Iraq

The Iraq War, also known as the Second Gulf War, began with the invasion of Iraq by the United States and its allies on March 20, 2003. The invasion led to the toppling of the government of Saddam Hussein. The war was based on claims that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction, but these were never found. The invasion and subsequent occupation led to significant sectarian violence and instability in the country.

On February 22, 2006, the Al-Askari Shrine in Samarra, one of the holiest sites in Shia Islam, was bombed, causing one of the most significant flare-ups of sectarian violence in Iraq. The attack destroyed the mosque's golden dome and was a pivotal event in the sectarian conflict that ensued. The bombing was blamed on Al-Qaeda in Iraq, seeking to provoke sectarian war between Shia and Sunni Muslims.

On November 27, 2008, the Iraqi parliament ratified the U.S.-Iraq Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), which outlined the framework for the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq. The agreement established that U.S. combat forces were to withdraw from Iraqi cities by June 30, 2009, and from the entire country by December 31, 2011. This marked a significant step towards ending the U.S. military presence in Iraq post-invasion.

In June 2014, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) captured the cities of Falluja and Mosul, marking a significant territorial expansion for the group. The fall of Mosul, Iraq's second-largest city, was particularly shocking and led to a humanitarian crisis, as hundreds of thousands fled the city. The takeover signaled the beginning of a brutal occupation and escalated the conflict with the Iraqi government and international forces.

On December 9, 2017, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi declared victory over the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) after Iraqi forces, with the support of international allies, regained all the territory previously held by ISIL. This marked the end of a brutal campaign that lasted over three years, displacing millions and resulting in widespread destruction across the country, particularly in urban centers like Mosul and Ramadi.

In October 2019, mass protests erupted across Iraq as citizens demonstrated against corruption, unemployment, and poor public services. The protests, which began in Baghdad, spread to other major cities, turning into one of the largest grassroots social movements in the country's recent history. The government response was severe, with reports of hundreds of protestors killed and thousands injured. The demonstrations led to widespread calls for reform.

On January 3, 2020, Qasem Soleimani, an Iranian major general in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and commander of its Quds Force, was killed by a U.S. drone strike near Baghdad International Airport. The assassination significantly heightened tensions between the United States and Iran and marked a turning point in U.S.-Iranian relations. It also triggered a series of events that impacted the security and political landscape of Iraq.

On October 10, 2021, Iraq held its parliamentary elections, originally scheduled for 2022, but brought forward in response to protests demanding reforms. The elections were the fifth since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion. Despite the government's attempt to respond to the demands for change, voter turnout was historically low, reflecting widespread public disillusionment with the political process and skepticism about meaningful reform.

On July 31, 2022, thousands of supporters of Iraqi Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr stormed the Iraqi parliament in Baghdad's Green Zone, as protests erupted in response to the nomination of Sadr's political opponents as prime minister. The unrest highlighted the ongoing political instability in Iraq and the challenges faced in forming a stable government. This event underscored the deep political divisions and was part of broader unrest following the 2021 elections.

March 19, 2023, marked the 20th anniversary of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq. The invasion, which toppled Saddam Hussein, has had lasting impacts on Iraq and the region, resulting in years of conflict and instability. Reflection on the war's legacy continues to influence political discourse in Iraq and among the international community, as the world grapples with the consequences of military intervention and the challenges of rebuilding and reconciliation.