This is intercepted.

I'm Mretaz O'Hassan, a reporter with the Intercept.

In 2014, the Islamic State, also known as ISIS or Daesh, was advancing in Iraq.

In another major story tonight, Baghdad is close to being encircled by the Islamic terrorist group known as ISIS.

Much of Anbar province to the west and part of Daesh province to the northeast have fallen.

As ISIS seizes Tala Fah, another major city in Iraq.

The terrorists possibly gaining control over its army base, which would mean more armored vehicles, weapons and ammunition up for grabs.

Some of the weaponry provided by the US.

As the Islamic State continued to take land in Iraq, the country was in shambles.

Just three years earlier, the US had pulled its last soldier from the country, after the eight-year war and occupation that also destabilized the country.

As Iraq was falling to ISIS, the Prime Minister of Iraq, Nuri Al-Malaki and his military were facing allegations of widespread corruption.

Protesters were demanding he resign.

In 2003, the US invaded Iraq, deposed Saddam Hussein, and began an eight-year occupation of the country.

By 2005, the US had become fully invested in policies that exacerbated sectarianism in Iraq.

The US government also began arming, training and funding Shia death squads that terrorized Sunni communities.

In response, as conditions for Sunni's worsened, groups began to emerge that grew more and more extreme, including Al-Qaeda in Iraq and its successor ISIS.

The failed policies of the US and years of instability led to the rise of ISIS, and in response, the Iraqi government had to act quickly.

Dr. Haydar Al-Abadi was elected Prime Minister of Iraq after Malaki stepped down.

With assistance from the US and other major powers, he was able to stamp out the threat of ISIS as it made its way throughout the country.

During Saddam Hussein's rule, Abadi joined the opposition against him. He spent 26 years in the UK organizing against Saddam Hussein and his rule.

After Hussein was deposed during the US's 2003 invasion, Abadi returned to Iraq and later became Minister of Communication for the newly formed Iraqi government.

I recently spoke with Abadi, who has a new book titled Impossible Victory, How Iraq Defeated ISIS.

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