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A fisherman’s video from the Tigris River has set off debate after low water exposed parts of a shipwreck in the Shirgat district, Selahaddin province, in northern Iraq.
Local claims link the wreck to an Ottoman Navy warship, but officials have not confirmed the identification or the date of sinking.
A fisherman in Shirgat, a district that sits on the Tigris River—a major waterway running through Iraq—reported spotting hull remains as levels dropped and said another vessel may lie just below the surface.
Footage shared on social media quickly drew widespread attention, while the precise location and condition of the wreck remain unclear.
Some local accounts suggest the ship went down in the early 20th century amid clashes between Ottoman forces and the British army.
Selahaddin and the wider Shirgat area experienced heavy fighting during World War I, and residents have long associated river finds with that period. No authority has verified the wreck’s origin.
Footage from Shirgat on the Tigris River, where low water levels have exposed the remains of a vessel claimed to be an Ottoman-era warship. (IHA Video)
Experts describe the recent drop in the Tigris as “one of the most worrying water indicators Iraq has seen in years.” They warn that water projects along Iraq’s stretch of the river remain insufficient and say local authorities have not responded effectively.
The retreating river has formed mud islands, disrupted pumping operations, and, according to Iraq’s Ministry of Agriculture, forced changes to winter planting plans across several provinces.
As interest builds, authorities have made no statement confirming the ship’s identity, ownership, or age. Until surveys take place and records are checked, the claim that the wreck belonged to the Ottoman Navy remains unverified.
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