page_title: Ar-Rutbah
hierarchical_section_title: Ar-Rutbah
caption_attribution_description: English: Sgt. Kirby Fanus (front), a squad leader with Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 5, and his platoon commander, Gunnery Sgt. Carl Lorio, survey the city of Rutbah, Iraq, from their vantage point atop a building during a patrol Jan. 1 to scout out security positions in preparation for the following day’s regional security meeting for Iraqi and Coalition leaders from throughout the region. A platoon from Echo Co. is currently attached to Tango Battery, 2nd Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment, an artillery unit operating out of Combat Outpost Rutbah in western al-Anbar province.
context_page_description: Ar-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 Amman–Baghdad road, and the Kirkuk–Haifa oil pipeline. Considered a "wet spot", it receives 114.3 mm of rain annually, and is located on a high plateau. It has been described as "the most isolated town of any size in Iraq."
  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.
context_section_description: Ar-Rutbah (Arabic: الرطبة‎, also known as Rutba, Rutbah, Rutbah Wells, or Ar-Rutba) 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 Amman–Baghdad 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."
  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.
caption: A rooftop view of Ar-Rutbah on 1 January 2009
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