What are the most spectacular roads in Iraq?

Situated in the western part of Asia, Iraq covers an area of 438,317 km² (169,235 sq mi) and it’s bordered by Turkey, Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Syria. With mountain ranges and deserts, the country offers multiple options to drive and hosts some of the most spectacular roads in the world. However, due the situation of the country, travelling is not safe due to terrorism, kidnapping, armed conflict, civil unrest, and Mission Iraq's limited capacity to provide support to citizens. The security situation remains volatile.

Back to war times, some of the most famous roads of the country are Highway 80, the "Highway of Death" during the Persian Gulf War, where an aircraft bombed a retreating column of Iraqi tanks and trucks, destroying 2,700 vehicles in all. Or Highway 1, which was dubbed as the world's scariest highway, where drivers had to brave for a lot of years ISIS fighters and air strikes, to bring supplies to Iraq. Due to the security environment and the threat of kidnappings, you should leave Iraq immediately by commercial means, if it's safe to do so. And remember when driving in the country that roughly 90% of the annual rainfall occurs between November and April, so prepare accordingly.