Iraq War - Part 4: Sectarian violence shatters Iraq and the surge begins

Before dawn on February twenty-second, two thousand six, a bomb destroyed the golden dome of the al-Askari Mosque in Samarra. The explosion shattered glass, scattered tiles, and sent shockwaves across Iraq. This sacred Shi’a shrine was now a ruin—and the true devastation was just beginning.News of the attack spread like wildfire. Baghdad’s skies filled with black smoke as mosques burned in reprisal. Death squads roamed the streets after dark, their presence marked by screeching tires and sudden gunfire. Civilians vanished at checkpoints, kidnapped or killed for their name or their address. Morgues overflowed. Grieving mothers searched for missing sons, while fathers stood silent, numb with loss. Concrete walls divided Baghdad into enclaves bristling with suspicion and fear.Learn more at: https://theconflictarchive.com/conflict/iraq-warThe Conflict Archive is part of The Archive Network by Jonkai Ventures, a collection of podcasts dedicated to exploring history's greatest wars, battles, and the conflicts that shaped our world.Support the podcast and access exclusive content on Patreon:https://thearchivenetwork.com/supportDiscover more archives and stories:https://thearchivenetwork.comExplore this archive:https://theconflictarchive.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.