âÂÂRed Zoneâ was a term used during the occupation of Iraq to designate the unsafe areas of Baghdad, namely all parts of the city outside the Green Zone. It came into use following the 2003 invasion and subsequent occupation by the United States, the United Kingdom, and allied forces (MNF-I). This area was generally off-limits to most US citizens, as well as to U.S. military personnel, due to security concerns.
The name "Red Zone" originated from the military designation used to describe an unsecured area, which in the case of Baghdad was every other area other than the Green Zone (also known as the International Zone), which is a high-security area in Baghdad. Foreign residents of Baghdad, , still sometimes refer to it as such.
U.S. journalist Steven Vincent, who was murdered in Basra in August 2005, published a book titled In the Red Zone: A Journey into the Soul of Iraq (2004), based on his blog by the same title.
Oliver Poole, a British journalist and author, published the book Red zone: Five Bloody Years in Baghdad in January 2008.
In October 2011, My war in Iraq: Red Zone Baghdad was published by Marcus Fielding.