Iraq:A brief history

World Islamic Population

Islam in Iraq

• World Islamic population: 85% Sunni, 15% Shia

• In Iraq, the Shia are the majority (one of three countries in the world)

Religious Population in Iraq

Oppressed Majority

• Saddam Hussein took power in 1979. He was a Sunni Muslim

• Shia Muslims and Kurds (an ethnic group) were long oppressed by Saddam’s rule

Iran/Iraq War

• Iraq invaded Iran in 1980 over border disputes and Iran support of a Shia revolution in Iraq.

• Iraq attacked Iranian civilians and soldiers with chemical weapons.

• US supported Iraq.• The war ended in a draw (tie)• Iraq devastated

Reagan’s Response:• “The US can not

afford to allow Iraq to lose the war to Iran. We will do whatever is necessary to prevent Iraq from losing the war with Iran."

Iraq Invades Kuwait

Occurred in 1990• Iraq invaded Kuwait

for control of their oil• US intervenes on

Kuwait’s behalf; became known as the Persian Gulf War

Oil wells set on fire by Iraqi soldiers U.S. Stealth bomber

Images from the Persian Gulf War

What happened in 2003?• US invades Iraq in

2003.– Suspicions of WMD

• Saddam overthrown and captured.

• New democratic govt set up

• Shia Muslims (the majority) take control