Judging by similar "flares" to the south, I'm inclined to believe this is a case of exposure error.
Mortar Attack or Exposure Error?
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By pdunn @ 2005-09-25 22:40:11
Anonymous
@ 2008-09-10 22:25:54
Not sure what you are seeing in this pic but these images of Balad are VERY old, its way more built up than in these pics. It is called mortaritaville due to the high amount of mortar attacks. I just left there at the end of May 2008. Mortar attacks are not nearly as bad as when these images were made but it still is a common everyday occurence.