Sabaa Al Bour

Saab Al Bour
Saab Al Bour

Saab Al Bour's location inside Iraq

Coordinates: 33°27′52″N 44°9′13″E / 33.46444°N 44.15361°E / 33.46444; 44.15361Coordinates: 33°27′52″N 44°9′13″E / 33.46444°N 44.15361°E / 33.46444; 44.15361
Country  Iraq
Governorate Baghdad Governorate
District Taji District
Population
 • Total 254,000
  (2010)

Saab Al Bour or Sabaa Al Bour is a small urban city located approximately 18 miles north west of the city of Baghdad, and is located in Taji District of the Baghdad Governorate.[1][2] In 2003 the population of Saab Al Bour was approximately 120,000.[3] Current population estimates for Saab Al Bour are as high as 254,000.[4]

History

Saab Al Bour, in the volatile Sunni Triangle, included a portion of the city known to locals as the Officers Block, which was set up by Saddam Hussein for members of the Iraqi Republican Guard and their families as a retirement community. The majority of Saab Al Bours' inhabitants are Shia, while small portions of the city and almost all the surrounding villages are Sunni. Sectarian violence erupted in the city in 2005 and early 2006 and some of the worst fighting between Shia and Sunni groups ensued, leaving hundreds dead and driving most of the residents out of the area. Iraqi security forces with the aid of Coalition Forces took control of Saab Al Bour in the years after and have maintained the peace and security of the area allowing tens of thousands of internally displaced persons to return to the city.

The city lies west of the Tigris river along an extensive canal system that brings needed water for drinking and irrigation for agricultural lands. The city is also located near the Taji military base, which came under United States control following the 2003 Invasion of Iraq.

See also

References

  1. ↑ United Nations Humanitarian Information Center Graphic Number 103 http://www.humanitarianinfo.org/iraq/maps/103%20A4%20laminated%20map%20governorate%20and%20district.pdf
  2. ↑ United Nations Humanitarian Information Center Graphic Number 286 http://www.humanitarianinfo.org/iraq/maps/286%20A3%20Salah%20al%20Din%20governorate.pdf
  3. ↑ Saab Al Bour, Iraq Page, Retrieved on 2009-05-21
  4. ↑ Handover Hopes In Iraq Look Bleak CBS News, Retrieved on 2009-05-21
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