Muslim forces in Iraq were too few to control the region.

The American military has long sought to control the western region, the heart of the insurgency.

Each of these empires controlled the region for a time.

It was from bases in these mountains that a series of groups expanded to control the region.

Iraq and Syria allied would control the whole region overnight.

The rebels met little resistance and controlled the region by January 15.

Arab and Berber forces controlled the region in turn until 697.

And, yes, they say, Thailand later controlled the region where the temple sits.

The Armenian provisional government used as an argument, "the ability to control the region".

Now, three years later, it is being pulled apart by Shiite political parties that want to control the region and its biggest prize, oil.