Zarb Castle, Ottoman-era castle in Ghammas, Iraq

Zarb Castle is a square Ottoman-era fortress in Ghammas, 45 km southwest of Diwaniyah, with each side about 50 m long and outer walls one metre thick. Its walls are built of brick, gravel and square tiles, with four half-round, vaulted towers at the corners and arches projecting outward inside. A room in the north wall, built like a tower, appears to have been the command post.

Zarb Castle is an Ottoman-era fortress believed to have been built around 1770. The Ottoman state handed it to Zarb bin Maghams bin Shalal Al-Khazaali, prince of the Khazal tribes, to keep the tribes calm and prevent unrest against Ottoman rule. During the 1920 Iraqi Revolution against British occupation, large quantities of rebel weapons, including swords, daggers and shields, were later found inside it.

The castle takes its name from Zarb bin Maghams bin Shalal al-Khazaali, prince of the Khaza'il tribes, to whom the Ottomans handed it to keep the tribes quiet. Its square plan, corner towers and interior arches are visible today, and weapons of the 1920 revolutionaries — swords, daggers and shields — were found inside.

The castle stands in the Ghammas district, about 45 km southwest of Diwaniyah, reached by road from the city. The square enclosure measures 50 m on each side, with a one-metre-thick outer wall and four corner towers; inside, thirteen buttresses lean against the inner wall. Look for the side stair in each tower leading to its roof, and the north-side room built like a tower.

Thirteen buttresses lean about half a metre out from the inner enclosure wall, and their shape suggests they joined a further structure used as storerooms or stables. The north side holds a room built like a tower, apparently the seat of the garrison command.