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Nuclear Weapons History

Mesopotamia, whose territory was roughly equivalent to that of modern Iraq, fell to the Ottoman Turks in the 16th century and remained part of the Ottoman Empire until a British invasion during World War One. As a method for ensuring the success of the uprising against the Ottoman Turks, the British supported the national independence movement within Iraq. However, in 1920 the Treaty of Sèvres established Iraq as a mandate of the League of Nations under British administration. The delay in attaining independence provoked a revolt in 1920, which was subsequently suppressed by the British. The containment of the rebellion was costly to the British, who soon realised the expediency in terminating the mandate, and promoted an interim government in 1921 headed by King Faisal I. In 1924 Iraq reluctantly agreed to a treaty with Great Britain whereby Britain was granted the right of veto over legislation and maintenance of British military bases. A further treaty, signed in 1930, provided for a 25-year alliance with Britain. In 1932 the British mandate was terminated and Iraq entered the League of Nations as an independent state.
1936 saw the first of seven military coups over the following five years, providing an indication of the future role of the military in Iraqi politics. In April 1941, Rashid Ali al-Gailani (leader of a radical nationalist anti-British movement) seized power from the pro-British government of Prime Minister Gen. Nuri as-Said. In response the British reinforced their garrisons and defeated the revolt. In 1943 Iraq declared war on the Axis countries.
Iraq formed part of the Arab League's unsuccessful war against Israel in 1948. In the mid-1950s the Iraqi regime implemented a national development programme, financed mostly through oil revenues. The US extended technical aid to the country and, after 1956, military assistance. Iraqi diplomatic relations with the USSR were severely damaged in 1955, following Soviet support for Kurdish nationalism. In...