Tikrit

Tikrit is a city in northern Iraq, located on the left bank of the Tigris River about 140 kilometers north of Baghdad. It is the capital of the Salah ad Din Governorate and a major regional center for administration and commerce. The city sits in a flat, arid plain with a hot climate typical of central Iraq.

Historically, Tikrit has functioned as a strategic gateway between the central plateau and northern Mesopotamia, serving as a commercial and agricultural hub in the region. In modern times it developed as the governorate capital and an educational center; the surrounding area supports farming, including grains and date palms. The city has also been the site of various conflicts and security operations over the past decades.

Tikrit is best known internationally as the birthplace of Saddam Hussein (born 1937). His tomb is located near the village of Al-Awja, close to Tikrit. The city and surrounding region were affected by the insurgency after the 2003 invasion and by the Islamic State’s occupation of large areas in 2014; Iraqi government forces, with allied support, retook the city in 2015 after heavy fighting.

The city hosts educational institutions, including Tikrit University, and serves as a regional transport and market hub with road connections to Baghdad and Mosul. It remains an administrative and economic center for the surrounding area, with ongoing efforts toward reconstruction and stabilization following years of conflict.