The best description of why civil war broke out between different ethnic and religious groups in Iraq is:
A) They disagreed about who should control certain cities and regions.
While other factors, such as the rise of ISIS and the influence of the former government, played significant roles in the conflict, the struggle for control over specific areas—particularly those with mixed populations of ethnic and sectarian groups—was a primary catalyst for the violence and civil strife that ensued. This struggle often stemmed from historical grievances and competition for political power and resources among Sunni Arabs, Shia Arabs, and Kurds, among others.