Fallujah
Iraq · Asia
About Fallujah
Fallujah is a city in Al Anbar Governorate, Iraq. Situated on the Euphrates River, it is located roughly 69 kilometres (43 mi) to the west of the capital city of Baghdad and 50 kilometres (31 mi) from the neighboring city of Ramadi. The city is located in the region defined as Sunni Triangle by the United States, as the majority of its residents are Sunni Arabs. In 1947, Fallujah was a small town with a relatively small population but had grown to a population of about 250,900 people by 2018.
Following the 2003 invasion of Iraq, which triggered the Iraq War, the city became a major centre of resistance during the insurgency. The United States, the United Kingdom, and the Iraqi Interim Government twice engaged in fierce urban combat with insurgents throughout the city; the first battle of Fallujah failed to dislodge the insurgents, triggering the second battle, in which the coalition forces successfully took control of the city. However, heavy fighting from these two battles left the city severely damaged, though it remained occupied by the coalition until 2011. In January 2014, three years after the American withdrawal from Iraq, Fallujah was captured by the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) and suffered a major population decline. On 23 May 2016, the government announced the beginning of a large-scale military offensive against the ISIS militants occupying the city, resulting in the Third Battle of Fallujah. On 26 June 2016, the Iraqi Armed Forces stated that Fallujah had been fully liberated and was free from ISIS control.
Within Iraq, it is known as the "city of mosques" due to the 200+ mosques that can be found throughout the city as well as in the surrounding villages.
Fallujah travel guide
Understand
Fallujah is called the City of Mosques where there are more than 200 mosques found in the city. It is also the location of the ancient city of Pumbedita, known for its large Jewish Talmudic academy. The city was heavily bombed in 2004, after the US invasion, as the US troops failed to build confidence with the locals. Unrest continued, and when ISIL invaded the area, it had not been under effective control of the Iraqi government. In the 2015–2016 fightings, ISIL was forced out.
Getting there
National operator Iraqi Republic Railways runs a twice daily train between Ramadi and from Baghdad via Fallujah. Journey time from Baghdad is just over one hour.
1 Fallujah railway station (محطة قطار الفلوجة) (North of city centre). (updated Oct 2020)
See
1 Abdul-Aziz al-Samarrai Mosque. (updated Jan 2020) 2 Ruins of Anbar (5 km (3.1 mi) northwest of city centre). Also known by its original ancient name, Peroz-Shapur, was an ancient and medieval town that was briefly became the capital of the Abbasid Caliphate. (updated Oct 2020) 3 Fallujah city park. The city's main park. (updated Nov 2020)
Eat
1 Al Badia Restaurant (مطعم البادية), ☏ +964 780 465 7975. (updated Nov 2018) Al Hana Chicken Restaurant, ☏ +964 750 840 2282. (updated Aug 2018) Distinguished Restaurant. (updated Aug 2018)
Overview adapted from Wikipedia, travel guide fromWikivoyage (CC BY-SA)。Photography via Wikimedia Commons.