Iraq War
2003 · All of Iraq · World · Modern
The coalition took Baghdad in about three weeks; Saddam's regime fell, and Saddam was arrested in December of that year.
Belligerents
US, UK and coalition forces
- Commanders
- Tommy Franks
- Strength
- Invasion force of several hundred thousand
Iraq
- Commanders
- Saddam Hussein
- Strength
- Several hundred thousand regulars and Republican Guard
Background
Citing Iraq's possession of weapons of mass destruction and support for terrorism, the United States and Britain went to war without new authorization from the UN Security Council; no such weapons were found after the war.
Course of the battle
- Air campaign opensOn March 20 the coalition launched air strikes on Baghdad, and ground forces crossed the border from Kuwait.
- Southern advanceUS forces pushed north along the Euphrates, while the British army attacked Basra.
- Capture of BaghdadOn April 9 US forces entered central Baghdad, and the old regime collapsed.
- End of major combat operations declaredOn May 1 the United States declared the end of major combat operations, after which Iraq sank into prolonged turmoil.
Outcome at a glance
| Date | 2003 |
|---|---|
| Place | All of Iraq |
| Result | The coalition took Baghdad in about three weeks; Saddam's regime fell, and Saddam was arrested in December of that year. |
| Winner | US, UK and coalition forces |
| Casualties | During the major combat phase the coalition lost more than about 170 killed, while Iraqi military and civilian deaths ran from several thousand to over ten thousand; the conflict of the following years caused far greater casualties. |
| Territorial change | The Coalition Provisional Authority took over Iraq, handed power to an interim government in 2004, and a new constitution was adopted in 2005; US forces withdrew in 2011. |
Impact
The Iraq War transformed Iraq's political structure and the regional balance of power; its legitimacy and consequences remain highly contested to this day.
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