Al Anbar Governorate

Al- Anbar al - Arab الأنبار Anbār, Persian استان انبار, is one of Iraq's 18 governorates. The capital is Ramadi. With an area of ​​138,501 km ² is al - Anbar is the largest province in Iraq. Its population is 1.658 million (2009). It is bordered on the north by Syria, on the west by Jordan and on the south by Saudi Arabia. Among the most famous cities in al - Anbar Fallujah heard. The former name of this province was before 1962 as- Dulaim, based upon the Sunni tribe. Starting in 1962, called the government Ramadi. In 1970 the government Badiya al - Schamaliya was ( " The southern desert " ) slammed. As of 1976 it received the current name. Later, a large part of the provinces of Karbala was still attached.

The name

The name of the government is taken over by a city that was originally located on its territory and whose ruins can still be seen 5 km northwest of Fallujah today. This city of al - Anbār (originally Peruz Shapur ) was founded in the 3rd century by Shapur I, and was before the Arab conquest in 634, the second largest city of Iraq. After the Mongol invasion, she was abandoned in the 14th century.

Population

In al - Anbar is the largest part of the so-called Sunni triangle. The Sunni resistance against the American military presence in Iraq is greater than in any other country in this province. In the province of the clan of Dulaim who was also one of the main supporters of the old Baathregimes dominated.

On 15 October 2005 of 259 919 voters voted in 96.96 % with No for the new constitution.

Due to numerous al-Qaeda attributed riots that claimed many victims among the civilian population, was established in September 2006 by the U.S. Marines supported " Anbar Salvation Front " under the leadership of Sheikh Abdul Sattar Abu Rischa which belong to 42 Sunni tribes of the province (as of September 2007).

Abu Rischa, who was considered one of the greatest allies of the U.S. in Iraq, was killed in an attack of Al- Qaeda on September 13, 2007. His brother was appointed his successor.

Districts

The province consists of the districts of:

  • Abu Ghraib
  • Ana
  • Al - Fallujah
  • Haditha
  • Hit
  • Al- Kazimiyya
  • Al- Qa'im
  • Ar - Ramadi
  • Ar - Rutba

Villages and towns

  • Chan al - Baghdadi
39072
de