77.96.91.247 at 20:33, 11 May 2015

2015-05-11T20:33:09Z

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{{Infobox settlement
|official_name = Tikrit
|other_name =
|native_name = {{lang|ar|تكريت}} 
|nickname =
|settlement_type = City
|motto =
|image_skyline = Tikrit Palace.jpg
|imagesize =
|image_caption = Looking north along the Tigris towards [[Saddam's Presidential palace]] in April 2003
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|pushpin_map = Iraq
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|pushpin_map_caption = Tikrit's location inside Iraq
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|coordinates_region = IQ
|subdivision_type = Country
|subdivision_name = {{flag|Iraq}}
|subdivision_type1 = Governorate
|subdivision_name1 = [[Saladin Governorate|Salah ad Din]]
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|population_total = 260,000
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|latd=34 |latm=36 |lats=36 |latNS=N
|longd=43 |longm=40 |longs=48 |longEW=E
|elevation_footnotes = <ref>{{cite web|author1=Philip Gladstone|title=METAR Information for ORSH in Tikrit Al Sahra (Tikrit West), SD, Iraq|url=http://weather.gladstonefamily.net/site/ORSH|publisher=Gladstonefamily.net|accessdate=16 June 2014|date=10 February 2014}}</ref>
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'''Tikrit''' ({{lang-ar|تكريت}} ''Tikrīt'', {{lang-syc|ܬܓܪܝܬ}} {{transl|syc|Tagriṯ}}) sometimes transliterated as '''Takrit''' or '''Tekrit''', is a city in [[Iraq]], located {{convert|140|km|mi}} northwest of [[Baghdad]] and {{convert|220|km|mi}} southeast of [[Mosul]] on the [[Tigris River]]. It is the administrative center of the [[Saladin Governorate]]. {{as of|2002}}, it had a population of 260,000.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,83580,00.html | work=Fox News | title=Iraqis – with American help – topple statue of Saddam in Baghdad | date=April 9, 2003}}</ref>

It was heavily attacked and ruined by a brutal attack from Islamic State (more commonly known as ISIS), however after months of fighting, the city is back under control and is being put together piece by piece.

==History==

===Ancient times===
As a fort along the [[Tigris River|Tigris]] ([[Akkadian language|Akkadian]]: ''Idiqlat''), the city is first mentioned in the ''[[Fall of Assyria Chronicle]]'' as being a refuge for the [[Babylonia]]n king [[Nabopolassar]] during his attack on the city of [[Assur]] in 615 BC.<ref>Bradford, Alfred S. & Pamela M. ''[http://books.google.com.hk/books?id=dY86rHCI1I8C&pg=PA48 With Arrow, Sword, and Spear: A History of Warfare in the Ancient World].'' Greenwood Publishing Group, 2001. Accessed 18 December 2010.</ref>

Tikrit is usually identified as the Hellenistic settlement [[Birtha (Mesopotamia)|Birtha]].<ref>[[William Smith (lexicographer)|Smith]], ''[[Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography]]'', ''s.v.'' Birtha</ref>

=== Christian Tikrit ===
Until the 6th century, Christianity within the Sasanian Empire was predominantly [[dyophysite]] under the [[Church of the East]], however, as a result of [[Miaphysite]] missionary work, Tikrit became a major Miaphysite centre under its first bishop, [[Ahudemmeh]], in 559.<ref name="Maas2005">{{cite book|last=Maas|first=Michael |title=The Cambridge Companion to the Age of Justinian|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=9AvjaThtrKYC&pg=PA260|accessdate=4 July 2013|date=18 April 2005|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-1-139-82687-7|pages=260–}}</ref> Under [[Marutha of Tikrit|Marutha]], the bishopric was elevated into a [[maphrian]]ate and the city's ecclesiastical jurisdiction extended as far as central Asia.<ref name="syriacstudies">{{cite web | url=http://www.syriacstudies.com/AFSS/Syriac_Scholars_and_Writers/Entries/2008/3/22_88-_Marutha_of_Takrit_%28d._649%29.html | title=88- Marutha of Takrit (d. 649) | publisher=syriacstudies.com | accessdate=August 20, 2012}}</ref>

The city however remained predominantly [[Assyrian people|Assyrian]] Christian in the early centuries of [[Islam]]ic rule and gained fame as an important centre of scholarship of [[Syriac]] and [[Christian Arab]] literature. Some important names includes its [[bishop]] [[Quriaqos of Tagrit|Cyriacus]] who ascended to the patriarchy of Antioch, and theologians [[Abu Zakariya Denha]] and [[Abu Raita]] and translator [[Yahya ibn Adi]].<ref name="EOI"/>

From the [[9th century|ninth century]] Christians began to migrate [[north]]wards. Many settled in [[Mosul]] and its environs, especially [[Bakhdida]], as well as [[Tur Abdin]], mainly due to restrictive measures taken by some Muslim governors.<ref name="Rassam2005">{{cite book|last=Rassam|first=Suha|title=Christianity in Iraq: Its Origins and Development to the Present Day|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=GYC93sfHXAEC&pg=PA67|accessdate=4 July 2013|year=2005|publisher=Gracewing Publishing|isbn=978-0-85244-633-1|pages=67–68}}</ref> The Christian community received a setback when the governor ordered the destruction of the main cathedral known popularly as the "[[Saint Ahoadamah Church, Tikrit|Green Church]]" in 1089, the maphrian had to relocate to Mosul with many Christians. Another governor permitted the reconstruction of the cathedral. However, instability returned and the maphrian moved indefinitely to Mosul in 1156.<ref name="Rassam2005"/>

The city remained an important [[Assyrian people|Assyrian]] Christian centre until its destruction by [[Timur]] in the late [[14th century]]. [[Christian]] presence is last recorded in the [[17th century]].<ref name="EOI"/>

=== Medieval Tikrit ===
[[File:Monastery.JPG|thumb|Modern-day view of the Syrian Monastery at Tikrit]]
The town was also home to the Arab Christian tribe of [[Iyad]]. The Arabs of the town secretly assisted the Muslims when they besieged the town. The Muslims entered Tikrit in 640, it was from then considered as part of the [[Al Jazira, Mesopotamia|Jazira]] province, it was later regarded as belonging to Iraq by Arab geographers.<ref name="EOI">{{cite encyclopedia | last =Gibb | first = H. A. R. | editor = Kramers, J. H. | encyclopedia = Encyclopaedia of Islam | isbn = 9789004112117 | title = Takrīt | url = http://referenceworks.brillonline.com/entries/encyclopaedia-of-islam-2/takrit-SIM_7346 | accessdate = 4 July 2013 | edition = Second | year = 2000 | publisher = BRILL | volume = 10 | pages = 140–141}}</ref>

The Arab [[Uqaylid Dynasty]] took hold of Tikrit in 1036.
Around 1138, [[Saladin]] was born there.<ref>Malcolm Lyons and D.E.P. Jackson, "Saladin: The Politics of the Holy War", pg. 2.</ref> The modern province of which Tikrit is the capital is named after him.

The city was devastated in the [[14th century]] by [[Timur]]. During Ottoman period Tikrit existed as a small settlement that belonged to the [[Rakka Eyalet]] and whose population never exceeded 4,000-5,000.<ref name="EOI"/>
<gallery>
File:بقايا الكنيسة السريانية ( الكنيسة الخضراء ) مدينة تكريت العراقية.jpg|Tikrit Old Town
File:مدخل مقبرة تكريت القديمة.jpg|Tikrit old Town
</gallery>

===20th century===
In September 1917, [[United Kingdom|British]] forces captured the city during a major advance against the [[Ottoman Empire]] during [[World War I]].

The city is the birthplace, in 1937, of [[Saddam Hussein]]. Many senior members of the Iraqi government during his rule were drawn from Saddam's own Tikriti tribe, the [[Al-Bu Nasir (Iraqi tribe)|Al-Bu Nasir]], as were members of his [[Iraqi Republican Guard]], chiefly because Saddam apparently felt that he was most able to rely on relatives and allies of his family. The Tikriti domination of the Iraqi government became something of an embarrassment to Hussein and, in 1977, he abolished the use of surnames in Iraq to conceal the fact that so many of his key supporters bore the same surname, '''al-Tikriti''' (as did Saddam himself).{{citation needed|date=December 2014}} Saddam Hussein was buried near Tikrit in his hometown of Owja following his hanging on December 30, 2006.
<gallery>
File:Tikrit City (c 2004).jpg|Tikrit c2000
</gallery>

===Iraq War===
In the opening weeks of the [[2003 invasion of Iraq|2003 U.S.-led invasion]], many observers speculated that Saddam would return to Tikrit as his "last stronghold". The city was subjected to intense aerial bombardment meant to throw Saddam's elite Republican Guard troops out of the city. On April 13, 2003 several thousand [[U.S. Marines]] and other coalition members aboard 300 armored vehicles converged on the town, meeting little or no resistance. With the fall of Tikrit, U.S. Army Major General [[Stanley McChrystal]] said, "I would anticipate that the major combat operations are over."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/04/15/1050172572799.html|title=Major combat over|date=15 April 2003|publisher=[[The Age]]|accessdate=15 August 2014}}</ref>

However, during the subsequent [[History of Iraq (2003–2011)|occupation]] Tikrit became the scene of a number of [[Iraqi insurgency (Iraq War)|insurgent]] attacks against the occupation forces. It is commonly regarded as being the northern angle of the "[[Sunni Triangle]]" within which the insurgency was at its most intense. In June 2003, [[Abid Hamid Mahmud]], Saddam Hussein's Presidential Secretary and the Ace of Diamonds on the [[Most-wanted Iraqi playing cards|most wanted 'Deck of Cards,']] was captured in a joint raid by special operations forces and the 1st Battalion, [[22nd Infantry Regiment (United States)|22nd Infantry Regiment]] of 1st Brigade, [[4th Infantry Division (United States)|4th Infantry Division]].

After the fall of [[Baghdad]], Saddam Hussein was in and around Tikrit. He was hidden by relatives and supporters for about six months. During his final period in hiding, he lived in a small hole just outside the town of [[ad-Dawr]], fifteen kilometres south of Tikrit on the eastern bank of the Tigris, a few kilometers southeast of his hometown of Al-Awja. The missions which resulted in the capture of Saddam Hussein were assigned to the 1st Brigade Combat Teams of the 4th Infantry Division, commanded by Colonel [[James Hickey (soldier)|James Hickey]] of the 4th Infantry Division. The U.S. Army finally captured Saddam Hussein on December 13, 2003 during [[Operation Red Dawn]].

During the 2003 invasion of Iraq, [[AFN Iraq]] ("Freedom Radio") broadcast news and entertainment within Tikrit, among other locations.

On November 22, 2005, HHC [[42nd Infantry Division (United States)|42nd Infantry Division]] New York Army National Guard, handed over control of Saddam Hussein's primary palace complex in Tikrit to the governor of Salah Ah Din Province, who represented the Iraqi government. Discontinuing the existence of what once was FOB Danger. The palace complex had served as a headquarters for [[4th Infantry Division (United States)|U.S. 4th Infantry Division]], [[1st Infantry Division (United States)|U.S. 1st Infantry Division]], and 42nd Infantry Division. The palace complex now serves several purposes for the Iraqi police and army, including headquarters and jails. The U.S. military subsequently moved their operations to al Sahra Airfield, later known as [[COB Speicher]], northwest of Tikrit.

Saddam Hussein's primary palace complex contained his own palace, one built for his mother and his sons and also included a man made lake, all enclosed with a wall and towers. Plans for the palace grounds when originally returned to the Iraqi people included turning it into an exclusive and lush resort. However, within weeks of turning over the palace, it was ravaged, and its contents, (furniture, columns, even light switches), were stolen and sold on the streets of Tikrit.

The 402nd Civil Affairs Detachment of the U.S. Army, and the government of Salah Ah Din province, began plans to improve local economic conditions. One of the many projects they are working on is building an industrial vocational school in the Tikrit area. The school will teach local people skills in different fields of technology, which will help to build and improve Iraq’s economic stability.<ref name="defendamerica.mil">[http://www.defendamerica.mil/articles/jul2006/a071806wm1.html New Vocational School and Textile Mill Boost Economy - DefendAmerica News Article]</ref> The curriculum will educate men and women in multiple occupational fields such as the production of high-tech products, plastic production technology, masonry, carpentry, petroleum equipment maintenance and repair, farm machinery and automotive repair. This self-supporting educational institution owns a textile mill where many of the graduates will work producing uniforms. The mill is scheduled to begin producing and selling products within the year, with the profits from the mill going to fund the school. The vocational school’s operation, support and funding are modeled after a system South Korea used in another part of Iraq.<ref name="defendamerica.mil"/>

On April 18, 2010, [[Abu Ayyub al-Masri]] and [[Abu Abdullah al-Rashid al-Baghdadi]] were killed in a raid six miles (10 kilometers) of Tikrit in a safe house.

=== ISIL insurgents ===
{{see also|Second Battle of Tikrit (March–April 2015)}}
[[File:Fobspeicheriraq2.png|thumb|left|220px|Tikrit Air Academy (formerly [[COB Speicher]]), site of the [[Camp Speicher massacre]] by ISIL, was recaptured and used as an offensive launching platform for the second battle of Tikrit where Gen. [[Qasem Soleimani]] coordinated the Badr brigade & Kata’ib Imam Ali efforts.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2015/03/iranian-backed-shiite-militias-lead-iraqs-fight-to-retake-tikrit.php |title=Iranian-backed Shiite militias lead Iraq’s fight to retake Tikrit - The Long War Journal|publisher=|accessdate=22 March 2015}}</ref>]]
The [[Islamic State of Iraq]] launched [[2011 Tikrit assault|an attack on March 29, 2011]] that killed 65 people and wounded over 100.<ref name="IFEX1">{{cite web |title=Two journalists among scores killed in insurgent operation in Tikrit |url= http://www.ifex.org/iraq/2011/03/30/tikrit_operation/ |publisher=IFEX |accessdate=25 April 2012}}</ref> Reuters news agency included the attack in its list of deadliest attacks in 2011.<ref name=Reuters>{{cite news |title=Timeline: Deadliest attacks in Iraq in last year |url= http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/23/us-iraq-violence-blasts-idUSTRE81M0NE20120223 |publisher=Reuters |accessdate=24 April 2012 |first=David |last=Cutler |date=23 February 2012}}</ref>

On June 11, 2014, during the [[Northern Iraq offensive (June 2014)|Northern Iraq offensive]], the [[Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant]] [[First Battle of Tikrit|took control]] of the city. Hours later, the Iraqi Army made an attempt to recapture the city, which resulted in heavy fighting.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2014/06/11/366549/iraqi-forces-regain-tikrit/|title=Iraqi forces take Tikrit back from ISIL militants|publisher=Presstv.ir|accessdate=7 October 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://online.wsj.com/articles/iran-deploys-forces-to-fight-al-qaeda-inspired-militants-in-iraq-iranian-security-sources-1402592470|title=Iran Deploys Forces to Fight al Qaeda-Inspired Militants in Iraq |publisher=Online.wsj.com |accessdate=7 October 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://rt.com/usa/165612-us-iran-allies-iraq-insurgency/|title=US airstrikes to support Iranian Revolutionary Guard's offensive in Iraq?|publisher=Rt.com|accessdate=7 October 2014}}</ref> On June 12, [[Camp Speicher massacre|ISIL executed]] at least 1,566<ref>http://rudaw.net/arabic/middleeast/iraq/011120148</ref> [[Iraqi Air Force]] cadets from [[Camp Speicher]] at Tikrit. At the time of the attack there were between 4,000 and 11,000 unarmed cadets in the camp.<ref name="Buratha News Agency: 4000 soldiers">{{cite web |title=Survivors from the Speicher massacre: We were 4000 unarmed soldiers fell into the hands of ISIS |url= http://burathanews.com/news/247028.html |website=Buratha News Agency|accessdate=13 September 2014|language=Arabic}}</ref> The [[Government of Iraq|Iraqi government]] blamed the massacre on both ISIL and members of the [[Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party – Iraq Region]].<ref name="CNN Arabic">{{cite web|title=ISIS, Saddam's men or a third party who killed 1700 soldiers in camp Speicher in Iraq? |url= http://arabic.cnn.com/middleeast/2014/09/10/iraq-speicher-massacre |website=CNN Arabic|accessdate=13 September 2014 |language=Arabic}}</ref> By July 2014, government forces had withdrawn from Tikrit.<ref>{{cite news|title=Iraqi forces withdrawn from militant-held Tikrit after new push|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/07/16/us-iraq-security-tikrit-idUSKBN0FL0D920140716 |date=July 16, 2014|work=Reuters}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2014/07/rebels-repel-iraqi-attempt-retake-tikrit-201471693439233679.html |work=Al Jazeera |title= Rebels repel Iraqi attempt to retake Tikrit |date=16 July 2014}}</ref>

On September 25, 2014, Islamist militants [[Destruction of cultural heritage by ISIL|destroyed]] the Assyrian Church there that dates back to 700 AD.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aina.org/news/20140925012701.htm|title=Islamists Destroy 7th Century Church, Mosque in Tikrit, Iraq|date=25 September 2014|accessdate=7 October 2014}}</ref>

In March 2015, the [[Iraqi Army]] along with the [[Popular Mobilization Forces (Iraq)|''Hashd Shaabi'' popular forces]] launched [[Second Battle of Tikrit (March–April 2015)|an operation to retake Tikrit]]. On March 31 the Iraqi government claimed the city had been recaptured.<ref>http://www.timesunion.com/news/world/article/Iraqi-minister-says-Tikrit-to-be-recaptured-6172150.php</ref>

==Geography==
It is about {{convert|160|km|mi}} north of [[Baghdad]] on the [[Tigris River]].<ref>Shewchuk, Blair. "[http://www.cbc.ca/news2/indepth/words/saddam_hussein.html SADDAM OR MR. HUSSEIN?]" ([http://www.webcitation.org/6QYRP7tlf Archive]). [[CBC News]]. February 2003. Retrieved on June 24, 2014.</ref>

===Climate===
[[Köppen-Geiger climate classification system]] classifies its climate as [[hot desert climate|hot desert]] (BWh).<ref name="Climate-Data.org">{{Cite web |url=http://en.climate-data.org/location/4556/ |title=Climate: Tikrit - Climate graph, Temperature graph, Climate table |publisher=Climate-Data.org |accessdate=2014-02-22 }}</ref>

{{Weather box
|metric first=yes
|single line=yes
|location=Tikrit, Iraq
|Jan high C=14.3
|Feb high C=17.2
|Mar high C=21.4
|Apr high C=27.6
|May high C=35
|Jun high C=40.6
|Jul high C=43.6
|Aug high C=43.2
|Sep high C=39.4
|Oct high C=32.7
|Nov high C=23.6
|Dec high C=16.5

|Jan mean C=9.1
|Feb mean C=11.3
|Mar mean C=15.1
|Apr mean C=20.6
|May mean C=26.9
|Jun mean C=31.9
|Jul mean C=34.6
|Aug mean C=34.2
|Sep mean C=30.3
|Oct mean C=24.3
|Nov mean C=16.7
|Dec mean C=10.9

|Jan low C=4
|Feb low C=5.5
|Mar low C=8.8
|Apr low C=13.6
|May low C=18.9
|Jun low C=23.2
|Jul low C=25.8
|Aug low C=25.3
|Sep low C=21.5
|Oct low C=15.9
|Nov low C=9.9
|Dec low C=5.3

|Jan precipitation mm=28
|Feb precipitation mm=29
|Mar precipitation mm=30
|Apr precipitation mm=20
|May precipitation mm=7
|Jun precipitation mm=0
|Jul precipitation mm=0
|Aug precipitation mm=0
|Sep precipitation mm=0
|Oct precipitation mm=5
|Nov precipitation mm=24
|Dec precipitation mm=37

|source 1= ''Climate-Data.org'' (altitude: 109m)<ref name="Climate-Data.org"/>

|source 2 = ''SunMap''<ref name= SunMap >{{cite web
| url = http://www.sunmap.eu/weather/asia/iraq/muhafazat-salah-ad-din/tikrit
| title = Weather in Asia, Iraq, Muḩāfaz̧at Şalāḩ ad Dīn, Tikrit Weather and Climate
| accessdate = 2014-02-22 }}</ref>
}}

==Culture and community==
The [[Tikrit Museum]] was damaged during [[2003 Iraq War]].<ref>[http://www2.h-net.msu.edu/~museum/iraq_two.html Iraq - The cradle of civilization at risk] ({{WebCite|http://www.webcitation.org/61Iqppr4B}})</ref><ref>[http://www.upi.com/Business_News/Security-Industry/2003/03/27/Another-war-casualty-archeology/UPI-52541048788125/ Another war casualty: archeology] ({{WebCite|http://www.webcitation.org/61IqknMUz}})</ref>

The [[University of Tikrit]] was established in 1987 and is one of the largest universities in Iraq.

[[Tikrit Stadium]] is a multi-use facility used mostly for [[football (soccer)|football]] matches and serves as the home stadium of [[Salahaddin FC|Salah ad Din FC]]. It holds 10,000 people.

==Military facilities==
The [[Iraqi Air Force]] has had several air bases at Tikrit: the [[Tikrit South Air Base]], the [[Tikrit East Air Base]] and Al Sahra Airfield (Tikrit Air Academy, formerly [[COB Speicher]]).

==Transportation==
The city of Tikrit has two small airports; [[Tikrit East Airport]] and [[Tikrit South Airport]].

==References==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links ==
*[http://midwestdiplomacy.com/2015/03/23/how-tikrit-has-changed-the-war/ How Tikrit has Changed the War - Counteroffensive in Tikrit March 2015]
*[http://www.iraqimage.com/pages/browse/Tikrit.html Iraq Image - Tikrit Satellite Observation]
*[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/2941383.stm BBC NEWS: Tikrit: Iraq's last stronghold]
*[http://local.google.com/local?num=100&hl=en&lr=&safe=off&q=tikrit,+iraq&ll=34.598667,43.683014&spn=0.043239,0.097504&t=k Google Local Satellite Photo of Tikrit]
*[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/iraq/tikrit.htm GlobalSecurity.org: Tikrit]
*[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/iraq/al-sahra.htm Al Sahra Airfield]

{{coord|34|36|N|43|41|E|type:city|display=title}}
{{Tigris}}
{{Districts of Iraq}}

[[Category:Populated places in Saladin Governorate]]
[[Category:Assyrian settlements]]
[[Category:District capitals of Iraq]]
[[Category:Tikrit| ]]

Tikrit - Revision history

77.96.91.247 at 20:33, 11 May 2015