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'No one is pure evil': the documentary bringing a human face to the Iraq war

Once Upon a Time in Iraq offers an in-depth look at lives devastated by conflict, as director James Bluemel and Waleed Nesyif – who was 18 when the US invaded – tell Remona Aly

U m Qusay, dressed in a black, sequined abaya and hijab, takes a slow drag on her cigarette as she recalls the execution of Iraqi men in her village who tried to assassinate their president. A Rambo-esque former US marine readies himself with a swig of tequila before sharing his violent tale.

Once Upon a Time in Iraq, a new documentary series airing on BBC Two from tonight, conveys the complex road to the Iraq war through the eyes of civilians, journalists and soldiers, 17 years on from an invasion that has fractured the world.

“I didn’t want some big Iraq story that we can’t connect to,” the director, James Bluemel, tells me over Zoom. Bluemel is best known for his Bafta-winning series on the Syrian refugee crisis, Exodus: Our Journey To Europe , which saw escapees given cameras to document their perilous crossings. “I didn’t want to interview decision-makers or men in suits – that’s been done before. I wanted to create a bridgeway of empathy to people you wouldn’t normally hear from.”

Bluemel’s documentary is an entry point to the stories as well as the psyches of the participants, where moments of silence carry as much drama as their testimonies. This is starkly honest, harrowing and essential viewing. We see remorse in the heavy looks of former US soldiers. We are shown how Saddam Hussein was feared and admired for his charisma and the stability he brought. One man even calls him a “style icon”. “Iraq is full of contradictions,” says Bluemel. “It had to be told by the people in their own way – and they offer far more than one narrative.”

Waleed Nesyif was 18 and a member of the only heavy metal band in Iraq when George W Bush began the invasion on his country. As a teen infatuated with the fast food and democracy of the West, Nesyif welcomed it. “It was important to be honest in this documentary,” he says. “I was not anti-invasion. Dare I say it, I was excited. The documentary process reminded me of who I used to be. James and his team put me at total ease, so I could bring my two different selves to the story. My father told me, ‘A true friend is the mirror with which you see yourself through’, and that’s what this is.”

The darkened studio where participants are interviewed serves, at times, as a confession booth. The former US colonel Nate Sassaman first appears as a likeable soldier who entered Iraq with a wish to build bridges with local sheikhs, but later reveals his Achillean thirst for retribution following the loss of one of his officers in an insurgent attack. “Complicated people” are what Bluemel is interested in: “When you feel conflicted feelings about Sassaman, it’s a good thing, because that’s how he feels about himself.”

Building trust from the participants is crucial to the nuance and power of the series, with many of the voices featured relaying their experiences for the first time. This is the case for Alaa, who was a 12-year-old schoolgirl on her way home from an exam when she was struck with shrapnel from one of the first roadside bombs planted by insurgents intended for American forces. She lost her eye, and her face was scarred for life.

Moments of light relief are rare in this documentary, but when they do come they are mainly provided by Nesyif. One scene shows him taking part, along with other young Iraqis, in a live television link-up with a group of young Americans. They discuss Metallica, the Backstreet Boys and war. “I thought my English sounded so great, but I actually sound like Borat!” he jokes. “This is the one true Iraqi thing left in me: when someone dies, you make a joke, when a bomb goes off you make a joke. It’s the only way to go on,” he laughs. It’s a laugh that we hear throughout the series, which skims off the chilling scenes he relates. We watch as he witnesses his country driven not towards the “land of dreams” he hoped for after a lifetime under a dictator’s regime, but towards years of chaos, sectarian violence and extremism.

“We sowed the seeds of Isis in 2003. We did,” gasps Sassaman in the opening episode, before breaking down. Bluemel says the genesis of the idea for the series was indeed seeded in the current moment, and Europe’s reaction to the refugee crisis. “I was angry at the far right for blaming refugees and angry seeing the rise of nationalism in Europe. There is no sense of collective responsibility for destabilising the Middle East and for the rise of extreme Islamic terrorism. Our fingerprints are all over this.”

It is Bluemel’s hope that the series will make people sit up and listen, and help them connect and empathise with the voices featured. Nesyif agrees. “Empathy is what we lack the most right now. This documentary offers the context that the world is missing. Ever since the demonisation of Iraq started, Saddam Hussein has been the cover story. [But] no one is pure evil and no one is pure good. The human face of this documentary is its greatest achievement.”

Once Upon a Time in Iraq begins tonight, 9pm on BBC Two. The accompanying book is out on 16 July

• Middle East and north Africa
• Documentary

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The 12 Best Documentaries About Iraq War

Aug 20, 2023 | Best Of , Conspiracy , Crime , Military/War

The Iraq war is one of the most controversial military conflicts in recent history. It has caused immense suffering, deepening divides that to this day remain unresolved. But it also gave us a unique opportunity to understand the complexity of such an event from multiple perspectives – including those of its participants and victims on both sides.

1. Iraq War

The Iraq War was a complex conflict that left behind scars and memories still felt to this day. It’s hard to imagine that for almost 10 years, the world sat as this conflict unfolded before us. In many ways, the Iraq War has become a forgotten chapter in our history.

2. Truth, War and Consequences

Did America make an ill-fated decision to wage war on Iraq? In this 2003 documentary, FRONTLINE critically examines why the U.S. initiated a conflict in Iraq, what went wrong during the planning for the postwar occupation, and what were the consequences of going to war for both the citizens of Iraq as well as Americans.

3. Iraq War Veterans

Months after the United States invaded Iraq in 2003, I embarked on a journey to document the gritty and real-life experiences of the U.S. Army’s 2nd Battalion, 3rd Field Artillery Regiment (known as the Gunners).

4. Iraq War Documentary

The War in Iraq has been one of the most controversial conflicts that our nation has ever seen, and it is now time to take a closer look at what led up to it. From false pretenses to lack of effective leadership, this documentary will explore all aspects of the war with an unbiased yet passionate lens.

5. Operation Iraqi Freedom

A powerful tale of the events that have shaped Iraq is told in the documentary “Operation Iraqi Freedom”. Following a diverse group of individuals as they struggle to make sense of their lives amidst war-torn surroundings, this film captures the struggles of ordinary Iraqis and U.S. soldiers alike.

6. Iraq. 20 Years After Toppling Saddam

It has been 20 years since the US-led invasion toppled Saddam Hussein from power in Iraq, bringing an end to his brutal regime. However, while Hussein’s reign may be long gone, the country is still struggling with political instability and violence that have plagued it since the invasion.

7. How the British and Americans got it wrong

The Iraq War is a polarizing and complex topic within recent history. Since the invasion in 2003, there has been plenty of debate and analysis on the cause and effect of this war. In this documentary, we take an unprecedented look at how the British and American governments got it wrong when they invaded Iraq.

8. The Iraq War Media Story

WAR FEELS LIKE WAR is a unique story about human experience. It focuses on the war in Iraq, but it’s not just about politics – it’s about people. BBC Storyville commissioned and helped bring this powerful film to life, and since then it has been broadcast on PBS (POV) America, CBC, and around the world.

9. The Modern Day Holy War

The Iran-Iraq war was an event of immense devastation and horror. Nearly a million people perished, mostly civilians, during the eight long years of conflict. The use of chemical weapons, tank battles and trench warfare marked this as one of the deadliest wars in recent history.

10. Combat Diary Iraq

Introducing “Combat Diary Iraq”, a documentary film that dives deep into the everyday lives of US forces during their deployments to Iraq. As they fight wars in the Middle East, these brave men and women are faced with difficult choices and life-threatening situations on a daily basis.

11. The Worst War You Never Learned About

Johnny Harris is an Emmy-winning independent journalist and contributor to the New York Times. With a reach of over 3.5 million, his Youtube channel features interesting stories from both domestic and international settings. He is the creator of Borders for Vox Media, which has been nominated twice for an Emmy award.

12. The Cost Of America’s War On Terror In Afghanistan & Iraq

Trillions of dollars were spent on prosecuting two wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, yet the US government is now signing a deal with the Taliban. After years of conflict, the withdrawal of US troops left a largely untrained Afghan army to face off against their enemies. The aftermath has been devastating for many American veterans who are living with physical and mental scars from these wars.

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Michael Palin: Into Iraq — release date, destinations, interview, episode guide and all about his new travel adventure

Michael Palin: Into Iraq on Channel 5 sees the Monty Python star explores a war-ravaged country.

Michael Palin: Into Iraq is a new Channel 5 travel series that sees the legendary Monty Python star and travel presenter visit one of the most dangerous countries in the world. 

Now 79, Michael fell in love with Iraq after his father gave him a copy of The Arabian Nights when he was a child. But the magical place he read about then has been defined by war and conflict in recent decades and labeled the axis of evil. 

"It doesn’t seem right that a country should have a bad name just because of the awful things that have happened there," says Michael. 

"People are living there, bringing up their families there and their futures are there. It also has an extraordinary history — 6000 years ago it was the birthplace of civilisation."

In the three-part series, which is now available as a new book called Into Iraq by Michael Palin , Michael covered 1,000 miles in three weeks back in March 2022 as he followed the course of the Tigris River from Mosul, through Baghdad and Basra to the Persian Gulf.  

So here's everything you need to know about Michael Palin: Into Iraq on Channel 5, including some observations by Michael himself...

Michael Palin: Into Iraq release date

Michael Palin: Into Iraq is a three-part series that starts on Channel 5 on Tuesday September 20 at 9 pm and runs at the same time every Tuesday in subsequent weeks. It will also become available on streaming service My5. We will update with its US and international air dates when we can.

Is there a trailer for Michael Palin: Into Iraq?

Yes Channel 5 recently released a trailer for Michael Palin: Into Iraq which shows exactly what Michael has let himself in for by visiting this fascinating but dangerous country. Take a look at the trailer below....

Michael Palin: Into Iraq episode guide

Here's our episode guide to Michael Palin: Into Iraq which we'll add to as the three-parter progresses. So do check back!

Episode 1: Tuesday September 20 After long delays at the Turkish/Iraq border, Michael arrives in Mosul — a city captured by ISIS in 2014 and held by the Islamic extremists until 2016 when they were driven out by a massive military campaign launched by the Iraqi Army and international forces which left the city shattered. The city still resembles a war zone and, as Michael walks among the ruins, he meets a group of children playing with a catapult and they ask him to join in.

"You just see this devastation and they are smiling," he says. "It’s quite something in the middle of all this. I was very moved."

Driving 50 miles east, Michael a very different Iraq suddenly emerges — a glittering five-star hotel in Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan; one of the richest parts of Iraq, almost like Dubai.  The next day he has an appointment with ‘Mr Erbil’, a fashionable tailor who measures him for a suit which he’ll pick up on his return, before exploring the ancient Citadel. He also meets Huda, an Iraqi Kurd and they talk over how Kurds in Iraq feel more at home than in Turkey. 

There is also joy when Palin goes to the mountain town of Akre for the celebrations of Nou Roz – the Kurdish New Year. The place is crowded and chaotic and the celebrations are loud and exuberant. "I was absolutely shattered at the end,"  smiles Michael. ‘But it was the most exhilarating day."

Episode 2: Tuesday September 27

Michael continues his journey into the heart of Iraq on his way to Baghdad and arrives in Kirkuk and the exact spot where the British discovered oil in 1927, when they also ruled the country.  

Once again Iraqi officialdom proves both frustrating and long-winded. But eventually, they gain privileged access to the oil fields where few foreigners ever tread and see the 4000-year-old flames emerging from the ground that underpin Iraq’s ancient history. But they also have a convoy of minders who watch their every move. 

The next day, Michael heads toward Tikrit, Saddam Hussein’s hometown. Having been stopped at several military checkpoints along the way, and met with severe military authority, here Michael is surprised when he receives a warm welcome from the local commander and coins it "Checkpoint Cheerful".  Even posing for selfies with the military guards. 

But the mood soon changes as he arrives in Tikrit, which was taken over by ISIS in 2014 and was the scene of the ‘Speicher Massacre’, where around 1,700 soldiers, the majority of whom were Shia recruits, were murdered on the banks of the Tigris. Gaining access to the site of the massacre it’s a hugely sobering moment.

Michael’s next stop is the spectacular mosque of Samarra, which is celebrated for its extraordinary 52-metre Minaret.  As he gingerly climbs the seemingly never-ending spiral into the sky (with no handrail to stop him from falling off!), Michael is reminded that Iraq was home to some of the earliest human civilizations in the world. And the views from the top are absolutely spectacular. 

The next day Michael travels to meet Hashim, a local farmer, who shows him how falling water levels on the rivers are causing his crops to fail. But mid-conversation the army arrived, ISIS have been spotted nearby and it suddenly feels very unsafe. Then Michael finally arrives in Baghdad, he remembers the first book his Father gave him was ‘Tales From the Arabian Nights’, which features the city.  Busy, inviting and with surprises round very corner. After taking a boat ride across the Tigris, Michael walks around Mutanabbi Street in central Baghdad, its crowded but everyone seems to be having a good time. Later, Michael meets Sarah, who takes him to a local restaurant to experience the national dish of Iraq, a fish called Masgouf. But as everywhere here men and women are kept largely apart.

The next morning, Michael visits Firdos Square, where Saddam Hussein’s statue was pulled down in 2003.  He also gains rare permission to enter the high-security Green Zone to see the iconic crossed swords of Saddam Hussein’s Victory Arch.

* Best Channel 5 documentaries on My 5 * Best BBC documentaries * Best Channel 4 documentaries  

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12 FRONTLINE Documentaries on Iraq’s Sectarian Divide

A screengrab from the documentary "Iraq's Assassins."

Nearly 18 years after the U.S.-led invasion, Iraqi civilians are still feeling the impact of the chaos that followed.

In the new documentary Iraq’s Assassins , releasing Feb. 9, FRONTLINE examines one outgrowth of the political instability and sectarian divides that were inflamed in the invasion’s wake: the rise and prominence of Shia militias with ties to Iran.

These militias played a prominent role in the fight to defend Iraq from ISIS. But in Iraq’s Assassins , journalist Ramita Navai travels to Iraq to investigate allegations that they are now threatening and killing critics and activists with impunity.

“Against the backdrop of a surge in targeted assassinations of protesters, we’ve found that public officials are reluctant to criticize the militias — and that Iraqis say the militias have taken hold of power like never before,” Navai says.

The protests themselves have been across sectarian lines, Navai says. But the alleged retaliation by the militias is the latest chapter in a power struggle in Iraq that has often involved a battle between Sunni and Shia extremists, with outside actors — including the U.S. and Iran — at times stoking the conflict, leaving ordinary Sunni and Shia civilians caught in the middle.

FRONTLINE has made more than 25 documentaries involving the Iraq war and its aftermath. To offer context in connection with the Feb. 9 release of Iraq’s Assassins , we’ve collected 12 that focus, in particular, on what has fueled the country’s sectarian divides, the experiences of ordinary Iraqis on the ground and the evolving role of Shia militias. All are available to stream online now.

Once Upon a Time in Iraq (2020)

Iraqis share their personal accounts and lasting memories of life under Saddam Hussein, the U.S.-led invasion of their country and the 17 years of chaos that followed, including sectarian  violence that targeted ordinary Sunni and Shia Iraqis, the brutal rise of ISIS and the U.S. withdrawal. Sally Mars, a young Iraqi woman who was just six years old when coalition troops entered Baghdad in 2003, says: “They destroyed a whole country. Plunged it into corruption, sectarianism and war. They did all of that just to get rid of one person.” The documentary is directed by James Bluemel.

Bitter Rivals (2018)

A decades-spanning investigation of how a political rivalry between majority-Shia Iran and majority-Sunni Saudi Arabia fueled sectarian extremism in the Middle East, from filmmakers Martin Smith, David Fanning and Linda Hirsch. The documentary traces Iran’s relationship with Iraq, from the days of the Iran-Iraq war to how Iran has used Shia militias in Iraq to extend its influence — including by taking advantage of sectarian grievances in the wake of the ousting of Saddam Hussein, a Sunni who had harshly persecuted Shias, as well as the chaos and insurgent violence that followed. “What the 2003 invasion did was give Iran an opportunity that it could never have dreamt of having, which was to bring Shi’ites into power in Iraq who were beholden to the Iranian state,” Bernard Haykel, author of Revival and Reform in Islam , says in the film.

Iraq Uncovered (2017)

Shia militias played a crucial role in Iraq’s fight against ISIS. But as filmmaker Ramita Navai reports in this documentary, some of the Iranian-backed Shia forces that battled ISIS have themselves been accused of atrocities, including kidnapping, imprisoning, torturing and killing ordinary Sunni civilians whom they see as ISIS suspects. (ISIS follows its own violent version of Sunni Islam.) “Mistrust between Sunnis and Shias seems greater than ever,” Navai says in the film. “The challenge for Iraq now will be preventing this from starting yet another war.”

Confronting ISIS (2016)

An on-the-ground investigation of the complexities of the U.S.-led fight against ISIS, this documentary from filmmakers Martin Smith and Linda Hirsch delves into the role of powerful, Iran-backed Shia militias in Iraq and allegations of their abusing civilians while fighting ISIS. Smith interviewed Hadi al-Amiri, head of the Badr militia, who said, “I don’t claim that there are never violations that occur during war.”   When Smith pushed then-Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi on the impact of relying on Shia militias, al-Abadi condemned “any excesses” by militia forces but said: “It depends how you look at [the militias]. I think you are calling them Shi’ite militia.   I’m calling them civilians who are fighting alongside Iraqi security forces to defend the country.”

The Secret History of ISIS (2016)

This film shows how, in the aftermath of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the Al Qaeda in Iraq leader and Sunni extremist, developed what would become the foundation for ISIS’s playbook of brutal violence and fear: fomenting sectarian violence between Sunni and Shia Muslims; attacking Shia people and holy sites, not just American occupiers; taking advantage of power vacuums and broadcasting beheadings on the internet. Filmmakers Michael Kirk, Mike Wiser and Jim Gilmore also traced how Zarqawi’s successor Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi followed Zarqawi’s method.

The Rise of ISIS (2014)

This documentary lays out the unheeded warnings, failures and missed opportunities that allowed Al Qaeda in Iraq to evolve and expand into ISIS. Filmmakers Martin Smith and Linda Hirsch deliver a revelatory look at how ISIS’ growth was amplified by the sidelining of Sunni leaders and the crackdown on Sunni protests by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki after the Obama administration’s withdrawal of troops. The film traces how, by the time Americans left Iraq in 2011, Al Qaeda in Iraq had been severely reduced — but soon rose up in a new and powerful form, fueled by “ a collection of very hardened killers … that the United States didn’t manage to kill during the war,” says journalist Dexter Filkins.

Losing Iraq (2014)

As ISIS burst onto the world stage and seized vast swaths of territory in Iraq in 2014, filmmakers Michael Kirk, Jim Gilmore and Mike Wiser traced how the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, its aftermath and the decisions of two U.S. presidents laid the groundwork for the terrorist group’s emergence. Among other things, the film traces how, in the wake of the ousting of Saddam Hussein, fateful orders by the Bush administration to purge members of Hussein’s Baath party from the Iraqi government and to dissolve the Iraqi army would leave thousands of angry, jobless and disaffected Sunnis, a pool from which insurgents would recruit. The documentary also examines how the U.S. troop withdrawal and President Obama’s decision to entrust Iraq’s future to Nouri al-Maliki helped create an environment where ISIS could thrive.

Bush’s War (2008)

From filmmakers Michael Kirk, Jim Gilmore and Mike Wiser, a 4.5-hour special series traces the Bush administration’s self-described war on terror, including the drumbeat leading up to the Iraq War and the chaos and sectarian civil war that followed the U.S.-led invasion. “We had no military strategy to defeat the insurgency,” a former U.S. Army vice chief of staff says in the film. By 2006, the violence had dramatically worsened. “Nobody could control it,” an Iraqi government spokesman says. “When the state failed to protect Shia neighborhoods from the growing attacks, a lot of Shia started to argue that: ‘Look, you’re not protecting us. You’re not even protecting the holy shrines. We cannot rely on you.’ And I think that was the turning point when violence increased and the militias amongst the Shias became unruly.”

Gangs of Iraq (2007)

Filmmakers Marcela Gaviria and Martin Smith took a hard look at U.S. efforts to train Iraqi forces during the U.S. occupation of Iraq, revealing how coalition-trained troops had been infiltrated by various sectarian militias. They also found that, because the army was unable to stop Sunni insurgent attacks, some people had turned to Shia militias for protection. Smith questioned then-Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, who said he disagreed with the Bush administration on how to address the militias: “We think that military action is not a suitable method to confront terrorism, militias and secret organizations.”

Endgame (2007)

From filmmakers Michael Kirk and Jim Gilmore, an examination of how strategic and tactical mistakes by the United States brought Iraq to civil war. The film includes a look at how a 2006 Al Qaeda in Iraq attack on one of the country’s most holy Shia sites unleashed a tidal wave of sectarian violence and a desire for retribution by Shia militias.

The Insurgency (2006)

A look inside the Sunni insurgency that followed the U.S. occupation of Iraq, as the country cleaved further along sectarian lines. The investigation by Tom Roberts included special access to insurgent leaders and commanders of Iraqi and U.S. military units battling for control of the country, as well as detailed analysis from journalists who risked their lives to meet and report on insurgent leaders and their foot soldiers.

Truth, War & Consequences  (2003)

Filmmakers Martin Smith and Marcela Gaviria traced the roots of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq back to the days immediately following 9/11, when then-Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld ordered the creation of a special intelligence operation to quietly begin looking for evidence that would justify a war to remove Saddam Hussein from power. The film asked tough questions about the Bush administration’s claims that Hussein posed an imminent threat to the Western world and showed how inadequate planning for the aftermath of Hussein’s ouster created conditions for continuing violence. L. Paul Bremer, then the top U.S. civilian leader in Iraq, insisted in the film that the invasion had been a success: “By theological, moral, political terms, if ever a three-week war ever brought about such enormous benefits to 25 million people, this was the war.”

FRONTLINE has covered Iraq in many more documentaries over the past 20 years, including: Iraq’s Secret Sex Trade (2019), Mosul (2017), Battle for Iraq (2017), Hunting ISIS (2017), Escaping ISIS (2015), Secrets, Politics and Torture (2015), The Wounded Platoon (2010), Rules of Engagement (2008), The Lost Year in Iraq (2006), The Torture Question (2005) , The Dark Side (2006), The Soldier’s Heart (2005),  Beyond Baghdad (2004), The Invasion of Iraq (2004), Chasing Saddam’s Weapons (2004), The Long Road to War (2003), The War Behind Closed Doors (2002) and Gunning for Saddam (2001).

Patrice Taddonio , Senior Digital Writer , FRONTLINE

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Showing now | culture.

Laurene Rey-Millet | Wednesday 21 September 2022 08:58 BST

Monty Python Michael Palin embarks on discovery journey through Iraq in new Channel 5 documentary

Comedian Michael Palin goes “beyond the military checkpoints” to discover Iraq in a new Channel 5 documentary series.

Titled Michael Palin: Into Iraq , the former Monty Python star travels through the middle eastern land to “see a different side” of a country “defined by decades of war and conflicts”.

His new series sees Sir Michael travel 1000 miles across the country in a three-week period, passing by Baghdad and meeting Iraqi soldiers and school students.

The first episode is available on My5, with the next one scheduled on Tuesday 27 September at 9pm.

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Love Lives: If men went through menopause, it would be a disaster

Love Lives: Best moments from 2023

Tom Grennan: ‘I was an egotistical 21-year-old’

Kirstie Allsopp gives her tips for selling your home

How to avoid fast fashion this Christmas | You Ask The Questions

How do you get the best deal on Black Friday?

Has Rishi Sunak’s reshuffle changed the fate of his government?

Can Britain’s homeless crisis be solved?

What did we learn from the Labour and Conservative party conferences?

What does the four-tier EU membership possibly mean for the UK?

Is a four-day week a good idea? | You Ask The Questions

Man steals beer from gas station, pulls gun on employee, drops crate

Jim Ratcliffe predicts how Keir Starmer will perform as prime minister

Protests against sewage pollution held at beaches, rivers and lakes

Tearful WW2 veteran recalls being captured weeks after D-Day

Water cannon used to disperse anti-government protesters in Tel Aviv

Wes Streeting pulls out prompt card as he forgets key Labour pledge

Thousands of Brixham residents told they can drink tap water again

Firefighters battle raging flames after bus catches fire in London

Liverpool fans welcome Jurgen Klopp and team to Anfield for final time

Cristiano Ronaldo delivers Premier League title race prediction

Klopp shares heartfelt message to Liverpool fans ahead of departure

Oleksandr Usyk details sacrifices made to prepare for Tyson Fury fight

Fury says he was ‘having fun and playing around’ during defeat to Usyk

Moment Oxford United promoted back to Championship after 25 years

Scheffler admits ‘head still spinning’ as he speaks after arrest

Southampton fan celebrates with prosthetic leg during play-off win

Car crushed by fallen bricks as deadly thunderstorm causes damage

Eyewitness captures fierce winds from Texas storm that killed four

Panama Canal faces water crisis amid drought and growing demand

Makeshift shelter saves hundreds of dogs as floods devastate Brazil

Elderly Just Stop Oil protesters damage glass protecting Magna Carta

Aftermath of Michican tornadoes captured in devastating footage

‘Make the journey part of your holiday’, say slow travel experts

Humza Yousaf jokes about ‘breakup’ with Greens as coalition deal ends

London busker has perfect response to passer-by berating her on street

Starmer quizzed on policies for ‘discrimination against bald blokes’

Rare deep-sea squid ‘with headlights’ attacks camera 1km under water

Chinese zoo paints dogs black-and-white to look like pandas

Watch: Alison Hammond addresses engagement rumours

Paul McCartney stars in sweet TikTok video with Stella

The Script tease first new album since Mark Sheehan’s death

Saudi Cup: ‘A true display of horsemanship’, says Prince Bandar

Princess Nourah praises young fashion designers on show at Saudi Cup

Andrew Strauss says Saudi is an eye opener

Saudi Arabia is ‘pushing limits’ of fashion creativity

Saudi Cup could become ‘the best race in the world’

Horseracing chiefs praise Saudi Cup

Saudi will become a ‘worldwide, year-long’ horseracing destination

Arabian horses ‘big part’ of global racing culture, says Damien Oliver

Galaxy the ripple effect.

Ebony Rainford-Brent MBE on the imposter syndrome epidemic

Finance coach Ellie Austin-Williams on the psychology of money

STEM campaigner Dr Anne-Marie Imafidon MBE on workplace bias

Ebony Rainford-Brent MBE on how to tackle imposter syndrome

Simple ways to boost your money situation with Ellie Austin-Williams

Dr Anne-Marie Imafidon shares how to smash workplace stereotypes

E.on next power switch.

Episode One - Cooking

Episode Two - Entertainment

Episode Three - Body Care

Episode Four - Lighting

Big in america.

Can Willsow’s children’s books pique the interest of the US market?

Will the founders of Spice Kitchen be able to find US retailers?

Co-founders of See.Sense bring their cycle safe tech to New York City

Collctiv fintech founder Amy Whitell tries to crack the US tech market

The maritime tech guru taking high-speed ferries across the Atlantic

Saudi green initiative.

Saudi government doesn’t ‘pay lip service’ on climate action

SGI ‘seems like a nest of harmony’, journalist says

SGI ambitions are ‘extremely high’, says Saudi climate envoy

Saudi Green Initiative aims to ‘not just preserve, but create’

Expert explains how ‘blended finance’ can help achieve net zero

SGI can be a ‘catalyst’ for Saudi Arabia, head of SABB says

Kaust professor ‘inspired’ by Saudi efforts to save coral reefs

Watch in full: Day two of the Saudi Green Initiative Forum

Gérard Mestrallet on the challenges of bringing infrastructure to the region of AlUla

Sir George Iacobescu, chairman of the Canary Wharf Group on the investment into the historic region of AlUla

Oliver Ripley of sustainable hotel group Habitas talks about how AlUla challenged his preconceptions of Saudi Arabia

Thomas Kaplan of wild cat conservation charity Panthera on the mission to save the Arabian Leopard

How AlUla’s sustainability plan will stand the test of time - webinar

Discover AlUla: The Journey Through Time

AlUla Oasis View Trail

Stargazing Experience

Iraq War Documentaries

1. Secrets of War

The gulf war: architects of desert storm.

2. Dogfights

Dogfights of desert storm.

3. Combat Zone

A tight spot: operation desert storm, iraq.

4. Greatest Tank Battles

The battle of 73 easting.

5. Secrets of War

Gulf war: iraq's secrets.

6. Severe Clear

7. Apache Warrior

8. Occupation: Dreamland

9. Gunner Palace

10. Notturno

11. Once Upon a Time in Iraq

13. The Tillman Story

14. The November War

15. Zero Hour

Capturing saddam.

16. Combat Zone

Battle of tal afar.

17. Combat Zone

Triangle of death.

18. Combat Zone

Ambush in hawijah.

19. Combat Zone

Battle of najaf.

20. Combat Zone

Ambush of lake tharthar.

21. Shootout!

Battle for baghdad, 22. shootout, d-day fallujah, 23. shootout, iraq's ambush alley, 24. shootout, iraq's most wanted, 25. shootout, battlecry iraq: ramadi, 26. shootout, iraq's most wanted: terror at the border, 27. shootout, return to fallujah.

28. Black Ops

Assault on al-qaeda.

29. Black Ops

Operation viking hammer.

30. Only the Dead

31. The Longest Month

32. The Triangle of Death

33. fallout: coming home from the war in iraq.

34. Thunder Run on Baghdad

35. Frontline

Losing iraq.

36. The Warfighters

A battle for haditha dam.

37. Battlefield Diaries

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