Al-Iskandariya or Alexandria (الإسكندرية, also given as Iskandariyah, Iskanderiyah, Iskanderiya, Iskanderiyeh or Sikandariyeh or Al Askandariyah) is an ancient city in central Iraq, one of a number of towns in the Near East named after Alexander the Great (Iskander in Arabic). It is largely populated by Shia and Sunni Muslims, and is located about 25 miles (40 km) south of Baghdad, near the Euphrates River.