As Saqlāwīyah (Arabic: الصقلاوية, romanizedaṣ-Ṣaqlāwīyah) is a city in Al Anbar Governorate, in central Iraq. It is located roughly 5 miles (8 km) northwest of the city of Fallujah.

As Saqlāwīyah
city
As Saqlāwīyah is located in Iraq
As Saqlāwīyah
As Saqlāwīyah
Coordinates: 33°23′47″N 43°41′0″E / 33.39639°N 43.68333°E / 33.39639; 43.68333
Country Iraq
ProvinceAl-Anbar
Elevation
42 m (138 ft)
Population
 (2012)
 • Total25,000
Time zoneGMT +3
 • Summer (DST)+4

Saqlawiyah is a rural city in between Habbaniyah and Fallujah that sits on the major freeway. The city was named after an Arabian Mare of the Saqlawiyah strain of the Shammar Zawba clan. Due to the canal network that runs through the area, agriculture is an import identity to Saqlawiyans. Due to its proximity to the major freeway, there are many shops along the road that cater to the transient crowds.

ISIL control and recapture edit

Saqlawiyah came under ISIL control in September 2014 during the Siege of Saqlawiyah, as several hundred Iraqi soldiers were killed.[1]

In 2016, during the Siege of Fallujah and Operation Breaking Terrorism, there was intense fighting in the area between the Iraqi army and ISIL militants. On 29 May, Iraqi troops seized a key bridge between nearby village of Zaghareed and Saqlawiyah in order to facilitate the entry of the security forces from the international highway road into the center of Saqlawiyah.[2]

On 4 June, Iraqi forces captured the town of Saqlawiyah, conducting searches for numerous IEDs left by ISIL. All ISIL militants on board of a raft were killed as they were trying to escape on Euphrates River.[3]

See also edit

Gallery edit

References edit

  1. ^ Varghese, Johnlee. "ISIS Militants in Iraqi Army Uniform Massacre Hundreds, Capture 400 Soldiers in Camp Saqlawiyah". International Business Times. Retrieved 23 September 2014.
  2. ^ Iraqi security forces retake vital bridge north of Fallujah, Iraqinews.com
  3. ^ "Anti-ISIS forces defeat militants in battle for Falluja". 5 June 2016. Retrieved 5 June 2016.