Al-Karābilah () is a subdistrict in the west of the Al Anbar Governorate of

Iraq Iraq, officially the Republic of Iraq, is a country in West Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to Iraq–Saudi Arabia border, the south, Turkey to Iraq–Turkey border, the north, Iran to Iran–Iraq border, the east, the Persian Gulf and ...

, beside the Syrian border in an area of high ground. Its seat is the city of the Al-Karābilah. Agriculture is the main industry in the subdistrict.

Al-Karābilah town

Al-Karābilah is an Iraqi border town and center of the Al-Karābilah subdistrict, located 5–7 km from Iraqi-Syrian borders. Its population is roughly 25,000 inhabitants, all of them Sunni Muslims

arabs Arabs (, , ; , , ) are an ethnic group mainly inhabiting the Arab world in West Asia and North Africa. A significant Arab diaspora is present in various parts of the world. Arabs have been in the Fertile Crescent for thousands of yea ...

. It is named ''Karabilah'' because it was founded by Sunni tribes exiled from the holy city of

Karbala Karbala is a major city in central Iraq. It is the capital of Karbala Governorate. With an estimated population of 691,100 people in 2024, Karbala is the second largest city in central Iraq, after Baghdad. The city is located about southwest ...

Akkas gas field

Akkas gas field located in Al-Karabilah subdistrict. It was discovered in 1992, occupies approximately 30 km long and 12 km wide. Iraqi Oil Ministry estimated the reserves of Akkas at 5.6 trillion cubic feet. In 2011, the Iraqi government signed a contract with Kogas to develop the gas field. According to the signed contract with the Iraq government, Kogas hold 75% of the shares while the rest of the shares went to Midland Oil Company. All the development operations stopped due to terrorist attacks in 2014. Equipment, buildings, and other constructions have been looted or destroyed.

Current situation

The subdistrict fell into IS's hands after intensive clashes between IS's troop on one side and Iraqi security forces backed by tribesmen on the other side. Al-Karābilah was liberated from IS by the

i government forces on October 28, 2017.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Al-Karabilah Subdistricts of Iraq Populated places in Al Anbar Governorate