A combination of oil, western intervention, the Cold War and military rule has transformed Iraq from a relatively minor player in the Arab world to a country of prime importance in world affairs.

Iraq looms as a key test of the US's priorities for countering Iranian power in the region. About 2,500 US troops remain in Iraq with a focus on assisting partners with countering ISIS.

The leaning minaret of Mosul in northern Iraq has been restored using its original brickwork, years after it was reduced to ...