History of Iraq

The history of the Iraq starts with the Mésopotamie (see this article for the ancient history): the area shelters some of the oldest ages of the world, Sumer, Assyrie, Babylon.

The valleys of the Tiger and the Euphrate belong then to a succession of Empire S which is foreign for him: empires Persian Achéménide, Greek (Alexandre Large the followed Séleucides), Parthes, Sassanides. At the time pre-Islamic, this area bears the name of Khvarvaran, which is one of the provinces of the Sassanide empire. The name Iraq derives from the Persan term Erak , which means " bas-Iran".

Conquered by the Arab under the Omeyyades, Iraq is, a time, the center of the world Musulman under the Abbassides.

Iraq becomes again then a battle field between the empires of the Middle East, until the conquest Britannique in 1918, which in fact a Sovereign state under English control.

Iraq under the Moslem empires

The Arab conquest

Mésopotamie is one of the first areas conquered by the Arab Moslem with the VIIe century. Disputed between the Omeyyades and the Alides, it remains with the capacity of the first after the bloody battle of Kerbela: it is the starting point of the opposition between Sunnites and Chiites.

The Abbasid golden age

Iraq is then the center of the Califat Abbasside of Baghdad (see detailed article Abbassides).

Weakened by the revolt of the slaves Zanj in IXe century, the caliphate dominates more directly only central and southernmost Iraq. North, around Mosul, belongs to independent emirs, Hamdanides then Zenkides.

The caliphate remains however the symbol of the unit of Islam Sunnite. The Turks Seldjoukides pay homage to him, just as the majority of the Moslem princes.

Decline

Devastated by the Mongolian of Hülegü, then by the Eastern Turks of Timour, Iraq loses its central role when the last Abbasid caliphs transfer their residence to the Cairo.

At XVIe and XVIIe centuries, Iraq is a battle field between Iran of the Safavides and the Ottoman Empire. The first reinforces the establishment of the Chiisme around the Holy Cities of Kerbela and Najaf. But it is the second who remains Master of the ground, while resting on the Turkmènes and the Arabs sunnites.

Iraq, divided into three vilayets (Mosul, Baghdad and Al Basra), is a portion rather poor and marginal Othoman space. The diversion of the Route of the Indies by the Portuguese and other Europeans made him lose what remained to him of economic importance.

Iraq disputed between the Western imperialisms

Iraq, stake of the Great War

At the beginning of the 20th century, the the United Kingdom is interested in the Vilayet S of Baghdad, Mosul and Al Basra for two essential reasons: the oil and the safety of the Road of the Indies. The Germany, it also, tries to extend to it its influence by the Railroad Berlin-Baghdad.

At the time of the First World War, the Ottoman Empire lines up with dimensions Germany and Austrian Empire. In reaction, as of the November 22nd 1914, the troops britannico-Indians of the general Barret enter to Al Basra (Basra). The British support in parallel the revolt of the Arabs in 1916, in their promising independence at the end of the war.

The November 16th 1916, the British Sir Mark Sykes and the French François Georges-Barb sign in secrecy the agreements '' Sykes-Barb '' by which France allots the supervision of Syria and the vilayet of Mosul except Kirkuk and the United Kingdom the remainder of Iraq.

The March 11th 1917, the British troops enter Baghdad. At the end of the war, Iraq does not pass under direct administration of the the United Kingdom because of the American pressures and the hostility of the populations. The British pass by the Société of the Nations to obtain the April 25th 1920 a mandate to manage the zone (Conférence of San Remo). The August 10th, the Turkey, lately created on the ruins of the Ottoman Empire, signs the Traité of Sevres which obliges it to recognize the loss of its Arab possessions. A autonomous Kurdistan is also created between the East of the Anatolia and the vilayet of Mosul. Following the revolt of Mustapha Kemal, the treated of Lausanne leads to the fastening of Anatolia with Turkey.

A kingdom under influence

In August 1921, the British make assemble Fayçal ibn Hussein, a son of Hussein ibn Ali, sherif of Mecque, on the throne of Iraq under the name of Fayçal Ist In 1925, the vilayet of Mosul is attached to fine Iraq putting at Kurdistan. A hereditary monarchical constitution is adopted the same year. But as of 1920, the first rising anti-mandate is repressed by bombardments.

The October 15th 1927 an enormous oil reservoir is discovered in Baba Gurgur close to Kirkuk. The Westerners found a company, the Iraq Petroleum Company (IPC) to replace the founded Turkish Petroleum Company in 1911 by the British, which, after negotiations with the king Fayçal Ier, obtains a concession on practically all the territory of the country. So the IPC becomes almost the only international partner of the young state.

Arab kingdom with the Arab republic

Independence under British control

The the United Kingdom having a sufficient control thus on Iraq, the Accord anglo-Iraqi of the June 30th 1930 replaces the British High-Commissioner by an ambassador. Iraq becomes officially independent then even if the British supervision is still strong. The Arab Nationalisme starts as of this time to develop in particular in the army and leads to an coup attempt of state in 1936.

The July 8th 1937, Turkey, Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan sign the Traité of Sa' dabad. It envisages inter alia a coordination of the fight against the “ subversion ” Kurdish.

Iraq during the Second world war

The April 3rd 1941, the coup d'etat anti-British of Rachid Ali el-Gaylani, sets up a republican mode. The soldiers of Rachid Ali are supported by Vichyist Syria of the general Dentz which delivers its own armaments to them to fight the British, and who grants to the Germany (at the request of the admiral Darlan, and pursuant to the Accords of not yet signed Paris) a base allowing the Luftwaffe to support them.

June 1st 1941 the British take again the control of Baghdad and return regency to Nouri Saïd - their 3eminence grise. They then will intervene with the assistance of the free French Forces against the Vichyist army of Syria-Lebanon which had just helped their enemies.

In 1948, Iraq takes part in the war in Palestine.

Iraq in after war

In the context of the Cold war, Nouri Saïd sign the Pact of Baghdad in February 1955 and is thus related to the the United Kingdom. In same time, Egypt of the colonel Nasser which reversed monarchy in 1952 chooses to join the sphere of the Soviet Union. Arab nationalism continues to grow in the Iraqi army.

The February 14th 1958, in reaction to the creation of the United Arab Republic gathering the Egypt and the Syria, Iraq and the Jordan federate in “ Arab Union of Jordan and Iraq ”.

A tumultuous republic

The July 14th 1958, the general Abd Al-Karim Kassem shift the king Fayçal II and the regent Abdulillah. The royal family is assassinated in the palate and the Prime Minister Nouri Saïd tries to escape but is killed. The new State is not long in being hustled by a conflict between the partisans of Nasser (of which the Kassem general) and the Parti Baath. As of 1959, this last tries a coup d'etat in which Saddam Hussein takes part. The Arab Union of Jordan and Iraq is denounced and Iraq approaches the United Arab Republic. In March 1959, Iraq withdraws Pacte of Baghdad.

In September 1961, Mustafa Al Barzani lance a rebellion in the north of Iraq with for slogan “ autonomy for Kurdistan, democracy for Irak ”.

The February 9th 1963, Abd Al-Karim Kassem is assassinated at the time of a new coup d'etat. The Parti Baath seizes the power. The November 18th, Abdulasalam Arif seizes the power by repressing a new Baath rising. Saddam Hussein is imprisoned until her escape in 1966.

The June 29th 1966, an agreement made with the Kurdish leader Mustafa Al Barzani and opens a prospect for autonomy for the Kurds in the future constitution.

The July 17th 1968, the baasists of the general Ahmed Hassan Al-Bakr encircle the presidential palace and seize the power the July 30th. The Kurdish are associated with the capacity. Saddam Hussein is then the number two of the mode and is given the responsability to organize the militia baasists which will repress the opponents nassériens and Communists.

In March 1970, the Parti Baath ratifies the creation of an autonomous Kurd region and grants certain rights to them. The Kurdish Langue becomes the second language of the country, but the Kurds find autonomy insufficient.

In 1972, the Traité soviéto-Iraqi establishes bonds privileged between the Iraq and the Soviet Union. The Iraq preserves relations with the France.

In 1974, Mustafa Al Barzani revival the Kurdish revolt supported by the Iran and the the United States in spite of the promulgation of the law of autonomy for Kurdistan the March 11th.

In 1975, following an Algerian mediation, the Iraq and the Iran sign the agreements of Algiers which put an end to the Iranian support for the Kurdish revolt. This one is then repressed in blood.

Iraq of Saddam Hussein

Vice-president of the the Council of command of the Revolution since 1969, Saddam Hussein replaces Ahmed Hassan Al-Bakr in 1979 with the report heading when this one is withdrawn for health reasons.

The War Iran-Iraq

Following the Iranian Islamic revolution of 1979, the Iraq fears a revolt of the Chiite S of the South of the country. The latter were always dominated by the middle-class sunnite even under the Ottoman Empire. 30 000 Shiites are off-set. The September 22nd 1980 the war is declared with the Iran officially about the border of the Chatt-el-Arab (delta of the Tigre (river) and of the Euphrate). It is the Guerre Iran-Iraq or first war of the Gulf. This war without result is completed in 1988.

In 1983, the dictatorship bombards with the chemical weapon several Kurdish villages of the north of Iraq and renews the operation in 1988 on the Kurdish city of Halabjah. Nearly 6000 people die and 100 000 Kurds flee towards the Turkey. The chemical weapon is also used against Iran on the town of Sardasht in 1987 and 1988. (Source: Le Monde , June 10th 2005).

The War of Kuwait (1990-1991)

In spite of the oil resources, the Guerre Iran-Iraq left the Iraqi economy in poor state. At the summer 1990 Iraq invades the Kuwait without thinking that the the United States will react. The international reaction causes the second war of the Gulf (see detailed article) .

The February 28th 1991, Iraq accepts all the resolutions of UNO without conditions. In the tread, George Bush, president of the United States orders the Cessez-le-feu without seeking to continue the war until Baghdad. The official version explains this brutal stop by indicating that the inversion of the Iraqi mode was not the objective. Another thesis indicates that as Iraq had shown its capacity to send missiles Scud S on Israel and than it then had chemical weapons, the Iraqi mode would have succeeded in dissuading the allies to further go.

The agreements of cease-fire are signed in Safwan the March 3rd 1991.

Between two wars of the Gulf

Autonomous Kurdistan

The May 19th 1992, of the elections are organized in the Kurdish autonomous region, but the area remains crossed into two: a Northern zone under control of the DPK (Democratic party of Kurdistan) and a Southern zone under control of the PUK (patriotic Union of Kurdistan) .

In April 1993, of the Iranian troops invade part of the autonomous region and several thousands of Kurdish peasants flee in front of artillery. In the same way, Turkish invades the zone known as “ of protection ” in March 1995 with 35 000 men. The Turkish interferences will continue several years.

After violent confrontations with the PUK, the DPK requires of in September 1996 the assistance of the Iraqi troops. The PUK is then driven out of Erbil, the capital of Kurdistan of Iraq.

In September 1998, the DPK and the PUK agree on the formation of a government and a temporary Parliament to Iraqi Kurdistan (Accord of Washington) .

The the United States adopt in October 1998 the Iraq Liberation Act which envisages a support of 97 million dollars for the Iraqi opposition, of which Kurdish parties, in order to reverse Saddam Hussein.

The September 8th 2002: the DPK and of the PUK signs an peace agreement and starts again the “unified Parliament” whereas Washington prepares to invade Iraq.

The “third war of the Gulf”

detailed Article: War in Iraq (2003-2005)

The September 11th 2001, the the United States undergo a wave of terrorist attacks (see Attentats of September 11th, 2001). An international coalition then drives out in 2002 the Talibans of the capacity in Afghanistan. The US government tries, fine 2002, to convince the international community which a bond exists between the islamist extremists of Al-Qaida and the Iraqi government. In front of the doubt, it presents evidence - disputed - indicating that Iraq reconstituted a potential of Armes of massive destruction. In front of the risk of Veto of the France or Russia with the Safety advice of the United Nations, a reduced coalition is formed to invade Iraq and passes to the action the March 20th 2003. This third war of the Gulf officially completed on May 1st. On the other hand, the facts betray the speeches because this third war of the gulf tends to be prolonged until 2007. The United States of America are enlisent in this conflict. Facing a resistance of the guerilla type, the the United States of America, with at their head president George W. Bush, have great sorrow to restore the order in the country.

After Saddam Hussein

Occupation of the allies

Following the war, the country is occupied by the coalition. Since then, of the actions of the guerilla do not cease taking place with Baghdad and in " the triangle sunnite" formed by the provinces in the North of the capital.

In March 2003, a few days before the Spanish elections , a series of attacks (asserted by islamist extremists) takes place with Madrid. The government Aznar, then places from there, immediately showing ETA before retracting was found confronted with its support for the war in Iraq which was not approved by the people. The cause evoked by the terrorists was the Spanish presence in Iraq. During the elections which followed, a few weeks after, the government Jose Maria Aznar east demolishes with the profit of Jose Luis Rodríguez Zapatero. This last decided the withdrawal of the Spanish troops of the coalition.

Towards independence?

The June 28th 2004, the capacity was given between the hands of a temporary government, directed by Iyad Allaoui.

At the end of 2004, the essence of the country is declared pacified:

the North inhabited by the Kurdish S, has been autonomous for almost ten years, and in peace, even if with its margins (Mosul and Kirkuk) of the attacks take place;
the South Chiite is pacified by the Britannique S and Polish;
the center sunnite of the country is still the principal place of attacks against the Iraqi forces and the American army (see for example Bataille of Falloujah).

In 2005, the attacks multiply, certain cities are sometimes taken again by Iraqi resistance (Falloujah). Journalists and Diplomate S foreigners (including Arab S) are removed and carried out by declared members of the network Al-Qaïda, a member of the Parliament is even assassinated. A crisis with place between the the United States and the Italy, when with the release of an Italian hostage, soldiers of the US army draw on the car from the ex-hostage and kill the Italian secret agent having obtained the release.

The Poland declares in April, to withdraw its troops in December 2005 at the latest. The the United States announce also fine 2005 a progressive withdrawal their troops without however giving dates. Running 2006, in spite of the victory of the democrats, no retirement scheme is decided, and the disorders worsen in Iraq.

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