Habbaniya, Iraq

Encyclopedia : H : HA : HAB : Habbaniya, Iraq

Lake Habbaniyah, known in Iraq as Hawr al-Habbaniyah, is a shallow natural lake in al-Anbar, Iraq, west of Baghdad. It has a surface area 140km². Traditionally the lake has been used to hold floodwater from the River Euphrates, and in 1956 a barrage was constructed at Ramadi for this purpose. In the 1930s and 1940s it was used as a refuelling point for seaplanes flying from the United Kingdom to India and an RAF base was established. This was the scene of an action during the Anglo-Iraqi War where the base effectively defended itself against threats from Iraqi troops.

It was also used for recreational purposes.

Habbaniya is now site of a major US military base known as Al Taqqadum.

Al Taqqadum is actualy across the river from Habbaniyah, which does in fact have a Major Military Base responsible for the training of the new Sunni 5000. A drive by the Iraqi MOD to incorperate Sunn Iraqi's into the Military to make it more representative, the base having had its first graduation of recruits in May 2006.

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