In the spring of 2003, Saddam Hussein's regime was toppled. Iraq then had to rebuild itself, with the presence of US forces who had put an end to the dictatorship. But after the departure of US troops in 2010-11, the Iraqi state never succeeded in asserting its authority, leaving the country open to becoming a zone of ​​competing influence between the US and neighbouring Iran. We take a look back at nearly 20 years of Iraqi history: a state under twin American and Iranian domination.

The arts curator was taken by armed militants from a Baghdad street on Monday. Iraq's military said she has now been released, but gave no details about who was behind the abduction.

Here is why you should pick up a copy of The Guardian on Wednesday. Find these stories and much more when you grab a copy of The Guardian on the newsstands on Wednesday.

Exclusive: At the heart of Iraq's uprising

Washington and Baghdad should not discuss troop withdrawal, the US State Department has said, refusing parliament's request for US soldiers to leave. Protesters in Iraq urged both the US and Iran to stop their meddling.

Following the Iranian missile strikes targeting US forces in Iraq, as well as the unexplained crash of a Ukrainian passenger jet near Tehran, several major airlines have rerouted or canceled flights in the region.

NATO says it is temporarily moving some of its personnel out of Iraq due to tensions between the US and Iran in the region. The decision follows a similar move by Germany to withdraw some troops from the capital.

Iraqi students take to the streets in the Iraqi city of Karbala to protest against the US and Iran's interference in Iraq.

The US ambassador to Iraq has been evacuated from the US embassy in Baghdad after pro-government protesters gathered outside to condemn American air stikes. The embassy is inside the high-security Green zone.

Iraqi protesters in the southern city of Basra burn tyres and block roads as the latest deadline for choosing a new prime minister loomed. Anti-government protests have rocked Baghdad and the Shiite-majority south since October 1, with demonstrators calling for an overhaul of a regime they deem corrupt and inefficient.

Protesters have stormed the Iranian consulate in the Iraqi city of Najaf and set fire to the entire building, authorities said. Police reportedly fired live rounds into the crowd but failed to prevent the breach.

Anti-government protesters took to the streets after authorities lifted a two-day round-the-clock curfew. Dozens of people have been killed after four days of mass protests in Baghdad and other Iraqi cities.