How does the latest U.S. attack influence the internal dynamics in Iraq? CGTN's Global Watch gives us a brief explainer of the current political situation in the country.

For three months now, Iraqis have been on the streets, demanding an overhaul of the country's political system. They have called for sweeping changes in the constitution and expressed their anger at rising inflation and unemployment. Another important theme of the demonstrations has been to oppose the Iranian influence being felt in the country.

Over 450 people have been killed and 25,000 others injured since protesters hit the streets in unprecedented numbers in October. 

Prime Minister Adel Abdel Mahdi was forced to resign and now President Barham Saleh has also threatened to quit if lawmakers try to put forward a candidate already rejected by the protesters.  

An Iraqi student, Sherine Karim, said: "We don't want a candidate who belongs to parties, but someone who represents the people and who holds a single (Iraqi) nationality and does not represents any party."

So how did Iraq get to this point?

According to experts, Iran enjoys considerable influence over the Iraqi political class. Following the U.S. invasion in 2003, Iraq has been governed by parties with deep religious and financial ties to Tehran.

In 2015, ISIL succeeded in capturing a large part of the country. By early this year, after a sustained battle against the group, the Iraqi government managed, with the help of Kurdish forces and American strikes, to recover most of the territory it had lost.

However, the rise and the subsequent fall of ISIL did not change the political equation, which has remained favorable to Iran. In October, the protesters challenged that status quo.

Ironically, the recent U.S. attack against Kataib Hezbollah, an Iraqi militia, may once again provide some breathing space to Tehran. Analysts say the anger is now turning towards the Americans.

The caretaker government is fuming, calling it an attack on Iraq's sovereignty. Influential clerics have denounced the strikes, leading to protests against the United States. 

Ali Rida, a protester, said: "Today in Kirkuk governorate we protest against the American and Israeli aggression."

So is Iraq being increasingly turned into a battleground between Iran and the U.S. and what would that mean for the Iraqi people? Even after more than a decade of unrest, Iraq is still looking for concrete answers and a lasting peace.