This week marks the 15th anniversary of the US invasion of Iraq, a mission aimed at eradicating the country of its weapons of mass destruction -- which turned out to have been a false claim. After a decade and a half of bloodshed, Iraq is now experiencing a period of relative stability and economic growth. CGTN's Jack Barton took to the streets of Baghdad to speak to a generation that grew up with the war, but is now hoping for a future of peace and prosperity.

Some conservatives frown, but there's no escaping the fact youth culture is exploding in Iraq from outrageous hairdos to getting a tattoo, not so long ago a strict taboo. That doesn't mean the scars of war have faded. Across the road from the tattoo parlour bodybuilder Laith Ahmed says he would not have become a two-time Mr Iraq champion without equipment and techniques introduced by American troops. But Laith tells me the invasion also led to tragedy.

LAITH AHMED GOLD'S GYM TRAINER, MR IRAQ "CLASSIC PHYSIQUE" 2017 AND 2018 "The worse memory was in 2007 when I lost my brother in the sectarian conflict."

For other young Iraqis, the pain of the war and its impact on Iraq's economy remain painfully raw. Hussain Saleem has a degree in engineering, but works hauling goods in the market earning just enough money to scrape by.

HUSSAIN SALEEM BAGHDAD PORTER "Our country has the second largest oil reserves, how could that happen to us? Debts. Crashed economy. No employment, education is falling down to levels never seen. Lots of people hold high degrees from Iraq. Iraq was a great culture, a great culture of poets, there is nothing left."

At the University of Baghdad students have grown up with nothing but war.

BAGHDAD UNIVERSITY STUDENT "We used to live in Sadr City. The area most attacked by the Americans and destroyed by the shelling. Especially at night the shelling happened. Once we start go to sleep the shelling starts. We become in a panic and fear. Even we didn't want the night to come, because of the fears we may face."

The memories are painful, but some of the students are hopeful.

REEM MUAID COMPUTER SCIENCE STUDENT, BAGHDAD UNIVERSITY "Honestly I didn't just lose some of my colleagues, but also members of my family in the sectarian era, and also in the war. In spite of all these things that happened, still I have faith in life. I feel that some day it's going to get better."

Some say the very fact there hasn't been a major terror attack in months is a sign things are already getting better. And for the first time in 15 years, it's not gunfire but the sound of burning rubber that is shaking the windows of Baghdad.

JACK BARTON BAGHDAD "It's a bit of a boy zone here and as you can see I've been dragged right into the middle of it but anyone of these guys will tell you they hope this is a sign that Iraq is slowly drifting in a new direction. Jack Barton, CGTN, Baghdad."