Balad, Iraq

Balad[2] (Arabic: بلد), also transliterated Beled or Belad, is a city in Saladin Governorate, Iraq, 80 kilometres (50 mi) north of the national capital, Baghdad.Located in Iraq's volatile Sunni Triangle, between the towns of Al Dhuluiya, Yathrib and Ishaqi, Balad's inhabitants are primarily farmers who work mainly on grape and date farms and as citrus growers.As of early 2007 the base was the central hub for airlift and US Air Force operations in Iraq; it was also a major transshipment point for US Army supply convoys.According to Reuters citing Iraqi security forces, "at least 20 people were killed and 50 others wounded on Thursday evening in an attack on a Shi'ite mausoleum north of Baghdad".A suicide car bomb blew up at the external gate of the mausoleum, allowing several gunmen to storm the site and start shooting at pilgrims on a visit on the occasion of the Eid al-Fitr festival.
Balad Air Base following the withdrawal of U.S. forces
Eski MosulSaladinArabicSaladin GovernorateBaghdadBalad DistrictSunni TriangleAl DhuluiyaYathribIshaqiIslamic State of Iraq and the LevantIraqi Armywithdrawal of U.S. forcesIraq Warlargest military air base in Iraqtransshipmentforward operating baseFOB Paliwoda4th US CavalryMuhammad ibn Ali al-Hadi Mausoleum attackIslamic StateMuhammad ibn Ali al-HadiAli al-HadiHasan al-AskariReutersAl JazeeraThe Washington PostThe New York TimesNational Iraqi News Agency