Nukhayb Explained

Official Name:An Nukhayb
Native Name:النخيب
Pushpin Map:Iraq
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name: Iraq
Subdivision Type1:Governorate
Subdivision Name1:Anbar Governorate
Subdivision Type2:District
Subdivision Name2:Ar-Rutba District
Timezone:GMT+3
Utc Offset:+3
Population As Of:2018
Population Total:3,571
Coordinates:32.0411°N 42.2547°W
Postal Code Type:Postal code
Postal Code:31016
Area Land Km2:48790
Population Density Km2:auto
Population Density Sq Mi:auto

An Nukhayb (Arabic: النخيب, alt. Nukhaib, Nkheeb) is a town in Al Anbar Governorate, Iraq. Prior to the 1940s and during a short period in the 1970s, the town was administered by the Karbala Governorate. There has been conflict regarding to which governorate the town should belong.[1] [2]

Nukhayb is located on the Al-Abyad Wadi at the largest road junction in the region, with roads going south to the Saudi Arabian border, north to the RamadiJordan highway, and northeast to Karbala. Nukhayb is the last Iraqi town before pilgrims cross into Saudi Arabia on their pilgrimage to Mecca. It has two satellite villages to the north, Habbariya (28 km) and Kesrah (51 km).[3] Mudaysis Air Base is located 50 km to the northwest of Nukhayb.

History

During the British Mandate, John Bagot Glubb established a post at the well of Nukhayb to allow the Iraqi government to control its western deserts.[4] Throughout 1929, sections of the Royal Air Force Armoured Cars served outpost duty in Nukhayb.[5]

In 1960, Nukhayb was upgraded from village to subdistrict.

In 2010, Qatari royal Khalifa bin Abdulla bin Hassan bin Ali al-Thani was killed in Nukhayb when his GMC hit a bump and rolled during a hunting trip.[6]

In September 2011, 22 Shia pilgrims en route from Damascus to Karbala were stopped at a fake checkpoint near Nukhayb, and then killed by gunmen affiliated with the Islamic State of Iraq.[7] [8] In another false checkpoint attack, 14 Iraqi border guards were killed by Islamic State militants in June 2013.[9]

Reports in summer of 2014 indicated that the Iraqi Army and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) clashed in the town, with government troops "fleeing" towards Karbala.[10] ISIS was reported as having taken control of the town in late June of that year;[11] the Iraqi government forces stated that they regained control of the town in late August of that year.[12]

Climate

In Nukhayb, there is a desert climate. Most rain falls in the winter. The Köppen-Geiger climate classification is BWh. The average annual temperature in Nukhayb is 21.6°C. About 57mm of precipitation falls annually.

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Battle For The Iraqi Outback Town On A Cultural Crossroads. Ibrahim. Turki. Niqash.
  2. Web site: Fears of fresh outbreak of sectarian violence grip Iraq. The National.ae.
  3. Book: Bajallat Markaz Buḥūth Al-Tārīkh Al-Ṭabīʻī. 15 September 2013. 1975. The Center.
  4. Book: Sir John Bagot Glubb. War in the desert: an R. A. F. frontier campaign. 15 September 2013. 1960. Hodder and Stoughton.
  5. Web site: RAF Armoured Car Companies in Iraq, 1920-1945. RAFAC Iraq (pg 1929). 26 September 2014.
  6. News: Qatar royal killed in car crash in Iraq. Khaleej Times. 6 November 2010.
  7. Web site: Criminals behind Nikhaib massacre confess in front of media. https://archive.today/20140926144441/http://www.alliraqnews.com/en/index.php/security-news/7415-nukhaib-murders-criminals-talk-to-press-about-crime.html. dead. 2014-09-26. All Iraq News.
  8. Web site: Iraqi police: Gunmen ambush Shiite pilgrims, killing 22. CNN. 12 September 2011.
  9. News: 14 Iraqi border police gunned down at fake checkpoint, 2 bodies burned. 4 January 2015. Agence France-Presse. June 5, 2013.
  10. News: Iraq denies withdrawal of forces from Saudi border. 26 September 2014. BBC News. 3 July 2014.
  11. News: Erdbrink. Thomas. In the Shadows of Shrines, Shiite Forces Are Preparing to Fight ISIS. 26 September 2014. New York Times. 26 June 2014.
  12. News: al-Obaidi. Hassan. Iraqi forces drive ISIL from 3 Anbar cities. 22 November 2014. Al Shorfa. 26 August 2014.