Al-Awja Explained

Al-Awja
Pushpin Map:Iraq
Pushpin Label Position:bottom
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in Iraq
Pushpin Mapsize:280
Pushpin Relief:1
Coordinates:34.5331°N 43.7331°W
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name: Iraq
Subdivision Type1:Governorate
Subdivision Name1:Salah ad Din
Population Blank1 Title:Ethnicities
Population Blank2 Title:Religions

Al-Awja (Arabic: العوجة) is a village 8 miles (13 km) south of Tikrit, Iraq on the western bank of the Tigris. It is mainly inhabited by Sunni Arabs.

The village is known for being the hometown and place of burial of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.

When Saddam was captured by JSOC Task Force 121 and 4th Infantry Division during Operation Red Dawn, he was hidden only a few miles from his hometown of Ad-Dawr. Saddam Hussein was buried in this village before dawn on December 31, 2006, less than 24 hours after his execution took place.

During the fighting in the Second Battle of Tikrit, Saddam Hussein's tomb was levelled by ISIS. After Iraqi forces took control of the village, Shia militiamen of the Popular Mobilization Committee put its insignia around the village, including that of Major General Qassem Soleimani.[1]

References

  1. News: Freeman . Colin . Saddam Hussein's tomb destroyed as Isil plants bombs in Iraq . . London . 16 March 2015 . 20 May 2021.