"تقرير عسكري عن بلاد الرافدين (العراق)" [ظ‎‎٩‎٤] (٢٢٦/١٩٣)

6. There are various camel tracks from Mosul and Tel
Afar into the Shammar grazing grounds via Hadhra, but
the water supplies are so little known that movement of
troops is not possible along them until a proper recon
naissance ha§ been made. This has not so far been
possible owing to Shammar hostility.
7. BALAD SINJAR to DAIR AL ZOR via SHEDADAH.
General. —Passable to pack transport, but requires only
a little work to render it negotiable throughout for cart
traffic.
Water. —Wurdi, mile 7J, one large spring of good
water. Where the road follows the Khabur River
drinking water is unlimited.
Between Sekenik (mile 19) and Shedadah (mile 77) and
between Tel Sawwar (mile 116) and Dair al Zor (mile
147) water is scarce and reported to be brackish.
Supplies. —There is no appreciable quantity of supplies
anywhere.
Transport. —Between Tel Sawwar-Busairah, 2,200
camels available from Jubur Arabs.
Fuel. —Obtainable from Balad Sin jar only
Grazing.—Good for all animals in spring in Khabur
Valley.
Obstacles. —None insuperable, although there are
several wadis which would probably be difficult to
negotiate during the rains.
Camping Grounds. —Good at any stages for any size
force, but dependable on the water supply.
Communications .—Tel Sawwar, a ford across the
Khabur. From Tel Sawwar a track, reported passable
to all arms, strikes west across the desert to Dair al Zor.
Inhabitants .—
Balad Sinjar, Yezidis.
Wadi al Dhiab, Jubur of the Khabur.
Climate. —During the rainy season, December to March,
wadis are flooded and the ground heavy. Snow in
December and January.
Tactical. —The Jabal Sinjar commands the whole of the
surrounding country, and it would be necessary to
hold this if a force were marching along this route.