In March 2003, a US-led coalition invaded Iraq, rapidly toppling the regime of Saddam Hussein amid claims of weapons of mass destruction. The operation triggered prolonged conflict, sectarian violence, and significant geopolitical shifts in the Middle East. For literature and poetry, the war inspired waves of anti-war writing, veteran memoirs, and reflections on imperialism, human cost, and media narratives that echoed earlier conflicts like Vietnam.

The invasion of Iraq in 2003 catalyzed a surge of anti-war poetry that critically examined imperialism and its consequences. Poets like Warsan Shire articulated the human cost of conflict, using their verses to voice dissent and explore themes of displacement and resilience.