Overthrow of Saddam Hussein

Overthrow of Saddam Hussein. The United States, backed by a coalition of countries including the United Kingdom, Australia, and Poland, launched a military operation to remove Saddam Hussein from power in Iraq. This operation was a key component of the War on Terror, a global military campaign initiated by United States President George W. Bush in response to the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia. The invasion of Iraq was also supported by Kuwait, which served as a staging ground for the coalition forces, and was facilitated by the Turkish Armed Forces and the Royal Air Force.

Background

The Gulf War had ended with a ceasefire in 1991, but Saddam Hussein's regime remained in power, and the United Nations imposed economic sanctions on Iraq to pressure the regime to comply with United Nations Security Council Resolution 687. The United States and its allies, including United Kingdom Prime Minister Tony Blair and Australian Prime Minister John Howard, claimed that Saddam Hussein's regime possessed weapons of mass destruction, including chemical weapons and biological weapons, and had ties to terrorist organizations such as Al-Qaeda. The Central Intelligence Agency and the Federal Bureau of Investigation had gathered intelligence on Saddam Hussein's regime, including information from CIA assets such as Ahmed Chalabi and Ayad Allawi. The United Nations Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission had also been established to monitor Iraq's compliance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1284.

Invasion of Iraq

The invasion of Iraq began on March 20, 2003, with a bombing campaign by the United States Air Force and the Royal Air Force, followed by a ground invasion by the United States Army, the United States Marine Corps, and the British Army. The coalition forces quickly overran Iraqi Republican Guard positions and advanced on Baghdad, the capital city of Iraq. The 1st Marine Division and the 3rd Infantry Division led the advance, supported by the 101st Airborne Division and the 82nd Airborne Division. The Iraqi Army and the Fedayeen Saddam militia put up resistance, but were ultimately unable to withstand the coalition's superior firepower and logistics. The Battle of Nasiriyah and the Battle of Najaf were key battles fought during the invasion.

Fall of Baghdad

On April 9, 2003, coalition forces entered Baghdad and began to secure key government buildings and infrastructure. The United States Army's 3rd Infantry Division and the 1st Marine Division led the assault on the city, supported by the United States Air Force and the Royal Air Force. The Iraqi Republican Guard and the Fedayeen Saddam militia put up fierce resistance, but were ultimately unable to hold the city. The fall of Baghdad marked the effective end of Saddam Hussein's regime, and the coalition began to establish a new government in Iraq. The Office of Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance was established to oversee the reconstruction of Iraq, and the Coalition Provisional Authority was established to govern the country.

Aftermath

The aftermath of the invasion saw widespread looting and civil unrest in Iraq, as well as a insurgency by Sunni Arab and Shi'a groups against the coalition forces. The United States and its allies established a new government in Iraq, led by the Iraqi Governing Council, which included representatives from various Iraqi political parties, including the Iraqi National Congress and the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq. The Coalition Provisional Authority was established to govern Iraq until a new government could be elected, and the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq was established to provide humanitarian assistance to the Iraqi people. The International Committee of the Red Cross and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees also played key roles in providing humanitarian assistance to Iraq.

International Reactions

The international community was divided over the invasion of Iraq, with some countries, such as France and Germany, opposing the war, while others, such as Italy and Spain, supported it. The United Nations Security Council passed United Nations Security Council Resolution 1483, which recognized the coalition's authority in Iraq and established the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq. The European Union and the Arab League also issued statements on the invasion of Iraq, with the European Union calling for a peaceful resolution to the conflict and the Arab League condemning the invasion. The Russian Federation and the People's Republic of China also issued statements on the invasion of Iraq, with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao expressing concerns about the war. Category:2003 in Iraq