

During the subsequent Anglo-Iraqi War, the United Kingdom invaded Iraq for fear that the Rashid Ali government might cut oil supplies to Western nations because of his links to the Axis powers. On 1 April 1941, Rashid Ali al-Gaylani and members of the Golden Square staged a coup d'état and overthrew the government of 'Abd al-Ilah.

'Abd al-Ilah served as Regent during Faisal's minority. Ghazi was followed by his underage son, Faisal II. King Ghazi ruled as a figurehead after King Faisal's death in 1933, while undermined by attempted military coups, until his death in 1939. Britain would then grant independence to the Kingdom of Iraq in 1932, on the urging of King Faisal. The British installed the Hashemite king, Faisal I to govern the mandate. On 11 November 1920, Iraq became a League of Nations mandate under British control with the name "State of Iraq". The Ottomans were defeated and driven from much of the area by the United Kingdom during the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire. Historical background īefore the First World War, Iraq was part of the Ottoman Empire.
