The Hands of Victory
The Hands of Victory belong to the main sights in Baghdad. They are sometimes referred to as the Swords of Qādisīyah and consist of a pair of triumphal arches. Each arch is built by two hands holding swords which cross in the center.
The two arches are a memorial of the Iran-Iraq war. 1989, they were opened to the public and belong to Baghdad’s sights.
In February 2007, the new Iraqi government wanted to remove Symbols of the Saddam Era and the Hands of Victory had begun to be dismantled. Iraqi people were seen looting Iranian helmets and even small parts of the monument as souvenirs. U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad blocked the demolition of the monument.