Askar

‘Askar (Arabic: عسكر) is an Arabic word meaning "guard" or "soldier". It is a loanword from Persian lashkar. The term may refer to:

Places

• ‘Askar, a Palestinian refugee camp from 2000-2002
• al-‘Askar, the capital of Egypt from 750-868 AD
• Al-‘Askarī Mosque, a Muslim holy site in the Iraqi city of Samarra
• Askar (Bahrain), a town in Bahrain
• Aşkar, Azerbaijan
• Askar, a fictional ancient mythical civilisation in Robin Jarvis' Wyrd Museum Trilogy

People

• Ḥasan al-‘Askarī (846-874), Shi'a Imam
• Askar Akayev (b. 1944), President of Krgyzstan
• Askar Aitmatov (b. 1959), Foreign Minister in Krgyzstan
• ‘Azīz ben ‘Askar (b. 1976), Moroccan soccer player
• Ja‘far al-‘Askarī (1887–1936), Prime Minister of Iraq
• Zaynab al-‘Askarī, Bahraini actress
• Sami al-Askari, Iraqi politician
• Abū Hilāl al-‘Askarī (d. 1005 CE), an Islamic scholar
• Ahmed Askar (1943-2000), Vice president of Suez Canal University

Military units

• Rejimen Askar Wataniah, reserve component of the Malaysian Army
• Rejimen Askar Jurutera DiRaja, Malaysian combat unit
• Royal Brunei Armed Forces (known as Askar Melayu Brunei)
• Pakistan Military (Pak Askar)

Other

• al-‘Askarī, a valuable camel which was part of the procession for the negotiations at the Battle of Bassorah in 7th century Iraq
• Askar, the breakthrough fictional role played by Azerbaijani actor Rashid Behbudov