Al-Khaldiya
الخالدية Al-Khaldiya | |
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Coordinates: 33°23′4″N 43°31′31″E / 33.38444°N 43.52528°E | |
Country | Iraq |
Governorate | Al Anbar |
Population | |
• Total | 29.986 |
Time zone | UTC+3 (GMT+3) |
Postal code | 31010 |
Al-Khaldiya (Arabic: الخالدية, also Al-Khalidiya, Khalidiya, Khalediya) is a city in Al-Anbar Province, in central Iraq, on the southern banks of river Euphrates. It was founded in 1969 as a settlement for Assyrian Christian families who were displaced as a result of the closure of RAF Habbaniya, though it is now predominantly populated by Sunni Arabs.[1] The city was named after Khalid Shakar, deputy of Iraqi Baath party founder Fuad al-Rikabi. North of Al-Khaldiya, on the northern banks of Euphrates river, the peninsula of Khalidiya Island is located.
Al-Khalidiya was captured by ISIL in 2014. Although the city was recaptured by Iraqi security forces, only four buildings remained after intense fighting.[2]