Global Faultlines podcast | Part 2: From the invasion of Iraq to the war on Iran

The 2003 U.S. led invasion of Iraq marked a decisive break in the country’s modern history. It removed the regime of Saddam Hussein, but also dismantled the institutions that had held the state together.

In the aftermath, decisions such as the dissolution of the Iraqi army and de-Baathification weakened state authority and contributed to a rapidly deteriorating security environment. Iraq soon descended into insurgency and sectarian violence, with multiple armed groups, including those linked to Al-Qaeda, operating across the country. These conditions enabled the rise of the Islamic State, which seized large parts of Iraqi territory in 2014, bringing the state close to collapse. Although ISIS was eventually defeated territorially, its impact continues to shape Iraq’s political and security landscape.

Today, Iraq faces persistent challenges: fragile governance, powerful armed groups, economic strain, and the competing influence of external actors, including Iran and the United States.

In this episode of Global Faultlines, we examine Iraq after 2003, the collapse of the state, the rise of ISIS, and the country’s uncertain path forward.

Expert: Stanly Johny, International Affairs Editor, The Hindu 

Research, Editing and Production: Sharmada Venkatasubramanian 

Camera: Shivaraj S

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