Iraq
Country in West Asia From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Country in West Asia From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Iraq,[lower-alpha 1] officially the Republic of Iraq,[lower-alpha 2] is a country in West Asia and a core country in the geopolitical region known as the Middle East. With a population exceeding 46 million, it is the 35th-most populous country. It consists of 18 governorates. The country is bordered by Turkey to the north, Saudi Arabia to the south, Iran to the east, the Persian Gulf and Kuwait to the southeast, Jordan to the southwest, and Syria to the west. The capital and largest city is Baghdad. Iraqi people are diverse; mostly Arabs, as well as Kurds, Turkmen, Yazidis, Assyrians, Armenians, Mandaeans, Persians and Shabakis with similarly diverse geography and wildlife. Most Iraqis are Muslims – minority faiths include Christianity, Yazidism, Zoroastrianism, Mandaeism, Yarsanism and Judaism.[12][4][13] The official languages of Iraq are Arabic and Kurdish; others also recognized in specific regions are Turkish, Assyrian, and Armenian.[14]
Republic of Iraq | |
---|---|
Motto: ٱللَّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ[2] Allāhu Akbar "God is the Greatest" | |
Anthem: مَوْطِنِيْ Mawṭinī "My Homeland" | |
Capital and largest city | Baghdad 33°20′N 44°23′E |
Official languages | |
| |
Ethnic groups (1987)[4] | |
Demonym(s) | Iraqi |
Government | Federal parliamentary republic |
Abdul Latif Rashid | |
Mohammed Shia' Al Sudani | |
Legislature | Council of Representatives |
Federation Council[5] (not yet convened)[6] | |
Council of Representatives | |
Independence from the United Kingdom | |
3 October 1932 | |
14 July 1958 | |
15 October 2005 | |
Area | |
• Total | 438,317 km2 (169,235 sq mi) (58th) |
• Water (%) | 4.93 (as of 2024)[7] |
Population | |
• 2024 estimate | 46,523,657[8] (35th) |
• Density | 82.7/km2 (214.2/sq mi) (125th) |
GDP (PPP) | 2023 estimate |
• Total | $508.973 billion[9] (48th) |
• Per capita | $11,742[9] (56th) |
GDP (nominal) | 2023 estimate |
• Total | $254.993 billion[9] (47th) |
• Per capita | $5,882[9] (111th) |
Gini (2012) | 29.5[10] low inequality |
HDI (2022) | 0.673[11] medium (128th) |
Currency | Iraqi dinar (IQD) |
Time zone | UTC+3 (AST) |
Drives on | right |
Calling code | +964 |
ISO 3166 code | IQ |
Internet TLD |
Starting as early as the 6th millennium BC, the fertile alluvial plains between Iraq's Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, referred to as the region of Mesopotamia, gave rise to some of the world's earliest cities, civilizations, and empires. It was known as a "Cradle of Civilisation" that saw the inventions of a writing system, mathematics, timekeeping, a calendar, astrology, and a law code. Following the Muslim conquest, Baghdad became the capital and the largest city of the Abbasid Caliphate, and during the period of the Islamic Golden Age, the city evolved into a significant cultural and intellectual center, and garnered a worldwide reputation for its academic institutions, including the House of Wisdom.[15] It was largely destroyed at the hands of the Mongol Empire in 1258 during the siege of Baghdad, resulting in a decline that would linger through many centuries due to frequent plagues and multiple successive empires including the Ottoman Empire.[16][17][18][19]
Iraq remained under Ottoman rule until the end of World War I, after which Mandatory Iraq was established by the British Empire, ruled by Faisal I. Iraq gained independence in 1932 as the Kingdom of Iraq. It became a republic in 1958, led by Abdul Karim Qasim and then by Abdul Salam Arif and Abdul Rahman Arif. Following the 1968 revolution, the Iraqi Ba'ath Party came to power, under the leadership of Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr, followed by Saddam Hussein, who led the Ba'ath regime from 1968 to 2003. The 21st century has seen the country facing challenges, which came after the 2003 invasion of Iraq, that overthrew the government of Saddam and the protracted Iraq War, followed by the subsequent efforts to rebuild the country amidst sectarian violence and the rise of the Islamic State. Today the Post-war conflict in Iraq continues at a lower scale, which has been obstacle to the country's stability.[20][21]
A federal parliamentary republic country, Iraq is considered an emerging middle power. It is a founding member of the United Nations, the OPEC as well as of the Arab League, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Non-Aligned Movement, and the International Monetary Fund. With a strategic location, the country has one of the largest oil reserves in the world and is among global centers for oil and gas industry. In addition, Iraq is an agricultural country. Tourism in Iraq stands to be a major growth sector, including archaeological tourism and religious tourism while the country is also considered to be a potential location for ecotourism.[22][23][24] Since its independence, it has experienced spells of significant economic and military growth and briefer instability including wars. The country is putting efforts to rebuild after the war with foreign support.[25][26][27][28][29]
There are several suggested origins for the name. One dates to the Sumerian city of Uruk and is thus ultimately of Sumerian origin.[30][31] Another possible etymology for the name is from the Middle Persian word erāq, meaning "lowlands."[32] An Arabic folk etymology for the name is "deeply rooted, well-watered; fertile".[33]
During the medieval period, there was a region called ʿIrāq ʿArabī ("Arabian Iraq") for Lower Mesopotamia and ʿIrāq ʿAjamī ("Persian Iraq"),[34] for the region now situated in Central and Western Iran.[34] The term historically included the plain south of the Hamrin Mountains and did not include the northernmost and westernmost parts of the modern territory of Iraq.[35] Prior to the middle of the 19th century, the term Eyraca Arabica was commonly used to describe Iraq.[36][37]
The term Sawad was also used in early Islamic times for the region of the alluvial plain of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.
As an Arabic word, عراق ʿirāq means "hem", "shore", "bank", or "edge", so that the name by folk etymology came to be interpreted as "the escarpment", such as at the south and east of the Jazira Plateau, which forms the northern and western edge of the "al-Iraq arabi" area.[38]
The Arabic pronunciation is [ʕiˈrɑːq]. In English, it is either /ɪˈrɑːk/ (the only pronunciation listed in the Oxford English Dictionary and the first one in Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary[39]) or /ɪˈræk/ (listed first by MQD), the American Heritage Dictionary,[40] and the Random House Dictionary.[41]
When the British established the Hashemite king on 23 August 1921, Faisal I of Iraq, the official English name of the country changed from Mesopotamia to the endonymic Iraq.[42] Since January 1992, the official name of the state is "Republic of Iraq" (Jumhūriyyat al-ʿIrāq), reaffirmed in the 2005 Constitution.[43][44][45]
Iraq largely coincides with the ancient region of Mesopotamia, often referred to as the cradle of civilization.[46] The history of Mesopotamia extends back to the Lower Paleolithic period, with significant developments continuing through the establishment of the Caliphate in the late 7th century AD, after which the region became known as Iraq.
Within its borders lies the ancient land of Sumer, which emerged between 6000 and 5000 BC during the Neolithic Ubaid period.[46] Sumer is recognized as the world's earliest civilization, marking the beginning of urban development, written language, and monumental architecture.[46] Iraq's territory also includes the heartlands of the Akkadian, Neo-Sumerian, Babylonian, Neo-Assyrian, and Neo-Babylonian empires, which dominated Mesopotamia and much of the Ancient Near East during the Bronze and Iron Ages.[46]
Iraq was a center of innovation in antiquity, producing early written languages, literary works, and significant advancements in astronomy, mathematics, law, and philosophy. This era of indigenous rule ended in 539 BC when the Neo-Babylonian Empire was conquered by the Achaemenid Empire under Cyrus the Great, who declared himself the "King of Babylon." The city of Babylon, the ancient seat of Babylonian power, became one of the key capitals of the Achaemenid Empire. Ancient Iraq, known as the Mesopotamia, is home to world's first Jewish diaspora community, which emerged during the Babylonian exile.
The Babylonians were defeated by the Persian Empire, under the leadership of Cyrus the Great. Following the fall of Babylon, the Achaemenid Empire took control of the Mesopotamian region. Enslaved Jews were freed from the Babylonian captivity, though many remained in the land and thus, the Jewish community grew in the region. Iraq is location of numerous Jewish sites, which are also revered by the Muslims and Christians.
In the following centuries, the regions constituting modern Iraq came under the control of several empires, including the Greeks, Parthians, and Romans, establishing new centers like Seleucia and Ctesiphon. By the 3rd century AD, the region fell under Persian control through the Sasanian Empire, during which time Arab tribes from South Arabia migrated into Lower Mesopotamia, leading to the formation of the Sassanid-aligned Lakhmid kingdom.
The Arabic name al-ʿIrāq likely originated during this period. The Sasanian Empire was eventually conquered by the Rashidun Caliphate in the 7th century, bringing Iraq under Islamic rule after the Battle of al-Qadisiyyah in 636. The city of Kufa, founded shortly thereafter, became a central hub for the Rashidun dynasty until their overthrow by the Umayyads in 661. Karbala is considered as one of the holiest cities in Shia Islam, following the Battle of Karbala, which took place in 680.
With the rise of the Abbasid Caliphate in the mid-8th century, Iraq became the center of Islamic rule, with Baghdad, founded in 762, serving as the capital. Baghdad flourished during the Islamic Golden Age, becoming a global center for culture, science, and intellectualism. However, the city's prosperity declined following the Buwayhid and Seljuq invasions in the 10th century and suffered further with the Mongol invasion of 1258.
Iraq later came under the control of the Ottoman Empire in the 16th century. During the years 1747–1831, Iraq was ruled by a Mamluk dynasty of Georgian origin, who succeeded in obtaining autonomy from the Ottoman Empire. In 1831, the Ottomans managed to overthrow the Mamluk regime and reimposed their direct control over Iraq.
Iraq remained under Ottoman rule until the end of World War I, after which Mandatory Iraq was established by the British Empire in 1921. Iraq gained independence in 1932 as the Kingdom of Iraq, with Faisal as the first king of Iraq. After Faisal's death in 1933, his son Ghazi became king. Faisal II succeeded Ghazi after his death in 1939, with Abd al-Ilah as regent and Nuri Said as prime minister. The country was affected by a coup d'état and anti-Jewish riots in 1941, staged by Rashid Ali al-Gaylani. The Anglo-Iraqi War took place during the World War II (1939–1945).
The modern era has seen Iraq facing challenges. After the 14 July Revolution in 1958, Iraq became a republic and Abdul-Karim Qasim was Iraq's prime minister. Numerous members of the royal family were killed in coup. Qasim was confronted by the United Kingdom, due to his claim over Kuwait. His refusal to join the political union between Egypt and Syria angered Arab nationalists in Iraq. In 1959, Abdel-Wahab al-Saadi led an uprising in Mosul against Qasim. The uprising was crushed by the government forces. Qasim was overthrown and killed in the Ramadan Revolution in 1963. However, internal divisions caused further coups. As a result of the coup, Abdul Salam Arif became president of Iraq, from 1963 to until his death in an accident in 1966. He was succeeded by Abdul Rahman Arif, who was overthrown in the 1968.
The 1968 coup resulted seizure of power by the Ba'ath Party, with Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr as the president.[49] However, the movement gradually came under the control of Saddam Hussein, Iraq's then vice-president, who later became president in 1979.[49] The country fought war with Iran, from 1980 to 1988. In midst of war, Kurdish militants led rebellion against the government from 1983 to 1986.[49] During the final stages of the war, the government sought to suppress Kurdish militias in Anfal campaign.[49] During the campaign, 50,000 to 100,000 people were killed.[49] The war ended in a stalemate in 1988, though Iran suffered more loss.[49] Around 500,000 people were killed in the eight years long war.[49]
Kuwait's refusal to waive Iraq's debt and reducing oil prices turned Saddam to take military action against it.[49] In 1990, Iraq invaded and annexed Kuwait, which started the Gulf War.[49] The multinational alliance headed by the United States defeated Iraqi Forces and the war ended in 1991.[49] Shortly after it ended in 1991, Kurdish Iraqis and Shia led several uprisings against Saddam's regime, but these were repressed.[49] It is estimated that as many as 100,000 people, including many civilians were killed.[49] During the uprisings the United States, the United Kingdom, France and Turkey, claiming authority under UNSC resolution 688, established the Iraqi no-fly zones to protect Kurdish population from attacks.[49] Iraq was also affected by the Iraqi Kurdish Civil War from 1994 to 1997.[49] Around 40,000 fighters and civilians were killed.[49] Between 2001 and 2003, the Kurdistan Regional Government and Ansar al-Islam engaged in conflict, which would merge with the upcoming war.[49]
After the September 11 attacks, George W. Bush began planning the overthrow of Saddam in what is now widely regarded as a false pretense.[50] Saddam's Iraq was included in Bush's "axis of evil". The United States Congress passed joint resolution, which authorized the use of armed force against Iraq.[50] In November 2002. The UN Security Council passed resolution 1441.[50] On 20 March 2003, the United States-led coalition invaded Iraq, as part of global war on terror.[50] Within weeks, coalition forces occupied much of Iraq, with the Iraqi Army adopting guerrilla tactics to confront coalition forces.[50] Following the fall of Baghdad in first week of April, Saddam's regime had completely lost control of Iraq.[50] A statue of Saddam was toppled in Baghdad, symbolizing the end of his rule.[50]
The Coalition Provisional Authority began disbanding the Ba'ath Army and expelling Ba'athists from the new government.[50] The insurgents fought against the coalition forces and the newly installed government.[50] Saddam was captured and executed.[50] The Shia–Sunni civil war took place from 2006 to 2008.[50] The coalition forces were criticized for war crimes such as the Abu Ghraib torture, the Fallujah massacre, the Mahmudiyah rape and killings and the Mukaradeeb wedding party massacre.[50] Following the withdrawal of US troops in 2011, the occupation ceased and war ended. The war in Iraq has resulted in between 151,000 and 1.2 million Iraqis being killed.[50]
The subsequent efforts to rebuild the country amidst sectarian violence and the rise of the Islamic State began after the war. Iraq was galvanized by the civil war in Syria. Continuing discontent over Nouri al-Maliki's government led to protests, after which a coalition of Ba'athist and Sunni militants launched an offensive against the government, initiating full-scale war in Iraq. The climax of the campaign was an offensive in Northern Iraq by the Islamic State (ISIS) that marked the beginning of the rapid territorial expansion by the group, prompting an American-led intervention. By the end of 2017, ISIS had lost all its territory in Iraq. Iran has also intervened and expanded its influence through sectarian Khomeinist militias.
In 2014, Sunni insurgents belonging to the Islamic State group seized control of large swathes of land including several major cities, like Tikrit, Fallujah and Mosul creating hundreds of thousands of internally displaced persons amid reports of atrocities by ISIL fighters. An estimated 500,000 civilians fled from Mosul. Around 5,000 Yazidis were killed in the genocide by the ISIS, as a part of the war. With the help of US-led intervention in Iraq, the Iraqi forces successfully defeated the ISIS. The war officially ended in 2017, with the Iraqi government declaring victory over ISIS. In October 2022, Abdul Latif Rashid was elected president after winning the parliamentary election.[51] In 2022, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, became Prime Minister.[52]
The electrical grid faces systemic pressures due to climate change, fuel shortages, and an increase in demand.[53][54][55] Corruption remains endemic throughout Iraqi governance while the United States-endorsed sectarian political system has driven increased levels of violent terrorism and sectarian conflicts.[56][57][55] Climate change is driving wide-scale droughts while water reserves are rapidly depleting.[58] The country has been in a prolonged drought since 2020 and experienced its second-driest season in the past four decades in 2021. Water flows in the Tigris and Euphrates are down 30-40%. Half the country's farmland is at risk of desertification.[55] Nearly 40% of Iraq "has been overtaken by blowing desert sands that claim tens of thousands of acres of arable land every year."[59] Iraq has been affected by the post-war conflict, which was not seen during the Ba'athist regime. This increased positive legacy of Saddam.
Iraq lies between latitudes 29° and 38° N, and longitudes 39° and 49° E (a small area lies west of 39°). Spanning 437,072 km2 (168,754 sq mi), it is the 58th-largest country in the world.
It has a coastline measuring 58 km (36 miles) on the northern Persian Gulf.[60] Further north, but below the main headwaters only, the country easily encompasses the Mesopotamian Alluvial Plain. Two major rivers, the Tigris and Euphrates, run south through Iraq and into the Shatt al-Arab, thence the Persian Gulf. Broadly flanking this estuary (known as arvandrūd: اروندرود among Iranians) are marshlands, semi-agricultural. Flanking and between the two major rivers are fertile alluvial plains, as the rivers carry about 60,000,000 m3 (78,477,037 cu yd) of silt annually to the delta.
The central part of the south, which slightly tapers in favour of other countries, is natural vegetation marsh mixed with rice paddies and is humid, relative to the rest of the plains.[citation needed] Iraq has the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range and the eastern part of the Syrian Desert.[citation needed]
Rocky deserts cover about 40 percent of Iraq. Another 30 percent is mountainous with bitterly cold winters. The north of the country is mostly composed of mountains; the highest point being at 3,611 m (11,847 ft). Iraq is home to seven terrestrial ecoregions: Zagros Mountains forest steppe, Middle East steppe, Mesopotamian Marshes, Eastern Mediterranean conifer-sclerophyllous-broadleaf forests, Arabian Desert, Mesopotamian shrub desert, and South Iran Nubo-Sindian desert and semi-desert.[61]
Much of Iraq has a hot arid climate with subtropical influence. Summer temperatures average above 40 °C (104 °F) for most of the country and frequently exceed 48 °C (118.4 °F). Winter temperatures infrequently exceed 15 °C (59.0 °F) with maxima roughly 5 to 10 °C (41.0 to 50.0 °F) and night-time lows 1 to 5 °C (33.8 to 41.0 °F). Typically, precipitation is low; most places receive less than 250 mm (9.8 in) annually, with maximum rainfall occurring during the winter months. Rainfall during the summer is rare, except in northern parts of the country.
The northern mountainous regions have cold winters with occasional heavy snows, sometimes causing extensive flooding.[citation needed] Iraq is highly vulnerable to climate change.[62] The country is subject to rising temperatures and reduced rainfall, and suffers from increasing water scarcity for a human population that rose tenfold between 1890 and 2010 and continues to rise.[63][64]
The country's electrical grid faces systemic pressures due to climate change, fuel shortages, and an increase in demand.[53][54] Corruption remains endemic throughout all levels of Iraqi governance while the political system has exacerbated sectarian conflict.[56][57] Climate change is driving wide-scale droughts across the country while water reserves are rapidly depleting.[58] The country has been in a prolonged drought since 2020 and experienced its second-driest season in the past four decades in 2021. Water flows in the Tigris and Euphrates are down between 30 and 40%. Half of the country's farmland is at risk of desertification.[55] Nearly 40% of Iraq "has been overtaken by blowing desert sands that claim tens of thousands of acres of arable land every year".[59]
However, in 2023, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani announced that government was working on a wider "Iraqi vision for climate action". The plan would include promoting clean and renewable energy, new irrigation and water treatment projects and reduced industrial gas flaring, he said.Sudani said Iraq was "moving forward to conclude contracts for constructing renewable energy power plants to provide one-third of our electricity demand by 2030". In addition, Iraq will plant 5 million trees across the country and will create green belts around cities to act as windbreaks against dust storms.[65][66]
In the same year, Iraq and TotalEnergies signed a $27 billion energy deal that aims to increase oil production and boost the country's capacity to produce energy with four oil, gas and renewables projects. According to experts, the project will "accelerate Iraq’s path to energy self-sufficiency and advance Iraq’s collective climate change objectives".[67][68]
The wildlife of Iraq includes its flora and fauna and their natural habitats.[70] Iraq has multiple and diverse biomes which include the mountainous region in the north to the wet marshlands along the Euphrates and Tigris rivers, while western part of the country comprises mainly desert and some semi-arid regions. Many of Iraq's bird species were endangered, including seven of Iraq's mammal species and 12 of its bird species. The Mesopotamian marches in the middle and south are home to approximately 50 species of birds, and rare species of fish.[71] At risk are some 50% of the world's marbled teal population that live in the marshes, along with 60% of the world's population of Basra reed-warbler.[71]
The Asiatic lion, in the present-day extinct in the region, has remained a prominent symbol of the country throughout history.[69] Draining of the Mesopotamian Marshes, during the time of Saddam's government, caused there a significant drop in biological life.[72] Since the 2003–2011, flow is restored and the ecosystem has begun to recover.[72] Iraqi corals are some of the most extreme heat-tolerant as the seawater in this area ranges between 14 and 34 °C.[73] Aquatic or semi-aquatic wildlife occurs in and around these, the major lakes are Lake Habbaniyah, Lake Milh, Lake Qadisiyah and Lake Tharthar.[74]
The federal government of Iraq is defined under the current Constitution as a democratic, federal parliamentary republic. The federal government is composed of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches, as well as numerous independent commissions. Aside from the federal government, there are regions (made of one or more governorates), governorates, and districts within Iraq with jurisdiction over various matters as defined by law.[43][75] The president is the head of state, the prime minister is the head of government, and the constitution provides for two deliberative bodies, the Council of Representatives and the Council of Union. The judiciary is free and independent of the executive and the legislature.[75]
The National Alliance is the main Shia parliamentary bloc, and was established as a result of a merger of Prime Minister Nouri Maliki's State of Law Coalition and the Iraqi National Alliance.[76] The Iraqi National Movement is led by Iyad Allawi, a secular Shia widely supported by Sunnis.[76] The party has a more consistent anti-sectarian perspective than most of its rivals.[76] The Kurdistan List is dominated by two parties, the Kurdistan Democratic Party led by Masood Barzani and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan headed by Jalal Talabani.[76] Baghdad is Iraq's capital, home to the seat of government.[76][75][77] Located in the Green Zone, which contains governmental headquarters and the army, in addition to containing the headquarters of the American embassy and the headquarters of foreign organizations and agencies for other countries.
According to the 2023 V-Dem Democracy indices Iraq was the third most electoral democratic country in the Middle East.[77] In 2023, according to the Fragile States Index, Iraq was the world's 31th most politically unstable country.[78] Transparency International ranks Iraq's government as the 23rd most corrupt government in the world.[79] Under Saddam, the government employed 1 million employees, but this increased to around 7 million in 2016. In combination with decreased oil prices, the government budget deficit is near 25% of GDP as of 2016[update].[80] In September 2017, a referendum was held regarding Kurdish independence in Iraq. 92% of Iraqi Kurds voted in favor of independence.[81] The referendum was regarded as illegal by the federal government.[82] Kurdistan Regional Government have announced that it would respect the Supreme Federal Court's ruling that no Iraqi province is allowed to secede.[83]
In October 2005, the new Constitution of Iraq was approved in a referendum with a 78% overall majority, although the percentage of support varied widely between the country's territories.[84] The new constitution was backed by the Shia and Kurdish communities, but was rejected by Arab Sunnis. Under the terms of the constitution, the country conducted fresh nationwide parliamentary elections on 15 December 2005. All three major ethnic groups in Iraq voted along ethnic lines, as did Assyrian and Turcoman minorities. Law no. 188 of the year 1959 (Personal Status Law)[85] made polygamy extremely difficult, granted child custody to the mother in case of divorce, prohibited repudiation and marriage under the age of 16.[86] Article 1 of Civil Code also identifies Islamic law as a formal source of law.[87] Iraq had no Sharia courts but civil courts used Sharia for issues of personal status including marriage and divorce. In 1995 Iraq introduced Sharia punishment for certain types of criminal offences.[88] The code is based on French civil law as well as Sunni and Jafari (Shi'ite) interpretations of Sharia.[89]
In 2004, the CPA chief executive L. Paul Bremer said he would veto any constitutional draft stating that sharia is the principal basis of law.[90] The declaration enraged many local Shia clerics,[91] and by 2005 the United States had relented, allowing a role for sharia in the constitution to help end a stalemate on the draft constitution.[92] The Iraqi Penal Code is the statutory law of Iraq.
Iraqi security forces are composed of forces serving under the Ministry of Interior (MOI) and the Ministry of Defense (MOD), as well as the Iraqi Counter Terrorism Bureau, reporting directly to the Prime Minister of Iraq, which oversees the Iraqi Special Operations Forces. MOD forces include the Iraqi Army, the Iraqi Air Force, Iraqi Navy and Peshmerga, which, along with their security subsidiaries, are responsible for the security of the Kurdistan Region.[93] The MOD also runs a Joint Staff College, training army, navy, and air force officers, with support from the NATO Training Mission - Iraq. The college was established at Ar Rustamiyah on 27 September 2005.[94] The center runs Junior Staff and Senior Staff Officer Courses designed for first lieutenants to majors.
The current Iraqi armed forces was rebuilt on American foundations and with huge amounts of American military aid at all levels. The army consists of 13 infantry divisions and one motorised infantry. Each division consists of four brigades and comprises 14,000 soldiers. Before 2003, Iraq was mostly equipped with Soviet-made military equipment, but since then the country has turned to Western suppliers.[95] The Iraqi air force is designed to support ground forces with surveillance, reconnaissance and troop lift. Two reconnaissance squadrons use light aircraft, three helicopter squadrons are used to move troops and one air transportation squadron uses C-130 transport aircraft to move troops, equipment, and supplies. The air force currently has 5,000 personnel.[96]
As of February 2011, the navy had approximately 5,000 sailors, including 800 marines. The navy consists of an operational headquarters, five afloat squadrons, and two marine battalions, designed to protect shorelines and inland waterways from insurgent infiltration. On 4 November 2019, more than 100 Australian Defence Force personnel left Darwin for the 10th rotation of Task Group Taji, based north of Baghdad. The Australian contingent mentors the Iraqi School of Infantry, where the Iraqi Security Forces are trained. However, Australia's contribution was reduced from 250 to 120 ADF personnel, which along with New Zealand had trained over 45,000 ISF members before that.[97]
The Iraqi monarchy followed a pro-Western foreign policy and was part of the Baghdad Pact, an alliance against the Soviet Union, during the Cold War.[98] In 1958, the Iraq and Jordan formed a confederation, as a response to Gamal Abdel Nasser's United Arab Republic between Egypt and Syria.[98] During the time of Qasim's rule, Iraq withdrew from the Baghdad Pact and formed close ties with the Eastern Bloc.[98] Qasim also claimed Kuwait. However, the pro-Nasserist government recognized Kuwait's independence in 1963, after Qasim was overthrown and killed.[98] The Ba'athist Regime maintained ties with pro-Soviet countries.