Invasion of Iraq

US troops in a sandstorm during the invasion of Iraq in 2003

Historical Context

In 2003, over a decade of political conflict between Iraq and the United States came to a head when a multinational "coalition of the willing" controversially invaded and occupied Iraq, then ruled by the brutal dictator Saddam Hussein.

Several reasons had been put forward by the administration of George W. Bush as to why the invasion was necessary. Among the most controversial was the assertion that Saddam's regime was building weapons of mass destruction. Other justifications included Saddam's alleged support of al-Qaeda, which had committed the September 11 attacks two years earlier. After the invasion, no weapons of mass destruction were found, and claims of Iraqi officials working with al-Qaeda were found to be false.

The US was joined in the invasion by the UK, Australia and Poland. The conflict was intensely controversial, especially after the assertion by President Bush shortly after the invasion that the coalition had "ended major combat operations" (the infamous Mission Accomplished speech). Iraq would descend into several years of vicious sectarian violence as various insurgent groups grew in strength.

Although the invasion and occupation was controversial, and immensely costly in terms of lives, Iraq did have a semblance of democracy restored, and the first proper general elections were held in 2005.

Photo Info

Photographer: LCpl Andrew P. Roufs, USMC
Date taken: March 26, 2003
Location taken: Iraq
Source: Wikimedia Commons

Related Events

2003-03-19 Airstrikes by an American and British-led coalition signal the beginning of the Invasion of Iraq, without United Nations support and in defiance of world opinion
2003-03-20 A US-led coalition launches a ground invasion of Iraq after an ultimatum for Saddam Hussein and his sons to leave Iraq expires
2003-03-23 In Nasiriyah, Iraq, 11 soldiers of the 507th Maintenance Company as well as 18 U.S. Marines are killed during the first major conflict of Operation Iraqi Freedom
2003-04-09 Baghdad falls to US forces, ending the invasion of Iraq, resulting in widespread looting
2010-08-19 Operation Iraqi Freedom winds down, as the last of the United States brigade combat teams cross the border to Kuwait