Military

Uzayr

The 14th Infantry Division's 426th Infantry Brigade was reportedly deployed in the "Al Ezaire" area. The 18th Infantry Division's 95th Infantry Brigade was reportedly deployed in the Qala Salih / Al Ezair/Immarah area.

Al'Uzayr [variants: `Uzayr, Qasabat al `Uzayr, Azair, Al Ezaire, Al-Ezair, Ezra] is located in Maysam Governorat, about 375 Km south of Baghdad. Its remarkable sights inclued the Shrine of Ezra the Prophet or Scribe (Ezra Ha-Sofer). The Shrine of Ezra the Scribe is located in Southern Iraq on the bank of the Tigris. The history record of the Shrine of Ezra Hasopher near Basra goes back to 457-432 BC. There's a very ancient tradition which is probably true, that the prophet is buried here, but the actual shrine is new. In the 5th century BC, the Prophet Ezra Ha-Soffer recorded the Bible, changed the Hebrew alphabet to the current square script, introduced the Synagogue as the place of worship in lieu of the Temple and later led an aliyah to Jerusalem. It was said of Ezra that if the Torah had not been given to Moses, Ezra would have been worthy to receive it. The Prophet Ezra (also known as Uraha) was held in high esteem by both Jews and Muslims, the principal inhabitants of the area besides Babylonian Jewish Christians.