The Ottoman rule in Iraq, spanning from 1534 to 1918, marked a significant era in the region's history. In 1534, the Ottoman Empire, led by Suleiman the Magnificent, first captured Baghdad, bringing Iraq under Ottoman control. This conquest was part of Suleiman's broader strategy to expand the empire's influence in the Middle East.

During the early years of Ottoman rule, Iraq was divided into four provinces or vilayets: Mosul, Baghdad, Shahrizor, and Basra. Each vilayet was governed by a Pasha, who reported directly to the Ottoman Sultan. The administrative structure imposed by the Ottomans sought to integrate Iraq more closely into the empire, while also maintaining a degree of local autonomy.

One significant development in this period was the continual conflict between the Ottoman Empire and the Safavid Empire of Persia. The Ottoman-Safavid Wars, particularly in the 16th and 17th centuries, had Iraq as one of the main battlegrounds due to its strategic location. The Treaty of Zuhab in 1639, which ended one of these conflicts, resulted in the delineation of borders that are still recognized in modern times between Iraq and Iran.

The 18th and 19th centuries saw a decline in Ottoman control over Iraq. Local rulers, such as the Mamluks in Baghdad, often exercised significant autonomy. The Mamluk rule in Iraq (1704-1831), initially established by Hasan Pasha, was a period of relative stability and prosperity. Under leaders like Sulayman Abu Layla Pasha, the Mamluk governors implemented reforms and maintained a degree of independence from the Ottoman Sultan.

In the 19th century, the Ottoman Empire initiated the Tanzimat reforms, aiming to modernize the empire and centralize control. These reforms had significant impacts in Iraq, including the introduction of new administrative divisions, modernization of the legal system, and efforts to curb the autonomy of local rulers.

The construction of the Baghdad Railway in the early 20th century, connecting Baghdad with the Ottoman capital of Istanbul, was a major development. This project, backed by German interests, aimed to consolidate Ottoman authority and improve economic and political ties.

The end of Ottoman rule in Iraq came after World War I, with the defeat of the Ottoman Empire. The Armistice of Mudros in 1918 and the subsequent Treaty of Sèvres led to the partitioning of the Ottoman territories. Iraq fell under British control, marking the beginning of the British mandate and the end of the Ottoman period in Iraqi history.