Solo on Iraq's Highway of Death 🇮🇶

I decided to leave Baghdad and head north to the city of Mosul however it was a 4 hour road trip. Now many tourists tend to travel Iraq on a tour to avoid any stress however this was not my decision, I found the first taxi available and agreed a price and off I went.
Firstly we stopped in a town called Samarra which is run by local militia who held my passport whilst I visited the mosque, after a windy visit we continued our journey to Mosul. This is how it went...🇮🇶
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#Iraq #Mosul #Baghdad

[@BackpackerBen]

Good evening all. If you have watched my videos over the years you'd know I never ask for likes and subs, however KZbins new algorithm feeds off liked videos. So yeah a thumbs up will help a lot so I can continue growing this channel and making more videos. I really hate asking but they really do help the video grow, so let's try get to 5000 likes shall we? Thank you all for watching, it means more than you think! 😎

[@johnafrica7979]

Got you bro! Don’t have to ask

[@FirasSameer]

Hey Ben, I have watched your youtube videos which u have recorded in Iraq, I am an Iraqi but lives abroad, your videos are awesome several times your videos made me laugh loudly because of the people you are meeting in the street and neither you understand then or they understand u, however, i can tell that you have visited only the poor areas of Baghdad, u haven’t visited the good nice areas there and missed several things that people are having nice time going there like a journey and this is due to the people you’ve met and for the way they live i can tell, but the thing that made me happy that you enjoyed your stay there. Keep going posting the good stuff. 👍

[@BackpackerBen]

@@FirasSameer appreciate that mate! glad they make you laugh

[@ayahalali7740]

Hi dear if you are coming to Mosul I will take you in a tour for four for free

[@giraffesinc.2193]

You will always have my 'like' but it does not hurt to ask! Thank you for another wonderful adventure in a place I would never have seen without you and your camera. Love from Southern California!

[@etashe1658]

Thank you, in the name of the Iraqis. You are doing a great job in supporting tourism in Iraq by photographing historical places and ancient and modern places. This is an appreciated effort by the Iraqis. A person like you did all this. Change for the better 🇮🇶🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿👍

[@BackpackerBen]

I appreciate that my friend

[@breakingthesafe5659]

Your country is amazing

[@brianoc6057]

I wonder if Americans can come visit without any issues yut

[@etashe1658]

​@@brianoc6057 We welcome everyone. The war was from the old days. There is a lot of media attack by America and the West. We have to frighten people from Iraq, but in fact, Iraq is much more beautiful and safer, and everyone is welcome. You can search KZbin for two Americans who visited Iraq and make sure. 🤍🇮🇶🥰

[@alimohammed4709]

@@brianoc6057 Iraqis differentiate between American citizens and the army. I’m sure you will be welcomed and treated like a guest

[@SermedAlWasiti]

Welcome to Iraq, Ben :) Just a quick note: In Iraq, we do not use "Habibi" the way you are using it...as in "bro"...I am sure you do not notice it, but the boys in the beer video were playing along with you, and their sarcastic tone was clear. It is a widespread stereotype, used in films a lot...but in real life, it is seldom used in your context. Maybe in Lebanon, or the levant, but not in Iraq. Instead, we use "Ayni" a lot, meaning literally "my eye", but it means figuratively "my dear"...or in your case: bro! Also, you can use "Akhi" a lot, meaning, "my brother".

[@BackpackerBen]

Thanks bro 😎 I wish I knew this

[@stephanieblack2179]

Yes saying habbibi to a man is like saying you are a female !In Lebanon habbi is torts the ladies.Habibde is torts the man.Its for mainly love birds man.Thank God they knew you are a foreigner.Its like you just want to say I love you but what you really said hello you chickens.

[@Lionking1190]

Never imagine Iraq be like that! You changed my perspective completely 🤩

[@BackpackerBen]

Mission success

[@aveo533]

Thanks so much for the great content about Iraq. You are a very good presenter. I went to Iraq in 2019 after leaving Iraq in 1981 after the war started. I really think Iraq has the friendliest people on earth. Let me know if you go back again and I can give some hints and clues of where you would see the best of Iraq. Cheers.

[@BackpackerBen]

thanks my bro! loved it

[@elvinaescobar]

I'm amazed with your openness amongst strangers. Thank-you for posting this.

[@joshuac3576]

Fascinating video! Thank you so much.

[@BackpackerBen]

Cheers Josh!

[@TravelWithMarti]

good video bro , i know how hard it is filming in that heat , great job and loved watching

[@BackpackerBen]

Appreciate it mate! Yeah was tough 🥵

[@AndreaUngarotravels]

I dream to visit Samarra ! Hopefully to travel and document my experience as well! Thanks for sharing

[@BackpackerBen]

Cool place but just for a couple hours

[@bennizillertal]

Wonderful Video as always😉

[@BackpackerBen]

;)

[@afshainmalik227]

Enjoy the trip

[@Sharkyabdi]

Great video! 👍🏾

[@BackpackerBen]

Thanks bro

[@xpatriotkiwi]

One of the best YT going right now.

[@BackpackerBen]

thanks mate!

[@AILAM43]

My heart really can't handle these vlogs. Super scary watching you go up the Mass

[@KeithWilliamMacHendry]

Ben lad you are a complete legend, what a star! 😄🙏🏻

[@nancyp2992]

Happy to see you once again I was getting worried

[@BackpackerBen]

🤴🏼

[@r8m8s8]

12:57 “with a cough on it, lovely”!

[@brianoc6057]

Thanks again for sharing

[@BackpackerBen]

cheers mate!

[@sookjoo1]

Welcome to Iraq I fell happy when tourists come to my country Nice too meet you 😀

[@BackpackerBen]

Thanks!!

[@markhannan9387]

Another belter of a video Ben - the wind reminds me of the shamals that used to blow across the desert whilst I was working in Saudi Arabia - a lot of dust can blow up pretty quickly . Great climb up that funny looking mosque - not sure how safe it was , but well done Mate

[@BackpackerBen]

Glad you enjoyed it :)

[@skincarebymaheenzahid3754]

Excellent still watching fully appreciate fully support 👍👏👌

[@juicebirdmedia1406]

wow, what a great adventure

[@mick-mykola-dementiuk]

Have a nice sleep. I been following you since England with Bald, keep it up, Mick

[@BackpackerBen]

Appreciate it 👌🏼

[@johndouglas5712]

Ben is a man of steel . Drinking game every time he says JESUS

[@stevelane3154]

You must be hammered within 10 minutes mate 😂🍻

[@johndouglas5712]

@@stevelane3154 5 😜

[@BackpackerBen]

be wasted hahah

[@louiesirois2830]

wow great stuff!\

[@wingnutbert9685]

I'll have to go back and like all the vid's I've already seen!

[@Soundsforsleeping0]

Somehow these streets terrify me but then those lads are so friendly mixed feelings :D

[@etashe1658]

It was a wonderful transition 10:33 from a ramshackle, old and filthy room to a civilized and clean place. Iraq is a little more chaotic in India and a little urbanized in China.

[@lukedamant2572]

الهند قذره جدا

[@lukedamant2572]

الهند قذره جدا

[@etashe1658]

I am from Iraq and I was shocked in this place 15:15 where I found it. It seems illegal. Perhaps if it is used as Sufa Hotel, the Iraqi Ministry of Health will close it completely because it is not even suitable for animals

[@BackpackerBen]

Horrendous 😆 but I’ve seen worse

[@sarahjane8949]

😱😱😱😱😱😱

[@wingnutbert9685]

@@BackpackerBen Yeah, but you ain't experienced nothing til you stay in the Temple View Motel in Salt Lake City!!!!! Make that bathroom look like Martha Stewart's!

[@user-oq3bj8gz1b]

مرحبا بكم من كل العالم الى العراق

[@cuttlefishagain]

that second hotel seemed so welcoming/nice lol

[@etashe1658]

I am Iraqi, and I agree with you, 6:42 the Iraqis are clean, but the municipalities, city governors, and mayors in various Iraqs, the worst at all, do not clean the public streets that are their answer, but in addition to that, the politicians and corrupt people, the country quickly, but with these people the country is improving slower 6:42

[@marcusskidmore7290]

Is life better or worse now for you guys out there since the regime?

[@etashe1658]

@@marcusskidmore7290 In comparison with life in the West, we are better in energy, food, homes, cars, everything is of high quality here in Iraq and this includes the lives of 82% of the Iraqi people because we are a very rich country in oil and other things such as energy. We left the war only from 2017, and we need a little time to have better services. In the end, I want to give an example that the West only have good services, and we have everything with primitive services, so life is better here in Iraq. Even there are American and British people living in Iraq, specifically Kurdistan Because of the high life and classy people and we're back on the highway now 😊 5 years ago

[@hidan6191]

@@etashe1658 Agree 🇮🇶👍%100

[@FranP93]

@@etashe1658 Everything might be of better quality now, but why there are no women on the streets?. Why are there only men on the shops and the streets?. Iraq might have improved economically, yet in terms of human rights, especially in women's rights, it leaves much to be desired.

[@etashe1658]

@@hidan6191 Iraq is the most open in the Middle East, and women have rights. We have ministers and parliament full of women and important positions in the state. Women are half of Iraq’s society. You see them in schools, communities, and hospitals. Perhaps because it is very hot in the summer, most women go out at night and men during the day do hard work. How can I explain to you? Women in Iraq are more than men in the mall, parks and parties, and you are from the West and have not visited Iraq? Most of the tourists visit areas where women are not wanted, so you do not see many women, but in addition, you are a Western man who takes the media that hates Iraq and who think Iraq is like Saudi Arabia and Iran in women's rights? There are many complicated matters, but the answer is easy. Iraq is very different from Western thinking. It is better in everything, even in women’s rights, but it is attacked because of the hatred of some people by Britain and America in 2003. Until now, I hope one day you will visit Iraq and you will see for yourself. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿👍🇮🇶

[@DJPoundPuppy]

Ben is a good guy. 👍

[@tammymorrison7709]

Ben, your videos are awesome!!! Thank you from a near year 60 year old American!!! Keep safe and monitor your stomach issues. I have Crohns and can't eat a lot of crap stuff .... Including spices!!!!

[@BackpackerBen]

thanks Tammy! always careful ;)

[@tammymorrison7709]

I've been watching the Pakistan videois. My ex is from Pakistan. He tought me to cook goat ...

[@tammymorrison7709]

Am I considered a babushuda??!!

[@arabcrypto]

Wellcome to Iraq bro

[@BackpackerBen]

thanks bro!

[@beautyobserver2022]

Wow nice stairs. Adventure

[@BackpackerBen]

amazing

[@adendv7329]

Love when he says, cough on it a little bit, yeah

[@ashcross]

Ben, flip-flops while trekking up the side of a steep ziggurat? You are a crazy boy 😉 Another great video! Thank you!

[@BackpackerBen]

Glad you liked it ;)

[@zaidshawkat4036]

Have an unforgettable travel in Samarra

[@BackpackerBen]

Thanks 🙏🏼

[@Indian_al_pinak]

Love from India to all Iraq people

[@PiyushKumar-dg1lk]

Nice👍

[@sarahjane8949]

All Smoking while preparing food 👏👏👏👏😂😂😂😂😂 takes me back to the good old days 💙💙💙💙

[@van3158]

I’ve spent about a year on that road, lost friends to IEDs along the way. Kurds are awesome.

[@van3158]

I loved the Iraqi food, but I’m still sick 17 years later from it. The insect bites are everywhere, mosquitoes at night flies by day, skin boring insects… i had scars and scabs for nearly a decade, but I slept in the desert.

[@BackpackerBen]

Crazy man. Sorry to hear that, glad it’s much safer now

[@deepblue1909]

Hotels in Iraq could be fancy and yet cheap. so try to look for the good ones

[@thomasmcgarry8571]

Dam Ben you wore trip flops up that bro 🤣🤣🤦‍♂️🌏✈️🤟

[@BackpackerBen]

I’m a moron 😆

[@SB_TRAVELS]

Interesting!

[@BackpackerBen]

Very!

[@omarmrd]

That’s amazing video Ben , i watched the video twice,with like,I love The spiral minaret , 35 years ago I climbed to the summit , about Biji village very embarrassing, I blame the Gov, they doing nothing for people , Biji is the half way between Baghdad and Mosul , a lot people stop there for rest , Biji should be like a Wigan ,1000 a years ago they build the spiral minaret ,now the new Gov they not able to build a new road or pavement , never mind , you doing job excellent my mate , thanks very much. I watched your videos in Kashmir , I like The dodgy cable car , your mate asked the guy twice , is it safe is ?is it safe ? He made me laugh

[@BackpackerBen]

Appreciate you watching bro 😎

[@TheJohnM]

Crazy just randomly remembering the names of cities that I mentioned in my undergrad politics degree (focused on war on terror/extremism). I was writing about Samarra in reference to the increased sunni/shia tensions in 2006 with the destruction of the golden dome and the sunni triangle.

[@BackpackerBen]

Must be very interesting for you

[@ltippers7029]

I've been all over iraq, never been to Samarra! its worth going to Nimrod if you're in the Mosul area! its all smashed up now, but well worth the trip still! the people in Mosul are COMPLETELY different from any other city in iraq....be careful bro

[@BackpackerBen]

Samarra not worth it mate. Nothing to see other than the mosque

[@dragon888193ftw]

um, i'm from mosul, how are we different??

[@ltippers7029]

@@dragon888193ftw you already KNOW that the people of Mosul are different from the rest of Iraq, just like people from Baghdad have an opinion of people from Basra and vice/versa! I have spent 15 years working in Iraq and I've been in pretty much every city here, in my opinion there is a marked difference in the way Moslawi people are compared to say the people of Basra....its a product of the occupation of the occupation of US forces maybe followed by when the people of Mosul "threw sugar" at ISIS when they arrived! come on mate.....you know that I know!!!

[@dragon888193ftw]

@@ltippers7029 maybe you should leave my country alongside your dirty occupier army. I can’t believe you are accusing the entirety of Mosul of supporting ISIS. Spoken like a true moron who has never talked to a maslawi his whole life.

[@markhannan9387]

Thanks

[@BackpackerBen]

thank you Mark!

[@DeimosPC]

The hotel differences blew my mind lol

[@tgamble1000]

I had a co-worker from Mosul...really good, hard-working, dude...

[@BackpackerBen]

Awesome people bro

[@tgamble1000]

@@BackpackerBen ...head over to Amman, Jordan bro. You can get a good, cold, Amstel beer there.

[@marcusskidmore7290]

Maybe go for the $15 dollar a night place next time. Great vid, thumbs up!

[@marcusskidmore7290]

Commented before you moved hotels!

[@BackpackerBen]

😂 thanks mate

[@pltopper771]

no worries, its safe

[@aliabdullah1457]

You didnt get the runs from the pizza then after the guy smoking with no gloves and a cough to top it off..look like your belly is getting used to the rough road 😂

[@BackpackerBen]

I am finally immune ;)

[@aliabdullah1457]

@@BackpackerBen 😂

[@jacoblanglois]

So note to self.. when in Mosul don't get the $10 a night room, get the $40 a night room. Best $30 you'll ever spend lol.

[@BackpackerBen]

YES

[@caractax.3110]

I always be a little afraid for yourself... 🥺

[@tigran2197]

I watched the movie about the Gulf War "Jarhead" as a child (I think with 10?) and I was scared to death in the scene where they reach the Highway of Death. The burned cars and vehicles where the dead corpses. I knewed that the scene had a real background. I think not many scenes in movies can show you the real horror of war.

[@BackpackerBen]

I know the movie mate. Surreal that I went there

[@HandsomeMagician]

@@BackpackerBen The highway of death is the road leading back to Iraq from Kuwait City.

[@Rei806]

Semara is the oldest place in iraq i went there when i was a kid until last year :D

[@gimmethepinkelephant3685]

You went there as a kid and stayed there until last year?🤔

[@Rei806]

Sorry I meant i was there last year

[@Rei806]

Thank you for visiting iraq 👍

[@joeruhe8030]

Your brave for eating that. As he was massaging that meat I was gagging knowing how dirty his hands are.

[@BackpackerBen]

Hahhaha I know

[@spiritualmo]

Hey dip shit the fire kills any germs next time don’t be an ignorant moron.

[@saratnaitong3712]

♥️🌹❤️love from tripura northeast india🇮🇳

[@f4wnz132]

Please visit us in Iraq. We love India I ❤️ I

[@BlackmanDaTraveller]

Iraq looks beautiful & interesting

[@BackpackerBen]

You’d love it mate

[@tuforu4]

U CRAZY

[@jeffbreezee]

I guess that brick oven pizza made up for the terrible near beer.

[@kulik03]

What a horrendous hotel lol! Nice adventure, you weren't exactly "solo" tho! Still liked the vid!

[@BackpackerBen]

thanks mate! yeah was grim hahah

[@JB50713]

Lol the guy smoking and coughing while preparing food. Yummy!

[@BackpackerBen]

hahha

[@oriy294]

Hello👋 Great content. 👍🏻 I love this amazing country and friendly Iraqi people.🇬🇧💞🇮🇶 Have a safe and great journey.🥰 God bless you and God bless Iraq. 🥰 Please print your YT channel details on the card and share it with locals. Give them this opportunity to follow your amazing contents and watch their lovely country through your eyes.😊 Thanks a lot.💙🙏🏻💙

[@BackpackerBen]

Thank you for watching! 🇮🇶😎

[@lukedamant2572]

🌹🌹🌹

[@aifaasmith.]

The mosque looks like a cake! Super plain but beautiful. Do people there still use it though?

[@BackpackerBen]

absolutely :)

[@aifaasmith.]

Those mosquitoes bites were nasty 🥺

[@aifaasmith.]

Was the Barbican beverage really that horrendous? It sells here too in Malaysia and I think my younger brother had once bought it lol

[@BackpackerBen]

SOOOOO BAD

[@jeffbreezee]

It looks almost exactly like the biblical tower of Babel.

[@lovato2653]

kurdistan the best ❤️☀️💚 always has my heart

[@sar369s]

You came at most hot days of iraq,,iraqi people get holiday at it

[@BackpackerBen]

crazyyyyy heat

[@damskee4]

oh shit I was so worried a gust of wind would come along and...then i realized that if im sitting here watching it, he must be fine lol

[@BackpackerBen]

Survived 🤝

[@damskee4]

@@BackpackerBen you should make a shirt. I survived the spiral

[@apollopursuingdaphne2976]

I was always under the impression that ‘Habibi’ means “my love” or something of the sort but with the use of the word in this video I feel like I am greatly mistaken! Can anybody tell me the meaning of the word?

[@BackpackerBen]

it does apparetly haha but I never knew

[@apollopursuingdaphne2976]

@@BackpackerBen hah funny! Now I feel like I know something but in reality I don’t speak any foreign languages what so ever haha. Had an old childhood friend from Iraq however and I believe that is where I learned the meaning from! Cheers mate, safe travels.

[@BackpackerBen]

@@apollopursuingdaphne2976 thanks mate!

[@hasanalshareef5047]

Yes it is mean different like my love , darling, brother , friend etc…always used between friends.

[@husseinlafta8982]

the man on th stairs told you why dont you film me? in a joking way

[@ROYALWAND]

what kind of camera are you using?

[@johnafrica7979]

🇮🇶🇮🇶🇮🇶🇮🇶🇮🇶❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@nicolelochren9560]

Just a think how many people have walked that same path.

[@BackpackerBen]

Very interesting

[@SteveSmithRailways]

Blimey! Just before that chap spread all that meat around the Pizza he was smoking......I trust he washed his hands......lol. It did need some extra garnish surely and no doubt that water went down well. Enjoy your time in Mosul. So, after Iraq, where are you going Ben?

[@BackpackerBen]

Hahaha I know And not sure yet Steve!

[@kyletelan6945]

Is Iraq safe to visit?

[@shkotariq6138]

are you in kurdistan yet?

[@BackpackerBen]

Left now 🇬🇧

[@ali5on]

12% likes up to now, not bad, usually 5% is the norm. Come on everybody give it thumbs up

[@BackpackerBen]

Is 5% the normal? No idea 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@johnhickman9926]

Hi what was that thing your friend was smoking ?

[@bighaith]

It's great seeing Iraq but mate your pronunciation is doing my head in!

[@BackpackerBen]

Good

[@taekook6364]

8:55😂

[@Joshua89]

Are you really solo?? A few other vloggers are recently also uploading vids in Iraq.

[@BackpackerBen]

100% solo best way

[@dscdbgf8374]

🇮🇶⚘⚘⚘⚘⚘

[@dinobay9597]

is that mosquitoes or bed bugs mosquitoes are only on the tropical countries only

[@BackpackerBen]

Mosquito definitely

[@gimmethepinkelephant3685]

You should be careful. Always use bug repellent or something even stronger in places like that. There have been cases of bot fly infestations in Iraq, and you definitely don't want no shit like that.

[@Raggadish.]

We want to experience the shared squat toilet 🚽🧻🚿

[@BackpackerBen]

Hahaha NO CHANCE

[@FreedomwithMike]

👍 thumbs up from me.

[@BackpackerBen]

Cheers Mike

[@user-gj2ez8gk2g]

Hi Ben - watched loads of your videos and love em ! All those mozzie bites - you are vitamin B deficient, take Vitamin B supplements and it will stop them munching !

[@40AndAWakeUp]

Fancy Afghanistan in a few weeks? Sorry it's a bit random but you up for it?

[@BackpackerBen]

I’m to busy for a few weeks mate

[@raks6553]

Hello mate - fair play for slumming it in that room on your first night in Mosul - tbf I’ve slept in worse on beach shacks in Thailand at least you had a fan 😂😂😂 I’ve been living in ME for 7 years now (albeit Dubai) but born and bred from London I’ve been totally dumbfounded by how the media have totally misrepresented how friendly and welcoming people in the ME are - keep up the good work!

[@BackpackerBen]

Appreciate it mate!

[@sammo5786]

Okay I'll like the vid but only because that little iraqian kid said to

[@basedpatriotLT]

"for 30 dollars more". It sound strange when you mean from 8 to 40 dollars. More accurately it should sound for 5 TIMES more (as in MUCH MUCH more).

[@teddyboy9116]

Jeez how did u manage to squeeze past people on that tower staircase without goung over the edge? Haha

[@BackpackerBen]

was scary trust me hahaa

[@teddyboy9116]

@@BackpackerBen it looked it! Good vid mate really enjoyed the whole series from iraq

[@BackpackerBen]

@@teddyboy9116 appreciate it mate!

[@megalodon7916]

The term “Highway of Death” is actually more closely associated with the southernmost part of Highway 8 near Kuwait and Highway 80 in Kuwait. That was where a very one-sided engagement of the Gulf War occurred from February 25-27, 1991. It happened when Saddam’s troops stole as much as they could as the coalition forces advanced, then hopped in their own vehicles and whatever vehicles they could steal from the local citizens, and tried to retreat out of Kuwait with their stolen loot. American Grumman A-6 intruders hit the front and rear of the column with cluster bombs, trapping them. Then American, British, Canadian, and French air and ground forces closed in and began to bombard the stuck column in order to destroy as much of Iraq’s military equipment as they could over the next few days. When it was over, around 2,250 vehicles ranging from tanks to vehicles stolen from locals were destroyed or abandoned, and around 601 or so Iraqi troops were dead and 2,000 were captured. Many of them had panicked and rather than try to resist had simply jumped from their vehicles and fled into the desert toward Basra. They were not chased, as the focus of the attack was their vehicles and equipment. Because of the sheer devastation, that stretch of road has become known as the Highway of Death.

[@megalodon7916]

The name is a bit of a misnomer, though, as far more vehicles were destroyed than lives lost, as post war analysis of the charred wreckage showed. The vast majority of those that died were those that foolishly decided to stay in their vehicle and/or with their stolen loot and/or resist, paying the ultimate price for it This also includes those tried to get their vehicle to safety, as any fleeing vehicle that escaped the initial traffic jam became a target.

[@gimmethepinkelephant3685]

@@megalodon7916 it doesn't matter how or why they died. They still died, and there was a lot of death on that road. Hence the name.... I saw it. It was really fucked up. People were literally melted into their vehicles and into the asphalt. I can't even imagine what it must have been like for those who came to clean it all up.

[@wingnutbert9685]

Just a thought, but maybe squeeze the nose pads on your Ray-Bans together a bit! Looks like they're always sliding down on ya! :)