Iraq is desert in the west and south, but plains and lowlands in the east and southeast, where the land is sometimes flooded. Many people have an impression of Iraq as a dry place, which it isn't entirely. However, much of Iraq's land is not arable due to over-irrigation with water from the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. Northern Iraq is mostly mountainous, with the Zagros Mountains.

Missing from this map are minorities, such as the Sunni Turkoman, living in pockets of the northern region, and the Yazidi, who live near the northern borders with Syria and Turkey. Yazidis, who practice Yazidism, not Islam, have been heavily persecuted by ISIL, with several thousand dead.

The majority of Iraq's population is Arab - split between Sunni Arab and Shi'i Arab.

In the northern, mountainous region of Iraq live Kurds, who are a stateless nation. The Kurds have used diplomacy and force to seek independence, but have failed.

The Kurds, Sunni Arabs, and Turkoman practice Sunni Islam, while Shi'i Arabs practice Shi'i Islam. The chief difference between the two major sects of Islam is beliefs about the rightful caliphs following the deaths of the Prophet Mohammed and Ali, his blood relative. Once these sects of Islam were separated, new differences in practices developed. Sunnis are generally more concerned with conformity and social stability, while Shi'i are more concerned with equity, justice, and individual dignity.

Adherents of Yazidism are a small minority enduring violence by ISIL.

Iraq has oil, for which some groups and nations may be willing to fight.

The territorial control of ISIL loosely follows the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. Religious extremism has been a major source of conflict in Iraq.

The Kurdish struggle for independence is another cause of conflict. Tensions between ethnic and religious groups cause disputes.