Iraq

The Republic of Iraq is a Middle Eastern country in southwestern Asia encompassing the ancient region of Mesopotamia at the confluence of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers and also including the southern Kurdistan . It shares borders with Kuwait and Saudi Arabia to the south, Jordan to the west, Syria to the north-west, Turkey to the north, and Iran ( Persia ) to the east. It has a very narrow section of coastline at Umm Qasr on the Persian Gulf . A new transitional government was elected in January 2005 , following the March 2003 invasion led by American and British forces which drove the former leader Saddam Hussein and his Ba'ath Party from power. However, the legality of the invasion has been disputed by the United Nations Secretary General and politicians in both the USA and the UK (as reported by BBC news, CNN, The New York Times, The Economist).

Iraq ( or /ɪˈræk/ , Arabic : العراق [ Al-Irāq ] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup ( help ) ), officially the Republic of Iraq ( Arabic : جمهورية العراق [ Jumhūrīyat Al-Irāq ] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup ( help ) , , Komara Îraqê , Assyrian Neo-Aramaic : ܥܸܪܵܩ) is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range , the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert . Iraq is bordered by Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to the west, Syria to the northwest, Turkey to the north, Iran to the east, and Kuwait and Saudi Arabia to the south. Iraq has a narrow section of coastline measuring 58 km (35 miles) on the northern Persian Gulf . The capital city, Baghdad ( Baġdād ), is in the center-east of the country. Two major rivers, the Tigris and Euphrates , run through the center of Iraq, flowing from northwest to southeast. These provide Iraq with agriculturally capable land and contrast with the steppe and desert landscape that covers most of Western Asia . Historically, the territory comprising Iraq was known in Europe by the Greek toponym ' Mesopotamia ' (Land between the rivers) . Iraq has been home to continuous successive civilizations since the 6th millennium BC . The region between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers is identified as the cradle of civilization and the birthplace of writing and the wheel . Throughout its long history, Iraq has been the center of the Akkadian , Assyrian , Babylonian , Hellenistic , Parthian , Sassanid and Abbasid empires, and part of the Achaemenid , Roman , Rashidun , Umayyad , Mongol , Safavid , Afsharid , Ottoman and British empires. The Kingdom of Iraq was founded in 1932. Beginning with an invasion in 2003 , Iraq came under military occupation by a multinational coalition of forces , mainly American and British . A new Constitution of Iraq was then approved by referendum and a new Government of Iraq was elected . As of March 2010, 96,000 US troops remain in the country. There is a deadline for the full withdrawal of U.S. military forces from Iraq by 31 December 2011. "Declaration of Principles for a Long-Term Relationship of Cooperation and Friendship Between the Republic of Iraq and the United States of America" .

Iraq ( / ɪ ˈ r æ k / , / ɪ ˈ r ɑː k / , or / aɪ ˈ r æ k / ; al-‘Irāq , Kurdish : Êraq ), officially the Republic of Iraq (Arabic: جمهورية العراق Jumhūriyyat al-‘Irāq ; Komar-i ‘Êraq ), is a country in Western Asia . The country borders Turkey to the north, Iran to the east, Kuwait to the southeast, Saudi Arabia to the south, Jordan to the southwest, and Syria to the west. The southern part of Iraq is within the Arabian Peninsula . The capital, Baghdad , is in the center of the country and its largest city. The largest ethnic groups in Iraq are Arabs and Kurds . Other ethnic groups include Assyrians , Turkmen , Shabakis , Armenians , Mandeans , Circassians and Kawliya . Around 95% of the country's 36 million citizens are Shia or Sunni Muslims , with Christianity , Yarsan , Yezidism and Mandeanism also present. Iraq has a narrow section of coastline measuring 58 km (36 mi) on the northern Persian Gulf and its territory encompasses the Mesopotamian Alluvial Plain , the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range , and the eastern part of the Syrian Desert . Two major rivers, the Tigris and Euphrates , run south through the center of Iraq and flow into the Shatt al-Arab near the Persian Gulf . These rivers provide Iraq with significant amounts of fertile land. The region between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers is often referred to as Mesopotamia is the world's oldest civilization . It is here that mankind first began to read, write, create laws, and live in cities under an organized government. The area has been home to continuous successive civilizations since the 6th millennium BC . At different periods in its history, Iraq was the center of the indigenous Akkadian , Sumerian , Assyrian , and Babylonian empires. It was also part of the Median , Achaemenid , Hellenistic , Parthian , Sassanid , Roman , Rashidun , Umayyad , Abbasid , Mongol , Safavid , Afsharid , and Ottoman empires, and under British control as a League of Nations mandate . Iraq's modern borders were mostly demarcated in 1920 by the League of Nations when the Ottoman Empire was divided by the Treaty of Sèvres . Iraq was placed under the authority of the United Kingdom as the British Mandate of Mesopotamia . A monarchy was established in 1921 and the Kingdom of Iraq gained independence from Britain in 1932. In 1958, the monarchy was overthrown and the Republic of Iraq was created. Iraq was controlled by the Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party from 1968 until 2003. After an invasion by the United States and its allies , Saddam Hussein 's Ba'ath Party was removed from power and multi-party parliamentary elections were held. The American presence in Iraq ended in 2011 but the Iraqi insurgency continued and intensified as fighters from the Syrian Civil War spilled into the country. 450 US soldiers were deployed to Iraq 10 June 2015. Embassies overseas of Republic of İraq : جريدة الصباح تنشر احصائية وزارة التخطيط لعدد نفوس سكان العراق لسنة "Iraq" .

Country in the Middle East 33°N 44°E  /  33°N 44°E  / 33; 44 Iraq ( / ɪ ˈ r æ k / , / ɪ ˈ r ɑː k / or / aɪ ˈ r æ k / ; , al-ʿirāq ; Êraq ), officially the Republic of Iraq ( Jumhūriyyah al-ʿIrāq ; Komarî Êraq ), is a country in Western Asia , bordered by Turkey to the north , Iran to the east , Kuwait to the southeast , Saudi Arabia to the south , Jordan to the southwest and Syria to the west . The capital, and largest city, is Baghdad . Iraq is home to diverse ethnic groups including Arabs , Kurds , Assyrians , Turkmen , Shabakis , Yazidis , Armenians , Mandeans , Circassians , Sabians and Kawliya . Around 99% of the country's 44 million citizens are Muslims , with tiny minorities of Christians , Yarsans , Yezidis and Mandeans also present. The official languages of Iraq are Arabic and Kurdish . Iraq has a coastline measuring 58 km (36 miles) on the northern Persian Gulf and encompasses the Mesopotamian Alluvial Plain , the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range and the eastern part of the Syrian Desert . Two major rivers, the Tigris and Euphrates , run south through Iraq and into the Shatt al-Arab near the Persian Gulf . These rivers provide Iraq with significant amounts of fertile land. The region between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers , historically known as Mesopotamia , is often referred to as the cradle of civilisation . It was here that mankind first began to read, write, create laws and live in cities under an organised government—notably Uruk , from which "Iraq" is derived. The area has been home to successive civilisations since the 6th millennium BC . Iraq was the centre of the Akkadian , Sumerian , Assyrian and Babylonian empires. It was also part of the Median , Achaemenid , Hellenistic , Parthian , Sassanid , Roman , Rashidun , Umayyad , Abbasid , Ayyubid , Seljuk , Mongol , Timurid , Safavid , Afsharid and Ottoman empires. The country today known as Iraq was a region of the Ottoman Empire until the partition of the Ottoman Empire in the 20th century. It was made up of three provinces, called vilayets in the Ottoman language : Mosul Vilayet , Baghdad Vilayet , and Basra Vilayet . In April 1920 the British Mandate of Mesopotamia was created under the authority of the League of Nations . A British-backed monarchy joining these vilayets into one Kingdom was established in 1921 under Faisal I of Iraq . The Hashemite Kingdom of Iraq gained independence from the UK in 1932. In 1958, the monarchy was overthrown and the Iraqi Republic created. Iraq was controlled by the Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party from 1968 until 2003 . In 1980, Iraq invaded Iran, sparking a protracted war which would last for almost eight years , and end in a stalemate with devastating losses for both countries. After an invasion by the United States and its allies in 2003, Saddam Hussein 's Ba'ath Party was removed from power, and multi-party parliamentary elections were held in 2005 . The US presence in Iraq ended in 2011, but the Iraqi insurgency continued and intensified as fighters from the Syrian Civil War spilled into the country. Out of the insurgency came a highly destructive group calling itself ISIL , which took large parts of the north and west. It has since been largely defeated. Disputes over the sovereignty of Kurdistan Region continue. A referendum about the full sovereignty of Kurdistan Region was held on 25 September 2017. On 9 December 2017, then- Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi declared victory over ISIL after the group lost its territory in Iraq. Iraq is a federal parliamentary republic consisting of 19 governorates (provinces) and one autonomous region ( Kurdistan Region ). The country's official religion is Islam . Culturally , Iraq has a very rich heritage and celebrates the achievements of its past in both pre-Islamic as well as post-Islamic times and is known for its poets. Its painters and sculptors are among the best in the Arab world , some of them being world-class as well as producing fine handicrafts, including rugs and carpets . Iraq is a founding member of the UN as well as of the Arab League , OIC , Non-Aligned Movement and the IMF . "World Population Prospects 2022: Demographic indicators by region, subregion and country, annually for 1950–2100" (XSLX) ("Total Population, as of 1 July (thousands)"). "Declaration of Principles for a Long-Term Relationship of Cooperation and Friendship Between the Republic of Iraq and the United States of America" . 26 November 2007.

Country in West Asia This article is about the country in West Asia. Iraq , officially the Republic of Iraq , is a country in West Asia . It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south , Turkey to the north , Iran to the east , the Persian Gulf and Kuwait to the southeast , Jordan to the southwest , and Syria to the west . The country covers an area of 438,317 square kilometres (169,235 sq mi) and has a population of over 46 million, making it the 58th largest country by area and the 31st most populous in the world . Baghdad , home to over 8 million people, is the capital city and the largest in the country . Starting in the 6th millennium BC , the fertile plains between Iraq's Tigris and Euphrates rivers, referred to as Mesopotamia , fostered the rise of early cities, civilisations, and empires including Sumer , Akkad , and Assyria . Known as the cradle of civilisation , Mesopotamia saw the invention of writing systems , mathematics , navigation , timekeeping , a calendar , astrology , the wheel , the sailboat , and a law code . After the Muslim conquest of Mesopotamia , Baghdad became the capital of the Abbasid Caliphate and a global cultural and intellectual hub during the Islamic Golden Age , home to institutions such as the House of Wisdom . Following the city's destruction by the Mongols in 1258, the region faced a prolonged decline due to plagues and successive empires. Additionally, Iraq holds religious significance in Christianity, Judaism, Yazidism, and Mandaeism. Since independence in 1932, Iraq has experienced spells of significant economic and military growth alongside periods of instability and conflict . It was part of the Ottoman Empire until the end of World War I . Mandatory Iraq was then established by the British in 1921. It transitioned into an independent kingdom in 1932. Following a coup in 1958, Iraq became a republic , first led by Abdul Karim Qasim , followed by Abdul Salam Arif and Abdul Rahman Arif . The Ba'ath Party took power in 1968 , establishing a one-party state under Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr and later Saddam Hussein , who presided over war against Iran from 1980 to 1988 and then invaded Kuwait in 1990. In 2003, a U.S.-led coalition forces invaded and occupied Iraq , overthrowing Saddam and triggering an insurgency and sectarian violence . The conflict, known as the Iraq War , ended in 2011 . From 2013 to 2017, Iraq faced another war with the rise and defeat of the Islamic State . Today post-war conflict continues at a lower scale, hampering stability alongside the rising influence of Iran . A federal parliamentary republic , Iraq is considered an emerging middle power . It is home to a diverse population, geography and wildlife . Most Iraqis are Muslim, while significant minorities include Christians , Mandaeans , Yazidis , Yarsanis and Jews . Iraqis are ethnically diverse; mostly Arabs , as well as Kurds , Turkmen , Yazidis , Assyrians , Armenians , Domcs , and Shabakis . Arabic and Kurdish are the official languages of Iraq, while Suret , Turkish and Mandaic are spoken regionally. Iraq, home to one of the largest oil reserves in the world , has a significant oil and gas industry . It is also popular for its agriculture and tourism. At present, Iraq is rebuilding with foreign support . The constitution establishes Islam as the official religion and states no law may be enacted contradicting the "established provisions of Islam." It provides for freedom of religious belief and practice for all individuals, including Muslims, Christians, Yezidis, and Sabean-Mandeans, but does not explicitly mention followers of other religions or atheists. The problem here does not lie in the topic, but in the fact that Iraq's shaky Parliament is enjoying a monopoly in the country's supreme legislative body and not subject to any form of checks and balances. Iraq was meant to have a Federation Council, an upper chamber, that can play a vital role in the country's democracy, state-building and rule-of-law. This Council was mandated in Articles 48 and 65 of the 2005 Constitution, and was meant to be created during the term of the first Parliament (2006-2010). "Can the Federation Council help address Iraq's ongoing 'state' crisis? - Kalam" . 13 March 2025 . Article 65 of Iraq's 2005 Constitution calls for the establishment of a second legislative chamber known as the Federation Council (FC). However, this article remains dormant, awaiting 'to be regulated by law' – just like many other suspended constitutional provisions. The Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy - . The Iraqi parliament's upper house, constitutionally defined as the Federation Council, has never been established. Establishing the Federation Council would be a step forward in Iraq's democratization and ability to resolve disputes. Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) . Human Development Report 2025 - A matter of choice: People and possibilities in the age of AI . There are <ref group=lower-alpha> tags or templates on this page, but the references will not show without a template or template (see the help page ).