Ar-Rutbah

Ar-Rutbah, Iraq
Arabic: الرطبة
Town
Ar-Rutbah
A rooftop view of Ar-Rutbah on 1 January 2009
A rooftop view of Ar-Rutbah on 1 January 2009
Ar-Rutbah, Iraq is located in Iraq
Ar-Rutbah, Iraq
Ar-Rutbah, Iraq
Coordinates: 33°2′17″N 40°17′4″E / 33.03806°N 40.28444°E / 33.03806; 40.28444
CountryIraq
ProvinceAl-Anbar
DistrictAl-Rutbah
Government
 • MayorImad al-Dulaimi
Population
 (2018)
 • Total28,400
Time zoneUTC+3 (GMT+3)
Postal code
31011

Ar-Rutbah (Arabic: الرطبة ar-Ruṭba, also Romanized Rutba, Rutbah) is an Iraqi town in western Al Anbar province, completely inhabited with Sunni Muslims. The population is approximately 28,400. It occupies a strategic location on the AmmanBaghdad road, and the Kirkuk–Haifa oil pipeline. Considered a "wet spot", it receives 114.3 mm (4.5 inches) of rain annually, and is located on a high plateau. It has been described as "the most isolated town of any size in Iraq."[1]

Ar-Rutbah began as a rest stop for Imperial Airways flights in the early 20th century, and also served as a water stop for the Nairn Transport Company. In December 1934, sixteen kilometers south of Ar-Rutbah, the famous Dutch plane Uiver crashed, with all onboard killed. During the Anglo-Iraqi War in 1941, Ar-Rutbah was the site of a clash between British forces, including the Arab Legion, and forces loyal to Rashid Ali al-Gaylani.

  1. ^ Andress, Carter (2007). Contractor Combatants: Tales of an Imbedded Capitalist. Nashville: Thomas Nelson. p. 234. ISBN 978-1595550897.