Iraq
Iraq, in the Middle East, cradles the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, birthplace of Mesopotamia, with Baghdad’s historic chaos as its capital amid war-torn scars. Oil riches fuel its economy, yet conflict—from Saddam to ISIS—has ravaged its Sumerian ruins and marshlands. Iraq’s diverse Kurds, Arabs, and Assyrians weave a complex tapestry of resilience. Its date palms and ziggurats hint at a glorious, troubled past.