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Iraq war

Major General Qassem Suleimani, who heads the Quds Brigade in Iran's Revolutionary Guards.

Meet the most powerful man in the Middle East you’ve probably never heard of

Conflict

He confounded American commanders in Iraq and all but saved the regime of Bashar al-Assad. But until recently, few people outside of military circles knew the name of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani. He’s a public and popular figure in his home country now — and just as powerful as ever.

A member of the Iraqi Special Operations Forces (ISOF) takes his position during a patrol looking for militants of the Islamic State, formerly known as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), in a neighborhood in Ramadi, July 23, 2014.

Iraq is in serious trouble. Here’s how it got there

Global Politics
A resident gestures as he talks to a U.S. soldier from 2nd Brigade combat team, 82nd Airborne on patrol in Baghdad's Adhamiya district January 5, 2008.

How wars end part I: Iraq

Conflict & Justice
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