Occupation is a searingly powerful drama starring James Nesbitt, Stephen Graham and Warren Brown and written by Peter Bowker that spans the five years following the invasion of Iraq in 2003.

It follows the lives of three soldiers and friends, first during the battle for Basra, then as they struggle to adapt to life back home, then, finally, as very different forces draw them back to Iraq.

The BBC’s first major drama set against the backdrop of the Iraq war, Occupation is an unforgettable journey into the heart of the darkness that is conflict and its chaotic aftermath.

During the invasion of Iraq in April 2003, three British soldiers from the same unit come under crossfire in a Basra flat; there, an explosion has huge consequences for an Iraqi girl, an event which radically shapes the lives of Danny, Mike and Hibbs over the coming years.

Failing to adjust to civilian life in Manchester, Danny, Mike and Hibbs are each inspired to return to Basra for his own reasons: one for money, one for love and one because he passionately believes in the mission to rebuild Iraq. They return to a Basra awash with billions of US dollars, creating a boom time for private military contractors. As the drama charts their interwoven journeys from the invasion of Iraq to the present day, viewers see how these three friends, united in battle, are torn apart by the aftermath.

Tuesday 16 June
9.00-10.00pm BBC ONE