Occasionally, Iraq experiences massive locust swarms. Currently, such nation is known as Republic of Iraq. 15“Iraq.” Online Etymology Dictionary. On February 15, 2003, 10 million people around the world protested the United States’ plan to invade Iraq. This was the largest U.S. troop withdraw since Vietnam. In 1991 the phrase “Allahu Akbar” was added in green Arabic script to the flag of Iraq. 1919 - World War I ends. The Iraqi population includes a number of ethnic groups, about 77% of whom are Arabs, 19% Kurds, and the rest a variety of different groups, including Turkomens, Assyrians, and Armenians. Below is a list of some of the most interesting facts about Iran. It was built in a perfect circle on Babylonian ruins and became the world’s center for culture and, From 1968 to 2003, the Ba’ath Party was the only political party in Iraq and was led by Saddam Hussein, who also served as president and prime minister. British troops invade Mesopotamia during WWI. 6“Demographics.” Arab American Institute. Approximately half of Iraq is covered by inhospitable desert. 10. Let’s explore more about the country that has been under decades of dictatorship, war, and turmoil. Iraq’s national dish is Masgouf (impaled fish) and its national cookie is Kleicha (meaning circle or wheel), both of which can be traced back to antiquity. CIA. A kaleidoscope of history, Iran is a land of intrigue, history, and beauty. It is not considered rude in Iraq to eat food quickly or without utensils. Carp in Iraq can grow to weigh up to 300 pounds, and, Iraq’s nickname is the “cradle of civilization.”. Accessed: December 23, 2011. Iraq has been home to some of the greatest urban centers in the world, including Ur, Babylon, Nineveh, Ctesiphon, and Baghdad. 37.Initially, several precision bombs were dropped on the bunkers where Saddam Hussein was believed to be conducting meetings with senior staff. An eclectic blend of Middle Eastern mystery, Berber culture, & European flair, our interesting Morocco facts transport you to a land of exciting diversity. Arabic and Kurdish are the official languages of Iraq, though Turkoman (a Turkish dialect), Assyrian, and Armenian are also spoken. The main reason that the war started was said to be because the British and American Governments believed that Iraq had dangerous weapons of mass destruction (such as chemical or … Facts and stats about Iraq including Population, Per 1,000 people, Hectares, Ecological footprint, GDP and More Interesting Facts and Stats Sumerian civilization thrives in Mesopotamia. 4Battle, Joyce. His skull was also jerked upward at the neck, and his two rows of teeth were stretched apart, as if screaming. Moreover, it was equipped with amenities such as a swimming pool, a recreation room, a gourmet kitchen and nursery for Saddam Hussein’s grandchildren. In the 1980s Iraq was extremely advanced in health care, but lack of resources and education has compromised medical advancement, and in fact has caused it to regress. Around 99% of the country's 38 million citizens are Muslims, with small minorities of Christians, Yarsans, Yezidis and Mandeans also present. Iraq has more than 22 million date palms and is one of the top three date producers in the world. 21. Because Iraq lost the Gulf War, they had to let other countries come in an… The viper is known to strike without provocation and even chase its victims. Troops Leave Iraq.” CNN. The Marsh Arabs (Ma’dan) and their ancestors had lived in these rich wetlands for over 5,000 years. (See the image of Iraq’s flag above). Iraq is nicknamed the "cradle of civilization." President Bush said Hussein refused to destroy his dangerous chemical and biological weapons and that he was supporting terrorism. Iraq, officially known as the Republic of Iraq, is a country in Western Asia. According to the Arab American Institute, there are approximately 140,000 Iraqi Americans living in the U.S. Accessed: January 3, 2012. Until December 2011, the Iraq war still continued. Iraq was under British rule for 17 years, and Ottoman rule for centuries. After the Persian Gulf War in 1991, the United States encouraged the Iraqis to revolt against Hussein, but the U.S. controversially did not aid the people. “Iraq’s Unspeakable Crime: Mothers Pimping Daughters.” Time. Iraq is a Middle Eastern country, officially called the Republic of Iraq. Nearly every number system (calculus, calenders, seconds, minutes, hours, months, etc.) Known as cuneiform, it used about 600 signs instead of an alphabet. Iran Is The Birthplace Of One Of The World's Oldest Civilizations 22“Working Environment.” UNHCR: The UN Refugee Agency. Two months later, Iraqis elect their first full-term parliamentary government since the invasion. Following are a few interesting Iraq Facts: For centuries, the Ottoman Empire had its hold on Iraq. CTRL + SPACE for auto-complete. Iraq is shaped roughly like a piece of pie and is almost completely surrounded by land, except for a 36-mile stretch of coastline along the northern edge of the Persian Gulf. 19. 23. Saddam Hussein is found guilt of crimes against humanity and sentenced to death; he is hanged in December. For most Iraqi families, honey is an important source of income and food. Saddam Hussein is ousted during the Iraq War. Reports show that the United States gained little from the Iraq War and that Iraq was traumatized by it. The country with the highest birthrate is Niger at 7.6 children per, As of 2001, less than 0.1% of the Iraqi adult population (15-49) were living with. December 17, 2011. The metric system of weights and measures is the legal standard in the country. The head of state is the president, currently... Population. After much resistance and confrontation by Iraq, U.S. forces took control of Baghdad on April 9th. Alexander the Great conquers Mesopotamia. 39. According to the Iraq Body Count Project, 103,536 to 113,125 civilians have died between March 2003 and October 2011. The bunkers and tunnels were built on the order of General Saddam Hussein for his protection in the event of a war. Iraq is a country located in western Asia and shares borders with Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Syria. 4. The United States helped Hussein obtain information about. People used mud to build bricks that made powerful cities and huge ziggurats. 6. Therefore, it is proper etiquette to avoid lavishly praising another person’s possessions. He used his military to start the Gulf War in the 1990s, invading a small country on Iraq's southeastern border called Kuwait (pronounced koo-WAIT). 2011. The Ottoman Empire takes control of Mesopotamia. After the Iraq war over, the insurgent attack was very high in the city. Iraq is one of the easternmost countries of the Arab world, located at about the same latitude as the southern United States. December 21, 2011. The underground bunkers built for Saddam Hussein were said to be virtually indestructible, being able to resist a direct hit by a 2,000-kilo TNT bomb. Accessed: January 3, 2011. New York, NY: Scholastic Inc., 2009. 5Burns, John F. “Uncovering Iraq’s Horrors in Desert Graves.” The New York Times. In this fact file, we will be exploring the various facts about the Iraq War conflict which continues to be worth remembering – almost a decade after the conflict came to a close, and nearly 20 years after skirmishes were first initiated. The flag of Iraq has three horizontal stripes of red, white, and black, with three green, Iraq is 438,317 square miles, about the size of. 19Samuels, Charlie. Washington D.C.: National Geographic, 2007. Iraq is one Muslim country located in the Western Asia region. Here are some interesting facts about Iraq’s history, geography, culture, government, people, economy, and wars. Arabs make up most of Iraq (75-80%,), followed by Kurds (15-20%), and Turkoman, Chaldean, and Assyrians (5% combined). 7. Baghdad, the capital of Iraq, is situated in the eastern central region of the country. The first celebration is Muharram on the first month of the Muslim calendar. These rivers contribute significantly toward making the land of Iraq very fertile. In ancient Iraq, mud helped build empires. Consequently, Iraq has seen a resurgence of honor crimes since 2003. Infoplease has everything you need to know about Iraq. Accessed: December 23, 2011. Present-day Iraq is located between the Persian Gulf and Iran in the Middle East. 7Derbyshire, David. The Republic of Iraq is a parliamentary democracy. Warriors in ancient armies found that chewing it kept them from getting thirsty. The underground tunnels and bunkers for the Iraqi dictator were built between the 1970s and 1980s by Yugoslav engineers. The British are given a U.N. mandate to govern Iraq. Accessed: December 23, 2011. TheTigris and Euphrates are the two major rivers of Iraq.These rivers contribute significantly toward making the land of Iraq very fertile. 13. Traditionally in Iraq, more than half of all brides and grooms marry their first or second cousin. 1. The official name of the country is the Republic of Iraq. Before 2003, the Baghdad Zoo was the largest zoo in the Middle East and was home to more than 600 animals. In March 1988, Saddam Hussein ordered a chemical attack on Kurds in the northern Iraqi town of Halabja, killing 5,000 people. Iraq has a narrow section of coastline measuring 58 km on the northern Persian Gulf. 10. Facts about Baghdad 8: the insurgency attacks. Iraqi families are usually large and family relationships are close. In Arabic, the name Iraq means “deeply rooted, well watered; fertile.” The name has been in use since before the sixth century. In ancient times, the area comprising Iraq was known as Mesopotamia and gave rise to some of the world's first civilizations. 18“More Than Half of Americans Think Iraq Ended in Stalemate.” CNN. 17. Fact 1 Important inventions such as the 60-minute hour and the 60-second minute, the wheel, the worlds first maps and accurate calendar, all originated in Iraq. 24. Mud also made possible the invention of writing, as the Sumerians of ancient Iraq hardened mud to make tablets of clay. Iraq is a Middle Eastern country that wasn't friendly toward its neighbors. Additionally, none of the hijackers were from Iraq but mainly from, In A.D. 762, Baghdad became the capital of a vast Islamic empire ruled by the Abbasid dynasty. One of the many mass graves at the edge of Ash Sham Desert in Iraq has been given the name “Blue Man,” named after a man in a blue shirt and trousers was found buried there. UPDATED: Facts About Iraq – 74% literacy. 24. 14. However, there remain 1,700 diplomats, law enforcement officers, and economic, agriculture, and other experts, as well as 5,000 security contractors and 4,500 contractors in other roles. 2012. New York, NY: Scholastic Press, 2006. 20Shepard, Scott. The Iraq War officially began as of March 20 th, 2003. Iraq’s Unspeakable Crime: Mothers Pimping Daughters, Uncovering Iraq’s Horrors in Desert Graves, Most Britons Descended from Male Farmers Who Left Iraq and Syria 10,000 Years Ago, Iraq: Analysts says Violence Will Continue to Increase, Spy Agencies Say Iraq War Worsens Terrorism Threat, More Than Half of Americans Think Iraq Ended in Stalemate. Accessed: December 23, 2011. 14“Iraq” in The World Factbook. Read statistics about geography, population, government, economy, and military/security in Iraq today. It has a small coastline of just 36 miles (58 km) along the Persian Gulf. The cost of building these bunkers was paid in the form of oil. Iraq is essentially two countries, with the two main ethnic groups that live there: the Arabs and the Kurds. The British appoint Faisal I as king of Iraq. The Iraq war started on March 20th, 2003. The Persian Empire gains control of Mesopotamia. Nearly half of all married couples in Iraq are first or second cousins, To punish the Marsh Arabs who rebelled against his rule, Saddam Hussein drained the marshes where they lived in 1991, Beekeeping is an Iraqi tradition dating to ancient times, The current Iraqi flag was adopted in 2008, Poisonous snakes and scorpions are common in Iraq's deserts, Iraq has more than 112 billion gallons of oil. “Spy Agencies Say Iraq War Worsens Terrorism Threat.” The New York Times. 1917 - British troops invade Iraq and take control of Baghdad. In order to keep Iraq from taking it over, a group of countries led by the US went to Kuwait and kicked Iraq out. He had been blindfolded with his arms tied behind his back. 11Hassig, Susan and Laith Muhmood Al Adely. This was one of the most serious attacks on the natural environment in world history. The infrastructural damages in Baghdad occurred in modern time when Iraq was invaded in 2003. March 7, 2009. © 2021 TheFactFile.Org. All Rights Reserved. Explore its beauty and its tragedy with a list of interesting Syria facts. For some reason that no one completely understands, locusts sometimes swarm to about 40-80 million insects and, The Iraqi desert is home to the dangerous saw-scale viper. February 25, 2003. Each sign stood for a word or a syllable. 20. During the Iraq-Iran war in the 1980s, Saddam Hussein was an ally of the United States. 40. Nearly 2 million Iraqis fled for their lives. In 1990, Iraq was controlled by a cruel dictator named Saddam Hussein(pronounced suh-DAHM who-SANE). The Tigris and Euphrates are the two major rivers of Iraq. This country shares land boarders to some other countries like Syria, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Turkey, and Kuwait. Famous American Iraqis include Chris Kattan (comedian and actor for. Protesters were from the U.S., Britain, A respected Iraqi dissident expressed shock when he discovered a few weeks before the 2003 Iraq invasion that President Bush seemed wholly unaware that Muslims in Iraq were divided between Shia and Sunni. It is bordered by Turkey to the north, Iran to the... Social intricacies. Iraq has a dry season and a wet season. Throughout history, many powerful empires have laid claim to Iraq, including the Sumerians, Akkadians, Babylonians, Assyrians, Persians, Greeks, Arabs, and Ottomans. 25. Check out our countryprofile, full of essential information about Iraq'sgeography, history,government, economy, population, culture, religion and languages. The reign of King Nebuchadnezzar II begins. 12. The bunker specially built for the fifth President of Iraq (Saddam Hussein) was not just a small space to hide during war time. 1914 - World War I begins. Despite its small size, it played home to as much as 80,000 inhabitants during its heyday. Dance has played an important role in Iraq culture for thousands of years. 9. The boundaries for the modern state of Iraq are established. Iraq’s highest elevation is Haji Ibrahim (11,834 feet). The invasion was supported by a coalition of 35 countrieswith the U.S., Great Britain and Australia playing major roles. Iraq is bordered by six countries: Jordan to the west, Syria to the northwest, Turkey to the north, Iran to the east, and Kuwait and Saudi Arabia to the south. Its population of over 38 million is extremely involved in global trade, as a large portion of its GDP relies on imports and exports.Below are 10 facts about trade in Iraq. If someone admires an Iraqi’s possession, such as a vase, the Iraqi will usually insist that the person takes it. The majority of the combat troops came from the U.S. (250,000), Great Britain (40,000), and Australia (2,000). In the dry season, between May and October, the temperature can reach up to 125 F. Major cities in Iraq include its capital, Baghdad (5.751 million), Mosul (1.447 million), Erbil (1.009 million), Basra (923,000), and As Sulaymaniyah (836,000). Geographical stats…. Iraq is a country in Western Asia. The fertile region between the two famous rivers, the Tigris and the Euphrates, allowed early stable populations in Iraq as far back as the 7th century B.C. The Iraq War, also known as the Third Gulf War, began on March 20th, 2003. In the memory of Iraqi soldiers who died during the Iraq-Iran war, a monument—al-Shaheed Monument—was built in Baghdad. Because of his cruelty to his own people, especially the Kurds, Hussein is now believed to have been one of the most dangerous dictators on, Iraq’s population is 97% Muslim, or followers of. The ancient Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar II built a 700-room palace that was guarded by the Ishtar Gate. New York, NY: Benchmark Books, 2004. originated from Iraq. The War in Iraq. September 17, 2003. Iraq once had one of the highest quality schools and colleges in the Arab world. Some longtime allies of the U.S. such as. Why World Vision is in Iraq There are more than 3.2 million IDPs in Iraq, which is a fragile state, many of whom fled into Kurdistan after grueling journeys. Since the Gulf War, an increasing number of women are sold into sex slavery. 21. © 2021 Fact Retriever LLC. 12“Iraq: Analysts says Violence Will Continue to Increase.” IRIN. General Saddam Hussein became Iraqi dictator in 1979. Its six bordering countries are Turkey, Iran, Kuwait, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Syria. 8 Surprising Facts About Iraq 1. Sand and dust storms rage for 20 to 50 days each year in Iraq, mostly during the. 8. Accessed: January 3, 2012. Accessed: December 23, 2011. September 21, 2006. The official name of Iraq is the Republic of Iraq (Al-Jumhuriya al-Iraqiya). Iraq is divided up into three provinces of the Ottoman Empire: Mosul, Basra, and Baghdad. The largest group was from Afghanistan, with 2.9 million refugees. Iraq’s fertility rate is 3.67 children, which is 42nd in the world. Iraq: The Land. “Shaking Hands with Saddam Hussein.” National Security Archive. The country with the highest life expectancy is Monaco, at 89.73 years. And the bunkers were as deep as 90 meters under the ground. According to the Arab American Institute, there are approximately 140,000 Iraqi Americans living in the U.S. There is also a distinct sub-group of Iraqi Arabs, called the Ma'dan or Marsh Arabs, who inhabit miles of marshy area just above the point at which the Tigris and Euphrates join together. Iraq has been home to indigenous Akkadian, Assyrian, Babylonian and Sumerian empires in its history. Iraq | Facts and History Capital and Major Cities. 3Basu, Moni. 23. The war in Iraq started in March 2003 when the U.S. and its allies bombed Baghdad, the capital of Iraq. New York, NY: Crabtree Publishing Company. 1534 - Iraq is conquered by the Ottoman Empire. The Iraqi desert is home to many types of scorpions. 5. As of July 2011, the population of Iraq was 30,399,572 and ranked 39th in the world. The highest recorded temperature in Iraq is 124º F. The lowest recorded is 12º F at al-Salman. Because the Kurds helped the United States invade Iraq in 2003, Kurdistan autonomy is enshrined in the new Iraqi constitution. Baghdad is its capital and largest city. Milwaukee, WI: Gareth Stevens Publishing, 2004. On April 4th, U.S. forces took control of Baghdad’s International airport. Thousands of years ago, on the plains that make up about a third of Iraq, powerful empires rose and fell while people in Europe and the Americas were still hunting and gathering and living more primitive lives. In Iraq, as it is in many predominantly Muslim countries, it is offensive to use one’s left hand while eating because the left hand is considered to be unclean. Mass graves have been uncovered in Shia Arab in the south and in the Kurdish north. New York, NY: Crabtree Publishing Company, 2005. 16. Iraq - Iraq - Government and society: From 1968 to 2003 Iraq was ruled by the Baʿath (Arabic: “Renaissance”) Party. The name “Iraq” may date back to the Sumerian city named, The Tigris and the Euphrates have been Iraq’s main water sources for thousands of years. Iraqis celebrate two New Year’s Days. Iraq: The Culture. 17Mazzetti, Mark. The Ottomans are allied with the Central Powers of Germany and Austria. New York, NY: Crabtree Publishing Company, 2005. Iraqis voted in the country’s first democratic, Before the first Persian Gulf War, Saddam Hussein was an ally of the United States. Mesopotamia, the region (which roughly corresponds to modern-day Iraq, also referred to as the “land amidst the rivers”) between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, is considered to be one of the cradles of civilization. Honey is an important source of food and income for many Iraq families. The states that have the highest number of Iraqi foreign-born populations are Michigan. Some can grow up to 8" long. According to the UNHCR’s 2010 report, Iraqis were the second largest refugee group in the world, with 1.8 million Iraqis seeking refuge in neighboring countries. The 2003 invasion of Iraq (March 20, 2003 - May 1, 2003) was the war fought by the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Poland and some other countries against Iraq, to end the rule of Saddam Hussein. This area has had many names throughout history, including, Iraq first took part in the Olympic Games in 1948 and has only won one medal, a bronze in weightlifting in the 1960, Archaeologist Leonard Woolley asserts that the fear of black. However, both the invasions were unsuccessful, only draining Iraq of its resources and burdening its economy. The victims in this grave were just many of the Shiite Muslims Hussein killed after the 1991 uprisings in Iraq. Learn more about this ancient country with our list of interesting Iran facts. The country is home to the world’s earliest system of writing, cuneiform script, with characteristics including... 3. Causes of the war are the Global War on Terrorism in response to the attacks on September 11th, the intention to eliminate weapons of mass destruction and the intention to arrest Saddam Hussein and then abolish his regime. In Arabic, ‘Iraq’ means ‘deeply rooted, well-watered, and fertile’. Welcome to Iraq. Before it descended into war, Syria was a land of rich history and modern charm. An interesting fact about Iraq is that its name is derived from the ancient city of Uruk, which can be found 19 miles from the Iraqi city of Samawah. Iraqis vote to ratify a new constitution that will create an Islamic federalist government. The gate was decorated with brick images of bulls. Most families live in one house, which is expanded when the family grows. Another addition to this state-of-the-art bunker was the “war room.” The room was studded with the latest technology so that the dictator could monitor activities above the ground. Although Iraq has the world’s second largest oil reserves, after. 13“Iraq Body Count.” Iraq Body Count. June 5, 2006. Iran has great ethnic diversity and some of the most spectacular human-made creations. Accessed: December 23, 2011. The country forbids Christians to talk about their faith or hold any religious events outside of their church. Fact 2 Iraqi’s have been bee-keeping for over 5,000 years. Arabic & Kurdish are its official languages.