Iraq

Background reviewed 2026-10-23 · Background as of 2026-10

Background

Iraq has experienced repeated conflict since the US-led invasion of 2003, including a sectarian civil war and the rise of the Islamic State group, which seized Mosul in 2014. Iraqi forces, Kurdish Peshmerga, the Popular Mobilisation Forces and a US-led coalition defeated the group territorially by December 2017.

Since then, violence has been lower but Iraq remains exposed to regional tensions. Armed groups aligned with Iran have attacked US forces and other targets, and strikes on armed groups have been carried out inside Iraq, including during the 2026 regional war. The UN political mission (UNAMI) closed at the end of 2025 at the Iraqi government’s request.

History

Modern Iraq was formed under British mandate after the First World War and became independent in 1932. Under Saddam Hussein, who ruled from 1979, Iraq fought a long war with Iran in the 1980s, invaded Kuwait in 1990 and was then expelled by a US-led coalition in 1991, followed by more than a decade of UN sanctions.

After the 2003 US-led invasion removed Saddam Hussein, a new political system was built around power-sharing between Shia, Sunni and Kurdish communities. Insurgency and sectarian violence peaked in 2006–2007. In 2014 the Islamic State group seized Mosul and much of the north and west; Iraqi forces, Kurdish Peshmerga, mostly Shia volunteer units and an international coalition retook these areas by the end of 2017. The Kurdistan Region in the north has its own regional government.

Main parties

Iraqi Security Forces — The army, police and counter-terrorism service under the federal government.
Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) — State-sanctioned umbrella of mostly Shia armed groups, some closely aligned with Iran.
Kurdistan Regional Government — Governs the autonomous Kurdistan Region in the north; its forces are the Peshmerga.
Islamic State remnants — Carry out occasional attacks, mainly in rural areas.

Key dates

2003-03-20 — US-led invasion of Iraq begins.
2014-06-10 — The Islamic State group captures Mosul.
2017-12-09 — Iraq declares victory over the Islamic State group.
2019-10 — Mass protests begin over corruption and services.
2025-11-11 — Parliamentary elections are held.
2025-12-31 — The UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) ends its mandate.
2026-02-28 — A regional war begins with US and Israeli strikes on Iran; Iraq is affected by attacks and strikes on its territory.

Humanitarian situation

More than a million people remain displaced from the war against the Islamic State group, and reconstruction of areas such as western Mosul is incomplete. Water scarcity and drought are growing concerns.

How to read reports about Iraq

Attacks by or on armed groups are often claimed by several parties; claims are left to the linked reports.
The Kurdistan Region has its own authorities and media, so reports may use different place names (Kurdish or Arabic).

Recent events

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