What is Basras Shatt al-Arab waterway?
The waterway, which flows into the Gulf, is a narrow stretch of river about 120 miles long. It is fed by the Euphrates, Tigris, and Karun rivers and forms the boundary between Iraq and Iran. The border between the two countries runs up the middle of the river, and in some places there are disputes about exactly where it is. It is heavily patrolled by Iraqi and British forces to prevent explosive material being smuggled across the border. Why do troops use the river? It is mainly used to transport personnel quickly between the two main bases in the centre of the city. The fast riverboats have been used to get people from place to place without running the risk of using roads and encountering roadside bombs. Until now, the river had been considered a safe mode of transport. What kind of boats do British forces use? Patrolling the Shatt al-Arab is a risky job for troops because the waterway is too narrow and shallow for large, well-armoured vessels. Instead British forces use so-called “r
