Nouri al-Maliki

Maliki was elected Prime Minister of Iraq by the Council of Representatives, forming a unity government. His election followed months of political deadlock after the 2005 parliamentary elections, and he inherited a country mired in sectarian violence.

Maliki supported the US troop surge and launched the Baghdad Security Plan, a joint US-Iraqi operation to reduce sectarian violence. The plan succeeded in lowering casualty rates, but Maliki's government was criticized for sectarian bias in its security forces.

Maliki's government oversaw the complete withdrawal of US combat forces from Iraq by December 2011, as per the Status of Forces Agreement. The withdrawal ended the US military presence, but left Iraq facing security challenges and political instability.

Under Maliki's leadership, the Iraqi army collapsed in the face of the Islamic State (ISIS) offensive, losing control of Mosul and large parts of northern Iraq. Maliki's sectarian policies were blamed for alienating Sunnis and enabling ISIS's rise.

Facing intense domestic and international pressure after the ISIS advance, Maliki resigned as Prime Minister in August 2014. He was succeeded by Haider al-Abadi, ending his eight-year tenure and marking a shift in Iraqi politics.