Fao Peninsula

Iraq's Fao Peninsula is the southernmost part of the country, extending into Shatt al-Arab waterway between Iran, Iraq and Bubiyan Island. Britain captured it from the Ottoman Empire in 1914, and moved to capture Basra from it. It became an oil port in 1951, and supported offshore plaftorms. The submarine cable to India land there in 1954.

During the Iran-Iraq War, it was the site of especially heavy fighting between February 1986 to April 1987. In the Gulf War, U.S. ampbibious forces feinted toward it as well as other targets, and US Navy SEALs placed explosive noisemakers. In the Iraq War, it was taken by Royal Marines, again using it to attack Basra.