stunning metropolis inhabited by more than 9 million Iraqis... The slide images featured in this movie will show you a glimpse of life in this world center and beacon of mankind's history, heritage and culture throughout the ages and its many contributions to Arabic, Islamic and other world cultural advancements since the time and rise of the early Mesopotamian civilizations established in Iraq more than 6000 years ago ... Baghdad is also known by its other name, Dar-Us-Salam or the city of peace and it is the first round city in the world... Magnificent places you won't believe your eyes and you wouldn't think 10,000+ ancient and wonderful place...
Travel to Iraqi Kurdistan. Wild Frontiers Adventure Travel's Head of Operations, Marc Leaderman, travelled to Iraqi Kurdistan for the first time earlier this year. He discovered a safe and fascinating destination with a rich history, extraordinary landscapes and warm, welcoming people. Wild Frontiers Adventure Travel will run its first group trip into this northern region of Iraq in 2013. For more information visit http://www.wildfrontiers.co.uk/world-regions/middle-east/iraqi-kurdistan
اس دستاویزی فلم کا آغاز ہم اور سے کریں گے جہاں حضرت ابراہیم الیہسلام پلے بڑھے تھے. پھر ہم آپ کو بابل کے قدیمی شہر لے جاییں گے. وہاں سے ہم نجف اشرف کی زیارت کریں گے جو حضرت علی علیہسسلام کی خلافت کے دورکا نیا اسلامی دارلحکومت بنا تھا. پھر ہم کوفہ جاییں گے جہاں پرحضرت علی علیہسسلام کے مزار کی زیارت کے بعد وادی السلام جایں گے. یہ دنیا کا سب سے بڑا قبرستان ہے. ہماری اگلی منزل کربلا موالّه ہو گی جہاں پر امام حسین علیہسسلام اور انکے ساتھیوں کو نہایت سفّاکی سے شہید کر دیا گیا تھا. اس کے بعد ہم کاظمین میں رکیں گے جو دو ائمہ کا جائے مدفن ہے. پھر ہم سامرہ جاییں گے. یہاں بھی دو امام دفن ہیں. یہ جگہ امام مہدی علیہسسلام سے بھی منسوب ہے. آپ آخری وقت میں نزول فرماییں گے اور دنیا کو امن کا گہوارہ بنا دیں گے. ہماری آخری منزل اربیل ہو گی جو کردستان کا دارلحکومت ہے. یہاں پرآپ کو اربیل کا مشہورقلعہ دیکھنے کو ...
Getting There: Iraqi Kurdistan has two international airports, Erbil and Sulaimany. Currently there are direct international flights from Kurdistan to Dubai, Amman, Beirut and Frankfort. There is the option to reach to Kurdistan by flying to Turkey: - Purchase a ticket to Diyarbakir (the nearest large city to the Turkish / Iraqi Kurdistan border). Upon arrival to the Diyarbakir airport, you will need to take a taxi to the border (Ibrahim Khalil / Habur). Once you have crossed the Turkish border into Iraqi Kurdistan (Ibrahim Khalil/Habur), you will be greeted by the Kurdish customs officials who will issue you a visa and further information on your destination. Getting Around Iraqi Kurdistan: Taxi, Bus, and Private Car Hire. If you are mainly interested in staying in a city, taxi is relia...
Subscribe to our channel http://bit.ly/AJSubscribe Roadtrip Iraq is crossing the country from north to south, taking the pulse of a nation that is no longer at war but neither at peace. Subscribe to our channel http://bit.ly/AJSubscribe Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/AJEnglish Find us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera Check our website: http://www.aljazeera.com/ At Al Jazeera English, we focus on people and events that affect people's lives. We bring topics to light that often go under-reported, listening to all sides of the story and giving a 'voice to the voiceless.' Reaching more than 270 million households in over 140 countries across the globe, our viewers trust Al Jazeera English to keep them informed, inspired, and entertained. Our impartial, fact-based r...
Yezidis - A minority of northern Iraq
In August 2014 ISIS stormed the city of sinjar, killing up to 5000 Yazidi men and taking 2000 Yazidi women as sex slaves. We travel to the refugee camps in northern iraq to meet those women who have managed to escape from the clutches of ISIS.
ISIS have taken control of large regions in northern Iraq and have committed atrocities beyond our imagination. To safeguard the sovereignty of Iraq, the leading Shia authority Grand Ayatollah Sistani released a decree encouraging the Iraqi people to join the armed forces and defend their country. Following the release of our recent documentary "'Islamic' Terrorism?", Ahlulbayt TV went to Iraq to find out what is happening on the frontlines on the war on ISIS.
The Liberty Brothers, Jim and Jason, speak to their contact in Northern Iraq, "Shady." Shady is on the front lines fighting ISIS. www.thelibertybrothers.com
The Liberty Brothers speak to Jeremiah waiting to deploy in CA, and Shady who is already in Northern Iraq
Final phase of our tour in Northern Iraq.
A year after the Islamic State's lightning conquest of Iraq's second-largest city of Mosul, the poorly-trained and equipped Kurdish peshmerga forces are the international coalition's only reliable boots on the ground in northern Iraq. The Pentagon's hopes of recapturing the city by spring 2015 have been dashed by the military failures of the Iraqi Army further south, leaving the peshmerga to defend a 600-mile long frontline almost encircling Mosul, fending off constant Islamic State (IS) assaults with insufficient supplies of ammunition and modern weapons. For one month, VICE News embedded with the peshmerga fighters on the Mosul frontline, gaining an insight into the coalition's faltering war against IS through the eyes of the Kurdish volunteers bearing the brunt of the fighting. Wat...
WATCH NOW - TERROR: The Islamic State: http://bit.ly/2f0b8xQ The Islamic State, a hardline Sunni jihadist group that formerly had ties to al Qaeda, has conquered large swathes of Iraq and Syria. Previously known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), the group has announced its intention to reestablish the caliphate and has declared its leader, the shadowy Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, as the caliph. The lightning advances the Islamic State made across Syria and Iraq in June shocked the world. But it's not just the group's military victories that have garnered attention — it's also the pace with which its members have begun to carve out a viable state. Flush with cash and US weapons seized during its advances in Iraq, the Islamic State's expansion shows no sign of slowing down. In the...