Gold rush on the Euphrates: Raqqa residents chase a riverbed mirage
In a scene reminiscent of a gold rush, dozens of residents in Syria's Raqqa countryside have converged on the banks of the Euphrates River, feverishly digging through the soil in hopes of uncovering raw gold. The sudden surge began two days ago, triggered by the appearance of glimmering earthen mounds on recently exposed riverbed terrain—a result of the Euphrates' ongoing retreat.
What began as scattered curiosity has rapidly evolved into a chaotic, self-organized excavation. Makeshift camps now dot the riverbank, with prospectors setting up tents and digging around the clock using basic tools and shovels.
The growing activity has sparked a local micro-economy: prices for used prospecting gear have spiked, and informal brokers have emerged in nearby villages to capitalize on the newfound demand.
The area remains devoid of any official regulation or safety oversight. No governmental or local authority has intervened or issued a statement, despite the rising number of participants and the potential environmental and safety risks.
Geological engineer Khaled al-Shammari, speaking to Shafaq News, urged caution, explaining that while mineral sediments are not uncommon along the Euphrates—due to its passage through mineral-rich regions—the mere visual appearance of shiny soil is insufficient to confirm the presence of gold. 'Only detailed geological analysis can determine whether such deposits contain gold or other valuable minerals,' he noted.
Yet the scientific uncertainty has done little to stem the enthusiasm. For many in Raqqa, the event has taken on both economic and spiritual dimensions.
The frenzy has revived widespread discussion of a well-known hadith attributed to the Prophet Muhammad: 'The Hour will not come until the Euphrates uncovers a mountain of gold, over which people will fight.' Islamic scholar Asaad al-Hamdani, in comments to Shafaq News, confirmed the hadith's authenticity within Sunni tradition but warned against rushing to interpret current events as literal signs of the apocalypse. 'Such narrations require deep scholarly understanding, especially when applied to unfolding events,' he said.
The Euphrates River—flowing through Turkiye, Syria, and Iraq—has long been central to life in the region, sustaining agriculture, trade, and settlement since ancient Mesopotamian times. In recent years, however, its declining water levels have raised alarms across the region, fueling disputes over Turkish dam construction, cross-border water rights, and worsening drought conditions.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Shafaq News
2 days ago
- Shafaq News
Green turning grey: Inside Iraq's accelerating desertification
Shafaq News Iraq stands on the brink of an environmental disaster, with nearly 60 percent of its territory either already desert or undergoing rapid desertification. The Green Iraq Observatory has warned that reversing this trend demands an unprecedented effort: the planting of 15 billion trees. But as drought intensifies, air quality worsens, and communities are forced to leave their lands, the scale of the crisis is rapidly outpacing national mitigation efforts. Land Losing Life Desertification in Iraq has expanded significantly over the past decade—from 30 percent of the country's land to more than 42 percent today. When naturally arid areas are included, roughly three-fifths of the country now suffers from land degradation. This transformation threatens not only Iraq's agricultural base, but also its ecological balance and societal stability. 'We must reverse this by transforming degraded areas into green zones through massive tree planting,' Omar Abdul-Latif from the Green Iraq Observatory told Shafaq News. He identified climate-resilient species like conifers and Dodonaea as ideal candidates, able to survive harsh conditions while serving as natural barriers against dust storms and wind erosion. But desertification is more than a matter of dust and trees—it reflects a deeper environmental unraveling. In Baghdad, air pollution has reached hazardous levels, with high concentrations of gases such as carbon dioxide. 'Baghdad has become unfit for living,' Abdul-Latif warned, urging rapid intervention in both rural and urban areas. Heat Without Relief Desertification in Iraq is not a new phenomenon, but it has worsened dramatically in recent decades due to climate change and human-induced pressures. While the country lies in a naturally arid zone, decades of environmental mismanagement have deepened the crisis. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) notes that the Middle East and North Africa region is warming at twice the global average. Rainfall is diminishing, and extreme heat waves are becoming more common. In Iraq, annual precipitation has declined to as little as 5–15 centimeters, with summer temperatures frequently exceeding 50°C. These shifts have heightened water stress, accelerated land degradation, and driven a destructive cycle of agricultural decline and environmental breakdown. Farms to Fallout The consequences are starkest in Iraq's central and southern regions. Formerly fertile farmland is now barren, and rural migration is rising sharply. In Dhi Qar province, desertification is now the main cause of displacement, according to the Observatory. Over 70 percent of Iraq's agricultural land has also become unproductive. Environmental researcher Haider Rashad Al-Rubaie warned that the crisis is expanding, with more fertile zones at risk across multiple provinces. While he acknowledged that aridity is natural in areas like Al-Samawah and Al-Anbar, he emphasized that poor land management and weakening rural economies have made the situation far worse. Among the major drivers are unregulated well-drilling, the rapid spread of unauthorized fish farms, and the conversion of farmland into residential zones. In Basra, saltwater intrusion—exacerbated by decreased river flow—is pushing desertification northward. 'Wars and the use of prohibited weapons raised air temperatures,' noted environmental expert Iqbal Lateef, in an interview with our agency. 'At the same time, uncontrolled well drilling, violations of water quotas, and illegal land conversion have driven the crisis.' Scattered State Action Bassim Kanaan Abdul-Jabbar, head of the Forests and Desertification Department at the Ministry of Agriculture, said a nationwide assessment is underway. 'We are working with the Environment, Water Resources, and Industry Ministries, alongside the Desert Studies Center, to develop policy recommendations,' he told Shafaq News. The ministry has also begun deploying field interventions—using clay to stabilize sand dunes, digging trenches, constructing berms, and planting trees adapted to extreme heat and drought. A flagship sand stabilization project is already active in Dhi Qar, and there are plans to plant resilient tree species along major highways in the south. Still, Abdul-Jabbar emphasized that desertification is not the burden of one institution alone. 'This is a national challenge that requires high-level coordination among ministries.' More Than Climate Crisis Although climate change is a major driver, Iraq's desertification crisis is rooted in structural and governance failures. Experts point to weak enforcement of land-use regulations, outdated irrigation methods, and insufficient investment in green infrastructure as factors that have compounded the problem. 'The crisis cannot be solved through local action alone,' warned Lateef. 'Government diplomacy with upstream countries is essential to securing sufficient water flows.' Iraq depends heavily on the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, both of which originate in Turkiye and Iran. Dam construction in both countries has slashed Iraq's water intake by up to 80 percent. The UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) stresses the importance of transboundary water management in dryland regions. While Iraq recently reached an agreement with Turkiye on water cooperation, it has yet to be implemented. Meanwhile, binding deals that guarantee reliable water releases from Iran remain elusive despite years of negotiations. Future in Peril The Strategic Studies Center reports that 90 percent of Iraq now lies within arid or semi-arid zones. Rainfall continues to decline, and evaporation rates are surging. Without rapid and coordinated action, experts caution of looming agricultural collapse, widespread displacement, and deteriorating public health. 'The solutions are known,' Abdul-Latif concluded. 'But the challenge lies in the will and capacity to implement them at the scale required.'
Shafaq News
5 days ago
- Shafaq News
Gold rush on the Euphrates: Raqqa residents chase a riverbed mirage
Shafaq News – Raqqa In a scene reminiscent of a gold rush, dozens of residents in Syria's Raqqa countryside have converged on the banks of the Euphrates River, feverishly digging through the soil in hopes of uncovering raw gold. The sudden surge began two days ago, triggered by the appearance of glimmering earthen mounds on recently exposed riverbed terrain—a result of the Euphrates' ongoing retreat. What began as scattered curiosity has rapidly evolved into a chaotic, self-organized excavation. Makeshift camps now dot the riverbank, with prospectors setting up tents and digging around the clock using basic tools and shovels. The growing activity has sparked a local micro-economy: prices for used prospecting gear have spiked, and informal brokers have emerged in nearby villages to capitalize on the newfound demand. The area remains devoid of any official regulation or safety oversight. No governmental or local authority has intervened or issued a statement, despite the rising number of participants and the potential environmental and safety risks. Geological engineer Khaled al-Shammari, speaking to Shafaq News, urged caution, explaining that while mineral sediments are not uncommon along the Euphrates—due to its passage through mineral-rich regions—the mere visual appearance of shiny soil is insufficient to confirm the presence of gold. 'Only detailed geological analysis can determine whether such deposits contain gold or other valuable minerals,' he noted. Yet the scientific uncertainty has done little to stem the enthusiasm. For many in Raqqa, the event has taken on both economic and spiritual dimensions. The frenzy has revived widespread discussion of a well-known hadith attributed to the Prophet Muhammad: 'The Hour will not come until the Euphrates uncovers a mountain of gold, over which people will fight.' Islamic scholar Asaad al-Hamdani, in comments to Shafaq News, confirmed the hadith's authenticity within Sunni tradition but warned against rushing to interpret current events as literal signs of the apocalypse. 'Such narrations require deep scholarly understanding, especially when applied to unfolding events,' he said. The Euphrates River—flowing through Turkiye, Syria, and Iraq—has long been central to life in the region, sustaining agriculture, trade, and settlement since ancient Mesopotamian times. In recent years, however, its declining water levels have raised alarms across the region, fueling disputes over Turkish dam construction, cross-border water rights, and worsening drought conditions.
Shafaq News
28-07-2025
- Shafaq News
Iraq grants patents for cancer therapy and smart tech innovations
Shafaq News – Baghdad Iraq's Directorate of Patents and Industrial Designs has granted four new patents for scientific innovations in cancer treatment, sustainable architecture, soil monitoring, and water management, the Central Organization for Standardization and Quality Control announced on Monday. In a statement, the directorate detailed the awarded patents, including a gold-based compound derived from sulfadiazine for breast cancer treatment, developed by researchers at the University of Kufa. The compound has demonstrated promising results in inhibiting cancer cell growth. Also recognized was the "Heliodon Device" from the University of Technology, which is designed to analyze the impact of sunlight on architectural structures, providing data to optimize building designs for environmental efficiency. A third patent was issued for the "Dual Automatic Lysimeter-Hygrometer," a smart system capable of measuring key soil and water properties to aid agricultural planning and land evaluation. The fourth innovation, the "Wireless Float Valve," aims to improve the efficiency of water pumping systems, particularly in areas with limited access to automated infrastructure. The head of the Central Organization for Standardization and Quality Control, Fayadh Mohammed Abd, praised the achievements, stating that they 'reflect the growing capacity of Iraqi researchers and mark a significant step forward in the country's scientific development.' Mohammed Jamal Jassim, Director of the Patents and Industrial Designs Directorate, noted that all the awarded innovations underwent rigorous evaluation per international standards.
