the area between the tigris and euphrates rivers is iraq.
the area between the tigris and euphrates rivers is iraq.
the area between the tigris and euphrates rivers?
iraq
throughout most of 1915, the anglo-indian expedition, designated indian expeditionary force d, had advanced up both the tigris and euphrates rivers. originally dispatched to capture the shatt al arab and basra, to protect the british oilfields in iran, force "d"'s mission in mesopotamia expanded gradually as local commanders saw a chance for victories which would burnish the british empire's prestige in the muslim world. at the battles of qurna, nasiriyeh, and es sinn, force "d" defeated elements of the ottoman sixth army. after the battle of es sinn, the anglo-indian force controlled the tigris and euphrates rivers through much of what is now southern iraq. sensing that baghdad was within their grasp, the commander of force "d", supported by the commander in chief, india, in simla, argued for permission to launch a final offensive to capture it. the situation looked promising. the nearest ottoman reserves, according to british intelligence, were distant in the caucasus or away at aleppo in syria. all that blocked the way to baghdad were two demoralized, defeated divisions.
battle of dujaila
the marshlands were an extensive natural wetlands ecosystem which developed over thousands of years in the tigris–euphrates basin and once covered 15–20,000 square kilometers. according to the united nations environmental program and the amar charitable foundation, between 84% and 90% of the marshes have been destroyed since the 1970s. in 1994, 60 percent of the wetlands were destroyed by hussein's regime – drained to permit military access and greater political control of the native marsh arabs. canals, dykes and dams were built routing the water of the tigris and euphrates rivers around the marshes, instead of allowing water to move slowly through the marshland. after part of the euphrates was dried up due to re-routing its water to the sea, a dam was built so water could not back up from the tigris and sustain the former marshland. some marshlands were burned and pipes buried underground helped to carry away water for quicker drying.
tigris–euphrates river system