The Iraqi Revolt of 1920 began in Baghdad during the summer, marked by mass demonstrations against British rule. The immediate catalyst for these protests was the introduction of new land ownership laws and burial taxes at Najaf by the British. The revolt quickly gained momentum as it spread to the predominantly tribal Shia regions along the middle and lower Euphrates. A key Shia leader in the revolt was Sheikh Mehdi Al-Khalissi.^[56]

Remarkably, the revolt saw cooperation between Sunni and Shia religious communities, tribal groups, urban masses, and many Iraqi officers who were in Syria.^[57] The primary goals of the revolution were to achieve independence from British rule and establish an Arab government.^[57] While the revolt initially made some headway, by the end of October 1920, the British had largely suppressed it, although elements of the uprising continued sporadically until 1922.

In addition to the uprisings in the south, the 1920s in Iraq were also marked by revolts in the northern regions, particularly by the Kurds. These revolts were driven by Kurdish aspirations for independence. One of the prominent Kurdish leaders was Sheikh Mahmoud Barzanji, who played a significant role in the Kurdish struggle during this period. These revolts underscored the challenges faced by the new state of Iraq in managing diverse ethnic and sectarian groups within its borders.