By 2014, the world had grown weary of Iraq and its troubles. The Americans had all but gone and the media had switched its gaze towards Syria, but Iraq’s problems were far from over. That same year, ISIS put Iraq back on the map as they crossed the border from Syria and rampaged through the country, kidnapping, raping and killing, and enforcing their murderous interpretation of Sharia law. Saddam Hussein, the occupation, sectarian war, corruption and political instability had collectively laid the groundwork for further violence, and Iraqis were about to see the worst of it.
It was against this backdrop that Haider al-Abadi became Prime Minister. What would likely be the most formidable task of his life lay ahead of him – to help unify his homeland’s fractured military and politics and, slowly, to turn the tide on ISIS and achieve what had seemed an impossible victory.
This is the definitive and fascinating true story of how Iraq took on and eventually defeated ISIS, told by the country’s former Prime Minister, Haider al-Abadi.