War in Iraq

War in Iraq. The War in Iraq was a major armed conflict that began with the 2003 invasion of Iraq by a coalition of the willing led by the United States and the United Kingdom. The initial phase toppled the regime of Saddam Hussein but was followed by a protracted insurgency, severe sectarian violence, and significant international controversy over the war's justification and conduct.

Background and causes

The primary public justification for the war presented by the Bush Administration and the government of Tony Blair centered on Iraq's alleged possession of weapons of mass destruction and links to al-Qaeda, notably following the September 11 attacks. These claims were heavily based on intelligence from agencies like the Central Intelligence Agency and the Secret Intelligence Service. The United Nations Security Council had previously passed United Nations Security Council Resolution 1441, demanding Iraq comply with disarmament obligations, but further authorization for military force was not secured. Key figures such as Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, and Colin Powell were instrumental in building the case, while international opponents included France, Germany, and Russia.

Major phases and operations

The conventional war began on 20 March 2003 with Operation Iraqi Freedom, featuring a rapid coalition advance from Kuwait toward Baghdad. Major battles included the Battle of Nasiriyah, the Battle of Basra, and the Fall of Baghdad. Following the collapse of the Ba'ath Party government and the capture of Saddam Hussein during Operation Red Dawn, the conflict evolved into a complex insurgency. Key military operations during this phase included the Second Battle of Fallujah, the Battle of Ramadi, and the Iraq War troop surge of 2007 orchestrated by General David Petraeus. The war formally concluded with the United States Forces – Iraq withdrawal in 2011 under the Status of Forces Agreement.

Coalition and Iraqi forces

The Multi-National Force – Iraq was dominated by the United States Armed Forces and the British Armed Forces, with significant contributions from the Australian Defence Force and the Polish Armed Forces. Post-invasion, the effort to rebuild indigenous forces involved training the new Iraqi Army, the Iraqi Police, and Iraqi Special Operations Forces. These forces often operated alongside or were advised by units like the United States Army Special Forces and the United States Marine Corps. Opposing them were diverse insurgent groups, including the Islamic State of Iraq, the Mahdi Army loyal to Muqtada al-Sadr, and remnants of the Fedayeen Saddam.

Casualties and humanitarian impact

The war resulted in substantial loss of life, with estimates of Iraqi civilian casualties ranging into the hundreds of thousands as documented by projects like the Iraq Body Count project. Coalition military deaths exceeded 4,800, with the United States Department of Defense and the UK Ministry of Defence reporting thousands wounded. The conflict created millions of internally displaced persons and Iraqi refugees, severely straining neighboring countries like Jordan and Syria. Major humanitarian crises occurred during events like the First Battle of Fallujah, and infrastructure damage crippled institutions like the Iraqi National Museum and the University of Baghdad.

Aftermath and legacy

The political aftermath saw the establishment of the Iraqi Interim Government, the drafting of the Constitution of Iraq, and the rise of Nouri al-Maliki. However, the war fueled the rise of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, which seized territory including Mosul in 2014. Regionally, it altered the balance of power, strengthening the influence of Iran and triggering debates about the Arab Spring. The war's legacy includes intense scrutiny of intelligence failures by the Senate Intelligence Committee, the Chilcot Inquiry, and profound impacts on U.S. foreign policy, military doctrine, and veterans' organizations like the Wounded Warrior Project.

Category:Wars involving Iraq Category:2000s conflicts