How The Ottoman Province Of Mosul Became Part Of Iraq

By the end of World War I, the British had conquered the Ottoman vilayets (provinces) of Basra and Baghdad. They were not content with that, and took the Mosul vilayet after the war ended. This caused a huge controversy with the new country of Turkey, which claimed Mosul as its own. That would lead to nearly ten years of negotiations before the former Ottoman domain joined the other two to become the nation of Iraq.

This Day In Iraqi History – Sep 7

1980 Saddam claimed full sovereignty over Shatt al-Arab waterway Precursor

            to Iran-Iraq War

1980 Iraq officially protested Iran shelling border towns Seized Zain al-Qas in

            retaliation

1983 US-Iraq began high level diplomatic talks to restore full relations Iraq asked US

            for help to end Iran-Iraq War

1990 Emir of Kuwait agreed to pay $15 bil to help pay for military operations in Saudi

            Arabia to protect it from Iraq

1994 CIA estimate d that over 100,000 driven out of marshes in Maysan by military campaign

1996 Iraq submitted declaration on nuclear program Inspectors thought Iraq was hiding

            information

2002 Blair and Bush met and decided on new UN resolution demanding new

inspections in Iraq

2002 Blair told Bush they should seek 2 UN resolutions 1 for inspectors 2^nd for if

            Iraq didn’t comply

2002 Blair said that UK would take part in any military action against Iraq

2002 Powell brought up his concerns about size of Iraq invasion force at NSC

2002 Bush & Blair press conference Both said IAEA found Iraq had nuclear program

            and was 6 months away from getting a bomb

2002 Bush and Blair were referring to 1996 IAEA report during UN inspections not

            new one

2003 Bush press conference said Iraq central front in the war on terror

2003 Bush speech said invasion of Iraq was to spread democracy and transform

            Middle East

2003 Bush announced $18.4 bil for reconstructing Iraq

2003 Bush admitted that hundreds to thousands of foreign fighters had entered Iraq

            to carry out attacks

2004 Number of US troops killed in Iraq reached 1,000

2006 New Al Qaeda in Iraq leader Abu Hamzah al-Muhajir released 1^st statement

            Called for each member to kill an American

2014 Anbar’s Governor Dulaimi seriously wounded by mortar fire in Barwana

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Returns To Mosul Stalled

When Mosul was freed in July 2017 the number of displaced (IDP) families heading back to the city started going up. The eastern half of the city had been freed months before, and was relatively safe and largely untouched by the fighting. Many people from west Mosul also went directly from the combat zones into the east. Islamic State sleeper cells were still active and carried out some large bombings scaring some away, but there were more that wanted to leave displacement camps, be close to their property, and find housing and jobs in the city. In August however, the trend has reversed and now there are more people leaving then returning, largely due to the economic situation.

This Day In Iraqi History – Sep 6

1965 Arif al-Razzaq became premier of Iraq

1967 Baath demonstration called for renewing war with Israel after Khartoum

resolution called for continued confrontation

1980 Iran shelled more borders towns in Iraq from Zain al-Qas Precursor to Iran-

            Iraq War

1980 Iraq threatened to seize Zain al-Qas area if Iran didn’t cede it in a week

            Precursor to Iran-Iraq War

1987 Ali Hassan al-Majid issued order to deport Kurdish families and arrest all males

            from age 12-50 during Anfal campaign

1988 Revolutionary Command Council offered amnesty to all Kurds in Iraq and Turkey

after Anfal campaign Amnesty led to release of most Kurdish women and children captured during the campaign

1988 Feb-Sep some 50,000 killed during Anfal campaign

1990 King Fahd of Saudi Arabia promised $15 bil to help pay for Operation Desert

            Storm to protect the kingdom from Iraq

2002 Putin told Bush skeptical about use of force against Iraq but willing to work on

            new UN resolution demanding inspectors

2002 UK Treasury Office paper said rebuilding Iraq could cost more than $10 bil

2002 US officials told Knight Ridder no increase in threat from Iraq

2015 Judiciary said it would increase number of judges dealing with corruption as its

            reform effort

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Arguing Over The Upcoming Hawija Operation

Preparations are just beginning for the liberation of Hawija in southern Kirkuk, but the Kurds are arguing with the Iraqi forces over the plans and who can participate.

This Day In Iraqi History – Sep 5

1965 Imam Khomeini arrived in Najaf from Turkey spending next 13 years there

1990 Saddam called for overthrowing Saudi and Egyptian govts for their opposition to

            Kuwait invasion

1993 Ahmad al-Samarraie became premier of Iraq

2002 Blair officials met over draft of WMD dossier Said Iraq had capability to

            produce WMD Not sure it had made any

2002 Blair officials discussed WMD dossier Said Iraq had nuclear program but couldn't

            make weapon with sanctions

2002 Powell called CENTCOM Cmdr Gen Franks saying he was worried not enough

            troops planned for invasion

2002 Gen Franks told Powell thanks for the advice but US military different from

            when he served

2006 Bush speech said US had to stay the course in Iraq or would regret it later

2009 500 demonstrated in Hawija against joint Iraq-Peshmerga-U.S. patrols in town

Said only army should be doing security in district

2014 Germany sent first shipment of military supplies to Peshmerga

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Rebuilding Fallujah, Unfinished Business

In June 2016, Fallujah was freed from the Islamic State. Most of the city’s residents are back, the economy is recovering, but there is still lots to do. Part of that is due to local politics, which has banned several thousand people from returning due to suspicions about their connections to the insurgents. Another issue is the government’s financial crisis, which has held up rebuilding. At the same time, IS has a presence there once again. Fallujah stands as an example for the cities that were liberated after it. While life appears back to normal, its rebuilding has been marked by revenge, the return of insurgents, and there is still much unfinished business.