Name: Iraq Continent: Asia Population: 24,700,000 Religion: Muslim 95% (Shiite 65%; Sunni 35%); Christian 5%

Modern Iraq roughly corresponds with the region of ancient Mesopotamia. (Mesopotamia also included part of present-day Syria.) In 1920 Mesopotamia became a British mandated territory. Previously the region was part of the Ottoman Empire. Iraq became an independent kingdom in 1932. A "republic" was proclaimed in 1958, but in actuality a series of military strongmen have ruled the country since then, the latest being SADDAM Husayn. Territorial disputes with Iran led to an inconclusive and costly eight-year war (1980-88). In August 1990 Iraq seized Kuwait, but was expelled by US-led, UN coalition forces during January-February 1991. The victors did not occupy Iraq, however, thus allowing the regime to stay in control. Following Kuwait's liberation, the UN Security Council (UNSC) required Iraq to scrap all weapons of mass destruction and long-range missiles and to allow UN verification inspections. Continued Iraqi noncompliance with UNSC resolutions during the past 12 years resulted in the US-led invasion of Iraq in March 2003 and the ouster of the SADDAM Husayn regime. Coalition forces remain in Iraq, helping to restore degraded infrastructure and facilitating the establishment of a freely elected government Information from the CIA World Fact Book and eHistory Staff.

Timeline of Events Date Event 10000 BC   10000 bc Development of intensive flock management in Zagros Mountains 1055 18 December 1055 Seljuk Turks conquer Baghdad; Tughril Beg becomes sultan 1916   1916 British forces invade Mesopotamia (Iraq) 1920 25 April 1920 Mesopotamia becomes a British mandated territory under Article 22 of the League of Nations 1932   1932 Iraq becomes an independent country 1973   1973 Iraq joins Arab coalition against Israel during the October War 1979 16 July 1979 Saddam Hussein Becomes President of Iraq 1980  September 1980 Iran-Iraq War begins 1987 17 March 1987 Iraqi Exocet missile hits American Destroyer USS Stark; 37 crewmen are killed. 1988  August 1988 Iran-Iraq War ends 1990 2 August 1990 Iraq invades Kuwait, beginning the Persian Gulf War 1991 17 January 1991 U.S. led coalition defeats Iraqi military forces and liberates Kuwait in Operation Desert Storm 2002 7 November 2002 U.N. Security Council passes resolution demanding that Iraq disarm 2003 20 March 2003 United States and allied forces invade Iraq in Operation Iraqi Freedom Go here for timeline sources.