It was the intention to control Iraqi oil and not necessarily to the benefit of Iraq. International companies entered Iraq after the war (Exxon Mobil, Shell, Total and BP, Chevron others)  to exploit the established oil fields around Basra and Kirkuk through a series of licensing agreements that are less transparent than they could be. These have been awarded, not openly bid for. Because of ISIL and Russo/Turkish agreements many of the contracts have long term unresolved legal problems, foreign oil firms still employ few Iraqis, and local communities see no benefit from the international presence. The international companies persist in using foreign workers and security companies to maintain their production and just as Saddam favoured the Sunnis, Nouri al-Maliki favoured the Shias though he has now been replaced.