| Diyala Governorate ديالى Diyala Province |
|
|---|---|
| — Province — | |
| Coordinates: | |
| Country | Iraq |
| Capital | Baqubah |
| Area | |
| • Total | 17,685 km2 (6,828.2 sq mi) |
| Population (2003) | |
| • Total | 1,224,000 |
Diyala Governorate (Arabic: ديالى Diyālā) (or Diyala Province) is a province in eastern Iraq.
Contents |
| Party | Seats | Ideology |
|---|---|---|
| United Accord and Reform Front in Diyala | 9 | Sunni Islamism |
| National Iraqi Project Gathering | 6 | Sunni Islamism |
| Kurdistan Alliance | 6 | Kurdish Nationalism |
| Iraqi National List | 3 | Secularism |
| State of Law Coalition | 2 | Shia Islamism |
| National Diyala Alliance | 2 | Shia Islamism |
| National Reform Trend | 1 | Shia Islamism |
| Total | 29 |
Diyala Governorate extends to the northeast of Baghdad as far as the Iranian border. Its capital is Baqubah. It covers an area of 17,685 square kilometres (6,828 sq mi).
A large portion of the province is drained by the Diyala River, a major tributary of the Tigris. Because of its proximity to two major sources of water, Diyala's main industry is agriculture, primarily dates grown in large groves. The province also contains one of the largest olive groves in the Middle East.[4] It is also recognized as the orange capital of the Middle East. The Hamrin Mountains pass through the governorate.
In 2003, it had an estimated population of some 1,224,000 people. Iraqi Arabs comprise about 82 percent of the governorate, Iraqi Kurds about 16 percent (predominantly in the Khanaquin and Kifri Districts), and Iraqi Turkmen about 2 percent.[5] Around 75% of the population live in the major cities: Baqubah, Muqdadiyah and Khanaqin.[6]
The population as estimated in 2003 is as follows:
| District | Baqubah | Al-Muqdadiya | Khanaqin | Al Khalis | Kifri | Balad Ruz | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 467,895 | 198,583 | 160,379 | 255,889 | 42,010 | 99,601 | 1,224,358 |
The Diyala Province also boasts the Diyala Media Center which has one of the Middle East's tallest radio and television antennas at 349 metres (1,047 ft). The Diyala Media Center was built under contract by a Japanese architectural firm in 1989. It is one of Iraq's few independent radio and television stations that offer local television and radio news coverage as well as rebroadcasting state-run television.
There is evidence that Al-Qaeda in Iraq has recently moved its base of operations from Anbar province to Diyala. During late 2006 Baqubah and much of the Diyala province were reported to have come under Sunni insurgent control.[8] This insurgent control is reported to have continued through 2007 and into early 2008.[9]
On May 11, 2007, Army Maj. Gen. Benjamin Mixon, commander of the Multination Division North said he needed more troops in order to contain the current level of violence in the Diyala province, this coming in the recent wake of a troop "surge", involuntary recalls by the U.S. military, and the public debate about the level of commitment from the U.S. government.[10] By mid-2007 the Islamic State of Iraq, already holding Baqubah and most of the province under its control, declared its capital to be Baqubah. There is already strong evidence the Islamic State of Iraq has moved most of its command and control operations to Diyala.
In June 2007, US forces launched Operation Arrowhead Ripper with night air assaults in Baquba. By August 19, Baquba was largely secured, although some insurgent presence remained in the city and surrounding areas. Fighting continued in the Diyala River valley but by the beginning of October, US and Iraqi forces held most of the province while the insurgents were in retreat to the north and west. Diyala is still a contested province. On October 27 the Islamic State of Iraq attacked a police base in Baqubah, killing 28 Iraqi policemen and police recruits, showing that insurgent cells still remain in the province.
In January 2008 Operation Phantom Phoenix was launched in an attempt to eradicate the remaining insurgents following the Diyala province campaign between 2006 and 2007.
Mid 2008 saw many changes in Diyala province with an increased effort by U.S. Forces and a substantial Iraqi Army presence, and in the Baqubah region, Al Qaida in Iraq activity was dramatically hampered, and the Sons of Iraq program served only to further weaken Al-Qaida in Iraq.
In December 2011, the governing council in Diyala province declared itself a semi-autonomous region within Iraq.[11] This comes two months after Salahuddin Governorate made a similar declaration. The council in Diyala, using Article 119 of the Iraqi Constitution as justification, made the declaration because of suspicion of the Shi'a-dominated government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. Unlike Salahuddin province however, Diyala province is more ethnically and religiously mixed, and such an announcement led to the outbreak of protests in the province.[12]
| Sulaymaniyah Governorate | ||||
| Salah ad Din Governorate | Kermanshah Province, Iran | |||
| Diyala Governorate | ||||
| Baghdad Governorate Babil Governorate |
Wasit Governorate | Ilam Province, Iran |
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