A Brief History of Iraq

1. A Brief History of Iraq

2. Who was fighting in Iraq during WWI? Allied Powers • British forces comprised of: British, Indian, and Australian troops Central Powers • The Ottoman Empire: Turks (on the side of the central powers)

3. Specific battles, revolts, or other events that took place during WWI: • The Mesopotamia Campaign 1914 • WWI in the region later known as Iraq • The Fao Landing (Al Faw) November, 1914 British offensive begins • small port in modern Iraq near the Shatt al-Arab and the Persian Gulf • Battle of Shaiba • April 12-14 1915 • Push toward Bagdad • British Success • The Siege of Kut/ The Battle of Kut • Dec. 7 1915 – April 29 1916 • British attempt at push toward Bagdad • British surrender (humiliating) • Capture Bagdad 1917  Armistice of Mudros signed 1918 • March 1917 • Proclamation of Bagdad – General Maude “our armies do not come into your cities and lands and conquers or enemies, but as liberators”

5. What peace agreement(s) and treaty (ies) were relevant to Iraq? • Armistice of Mudros - October 20, 1918 • Ended the campaign in the region, and the Ottoman Empire • 1919 Paris Peace Conference, Article 22 of the League of Nations Covenant • Iraq is formally made, a Class A mandate entrusted to Britain (completed April 25, 1920) • Cairo Conference of 1921 • In effort to reduce expenses and deal with uprisings of various areas of the population, the British establish parameters for Iraqi political life • Select Faysal (an Arab, ex King of Syria) as Iraq’s 1st King • Iraqi Army is founded • Organic Law of 1925 • Establishes government structure: constitutional monarchy, parliamentary government and bicameral legislature • State Religion: Islam • 1925 Agreement (Britain & Iraq)  Iraq Petroleum Company • 75 year concession, royalty payments/ton of oil • Excluded Iraq from having any ownership British Motivation? Save money Appear supportive of Iraq independence Gain control of oil resources

6. Anglo-Iraqi Treaty (1930) • Iraq to gain full independence within two years • Gave the British almost unlimited rights to base military forces in Iraq • The British could: • maintain air bases near Basra and Habbaniya “in times of peace” • have the right of transit for military forces and supplies “at all times” • use all railways, rivers, ports, and airways for the passage of armed forces “during times of war” • control the development of the Iraqi armed forces: • All Iraqi forces trained abroad must be trained in Britain • All foreign military instructors must be British • All foreign military supplies be supplied by Britain • 1932, Iraq receives formal independence and was admitted into the League of Nations.

7. What happened after the war? • British Influence and control • Instability • Three regions become the state of Iraq • Ethnically, culturally and religiously diverse • Power shift/lacking • Iraqi Revolt, June 1920 (several months) • Armed revolt against the British – symbol of states rejection of foreign rule • Tribes of the Euphrates (Shia, Sunni, Kurdish) “Guardians of Independence” • Unsuccessful  change in Iraq power/government • Faysal and the “Non-Puppet Government” • Efforts to unite peoples in the boundaries of Iraq • Faysal dies of heart-attack in 1933

8. When did the country actually achieve independence? • 1932, Britain granted independence • Establish: Kingdom of Iraq • Series of unsuccessful coup d’etats followed throughout the next 26 years • 1958, coup d'état (July Revolution) • Overthrow of the Hashemite monarchy • Established: Republic of Iraq

9. What was happening to Iraq’s neighboring countries?