Editing Basra (section)

{{Short description|Port city in southern Iraq}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Redirect|Basrah|the village in eastern Yemen|Basrah, Yemen}}
{{Distinguish|Bosra|Busra al-Harir|Bozrah}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name          = Basra
| other_name             = Basrah
| native_name            = ٱلْبَصْرَة
| native_name_lang       = ar
| nickname               = Venice of the East<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0918/p11s02-wome.html |title=In the 'Venice of the East,' a history of diversity |date=18 September 2007 |author=Sam Dagher |newspaper=[[The Christian Science Monitor]] |access-date=2 January 2014}}</ref>
| settlement_type        = [[List of cities in Iraq|Metropolis]]
| motto                  = 
| image_skyline          = {{Photomontage
| photo1a                = Basra at night.jpg
| photo2a                = Basra city.jpg
| photo2b                = Statue of Badr Shakir al Sayyeb (31042494211).jpg
| photo3a                = ساحة الحرية.jpg
| photo3b                = Mnawibashahotel.jpg
| photo4a                = جامع المقام.jpg
| photo4b                = Bridge of Basra 2.jpg
| photo                  = 
| spacing                = 2
| color                  = white
| size                   = 260
}}
| image_caption          = Basra along [[Shatt al-Arab]],  Al-Ashar River, Basrah Museum, Ottoman Viceroy House and Basra International Hotel
| image_size             = 275
| image_shield           = 
| shield_size            = 
| image_map              = 
| map_caption            = 
| pushpin_map            = Iraq#Near East
| pushpin_label_position = left
| pushpin_relief         = yes
| pushpin_mapsize        = 
| pushpin_map_caption    = Location of Basra within Iraq
| subdivision_type       = Country
| subdivision_name       = {{flag|Iraq}}
| subdivision_type1      = Governorate
| subdivision_name1      = [[Basra Governorate|Basra]]
| subdivision_type2      = 
| subdivision_name2      = 
| government_type        = [[Mayor–council government|Mayor–council]]
| leader_title           = Mayor
| leader_name            = [[Asaad Al Eidani]]
| leader_title1          = 
| leader_name1           = 
| established_title      = Founded
| established_date       = 636 AD
| established_title2     = 
| established_date2      = 
| unit_pref              = Metric
| area_footnotes         = 
| area_total_km2         = 50-75
| area_land_km2          = 
| area_water_km2         = 
| area_water_percent     = 
| area_metro_km2         = 181
| population_as_of       = 2024
| population_footnotes   = 
| population_total       = 1,485,000<ref>{{Cite web |title=Basra, Iraq Metro Area Population 1950-2024 |url=https://www.macrotrends.net/global-metrics/cities/21530/basra/population |access-date=2024-06-05 |website=macrotrends.net}}</ref>
| population_density_km2 = 
| timezone               = [[UTC+3]] ([[Arabian Standard Time|AST]])
| utc_offset             = 
| timezone_DST           = 
| utc_offset_DST         = 
| coordinates            = {{coord|30|30|54|N|47|48|36|E|region:IQ|display=inline,title}}
| elevation_footnotes    = 
| elevation_m            = 5
| postal_code_type       = 
| postal_code            = 
| area_code              = (+964) 40
| website                = {{URL|http://www.basra.gov.iq/}}
| footnotes              = 
| name                   = 
| image_map1             = {{Infobox mapframe |shape-fill-opacity=.1|wikidata=yes |zoom=11 |frame-height=300 | stroke-width=1  |frame-coord={{WikidataCoord|display=i}}|point = none}}
| image_flag             = Basra Municipality Flag.png
| flag_alt               = Municipal flag
}}
'''Basra''' ({{langx|ar|ٱلْبَصْرَة|al-Baṣrah}}) is a port city in [[Iraq|southern Iraq]]. It is the capital of the eponymous [[Basra Governorate]], as well as the [[List of largest cities of Iraq|third largest]] city in Iraq overall, behind [[Baghdad]] and [[Mosul]]. Located near the [[Iran–Iraq border]] at the north-easternmost extent of the [[Arabian Peninsula]], the city is situated along the banks of the [[Shatt al-Arab]] that empties into the [[Persian Gulf]]. It is consistently one of the hottest cities in Iraq, with summer temperatures regularly exceeding {{cvt|50|C}}.

Built in 636 as a [[military camp]], Basra played an important role as a regional hub of knowledge, trade and commerce during the [[Islamic Golden Age]] and is home to the first mosque built outside the [[Arabian Peninsula]]. It was a center of the [[History of slavery|slave trade]] in Mesopotamia, until the [[Zanj Rebellion|Zanj rebellion]] in [[Battle of Basra (871)|871]]. Historically, Basra is one of the ports from which the fictional [[Sinbad the Sailor]] embarked on his journeys. It has experienced numerous ruling shifts. In 1258, the city was sacked by the Mongols. Basra came under [[Portuguese–Safavid wars|Portuguese control in 1526]] and was later [[Safavid occupation of Basra|occupied]] by the [[Safavids]] in 1697. It subsequently fell under the [[Ottoman Iraq|control]] of the [[Ottoman Empire]] as part of the [[Basra vilayet|Basra Vilayet]]. During [[World War I]], British forces captured Basra in 1917. It was incorporated into Mandatory Iraq, under the framework [[Mandate for Mesopotamia]] after 1921, which later became the independent [[Kingdom of Iraq]] in 1932.

Since Iraq's independence, the wars Iraq has fought have made Basra an active battlefield due to its strategic location. During the [[Iran–Iraq War]], the city was heavily shelled and besieged by Iranian forces. As a result of the war, half of the city's population fled. It suffered extensive damage again during the [[Gulf War]] due to coalition attacks. In [[1991 Iraqi uprisings|1991]] and [[1999 Shia uprising in Iraq|1999]], Basra was the site of two uprisings against [[Saddam Hussein]]. On April 6, 2003, the city was occupied by the [[United Kingdom]] and [[Multi-National Force – Iraq|United States-led coalition]], becoming the first city to be captured during the [[2003 invasion of Iraq|invasion of Iraq]], enduring further devastation. During the [[Iraq War|war]], it fell under the control of Shia factions such as [[Muqtada al-Sadr|Muqtada al-Sadr's]] [[Mahdi Army]], who were later [[Battle of Basra (2008)|removed in 2008]]. Additionally, Basra was targeted by [[2011 Basra bombings|bombings in 2011]] and [[2012 Basra bombing|2012]], and was impacted by the Islamist insurgency and the war with Islamic State from 2013 to 2017.

With its strategic location and abundant oil reserves, Basra has become one of the major industrial cities in the region. As the country’s only coastal region, along with its adjoining governorate, Basra serves as a crucial transport hub. After the Iraq war ended, Basra experienced a period of prosperity and development, with numerous reconstruction projects funded by foreign investments, including the [[Grand Faw Port]], which have gained global attention. Today, the majority of its population consists of Arab Shia Muslims, with a large Sunni minority.