Permanent historical factsheet

Invasion of Iraq

United States of America · Warfare / Gulf War, 2nd. Chronological records rendered directly from the World History Database.

75Records
2000–2009Date range
11Named people
9Places

Chronological records

2000

George Walker Bush2000

Warfare / Gulf War, 2nd

The United States Republican Party's campaign platform in the US presidential election, 2000 called for "full implementation" of the Iraq Liberation Act and removal of Hussein

2001

George Walker Bush20 September 2001

Warfare / Gulf War, 2nd

President Bush addresses a joint session of the US Congress (which was simulcast live to the world), and announces his new "War on Terrorism". Announces the doctrine of pre-emptive military action, later termed the Bush Doctrine

2002

George Walker BushJuly 2002

Warfare / Gulf War, 2nd

CIA assessments on Iraqi weapons influence the case for war.

George Walker Bush12 September 2002

Warfare / Gulf War, 2nd

Bush begins formally making his case to the international community for an invasion of Iraq in his September 12, 2002 address to the United Nations Security Council. Bush begins formally making his case to the international community for an invasion of Iraq in his 12 September 2002 address to the United Nations Security Council

George Walker BushSeptember 2002

Warfare / Gulf War, 2nd

Both the US ambassador to the UN, John Negroponte, and the UK ambassador, Jeremy Greenstock, publicly confirmed the reading of the resolution, assuring that Resolution 1441 provided no "automaticity" or "hidden triggers" for an invasion

George Walker BushSeptember 2002

Warfare / Gulf War, 2nd

The United Nations Security Council adopted a compromise resolution, United Nations Security Council Resolution 1441, which authorized the resumption of weapons inspections and promised "serious consequences" for non-compliance.

George Walker BushSeptember 2002

Warfare / Gulf War, 2nd

UN Security Council members France and Russia made clear that they did not consider these consequences to include the use of force to overthrow the Iraqi Government.

George Walker BushSeptember 2002

Warfare / Gulf War, 2nd

UN Resolution 1441 gives Iraq "a final opportunity to comply with its disarmament obligations" and set up inspections by the United Nations Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

John NegroponteSeptember 2002

Warfare / Gulf War, 2nd

Both the US ambassador to the UN, John Negroponte, and the UK ambassador, Jeremy Greenstock, publicly confirmed the reading of the resolution, assuring that Resolution 1441 provided no "automaticity" or "hidden triggers" for an invasion

George Walker Bush11 October 2002

Warfare / Gulf War, 2nd

The United States Congress passed the "Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002". Authority to attack Iraq if Iraqi President Saddam Hussein does not give up his weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) and abide by previous United Nations resolutions on human rights, POWs, and terrorism

George Walker BushOctober 2002

Warfare / Gulf War, 2nd

Bush to "strictly enforce through the U.N.

George Walker BushOctober 2002

Warfare / Gulf War, 2nd

Security Council all relevant Security Council resolutions regarding Iraq" and "obtain prompt and decisive action by the Security Council to ensure that Iraq abandons its strategy of delay, evasion, and noncompliance and promptly and strictly complies with all relevant Security Council resolutions regarding Iraq".

George Walker BushOctober 2002

Warfare / Gulf War, 2nd

The US Congresss "Joint Resolution to Authorize the Use of United States Armed Forces Against Iraq" authorized President Bush to use the Armed Forces of the United States "as he determines to be necessary and appropriate" in order to "defend the national security of the United States against the continuing

George Walker BushOctober 2002

Warfare / Gulf War, 2nd

US Congress passes a "Joint Resolution to Authorize the Use of United States Armed Forces Against Iraq". The US Congresss "Joint Resolution to Authorize the Use of United States Armed Forces Against Iraq" "supported" and "encouraged" diplomatic efforts by President George W.

George Walker BushOctober 2002

Warfare / Gulf War, 2nd

threat posed by Iraq; and enforce all relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions regarding Iraq"

George Walker BushNovember 2002

Warfare / Gulf War, 2nd

Visiting Europe for a NATO summit, Bush declares that, "should Iraqi President Saddam Hussein choose not to disarm, the United States will lead a coalition of the willing to disarm him". The Bush administration briefly used the term Coalition of the Willing to refer to the countries who supported, militarily or verbally, the military action in Iraq and subsequent military presence in post-invasion Iraq since 2003

Condoleezza Rice8 December 2002

Warfare / Gulf War, 2nd

States regarding Iraqi WMD: "The problem here is that there will always be some uncertainty about how quickly he can acquire nuclear weapons. But we don't want the smoking gun to be a mushroom cloud". After Iraq denied weapons of mass destruction to the United Nations, Rice writes an editorial for The New York Times entitled "Why We Know Iraq Is Lying"

George Walker Bush2002

Warfare / Gulf War, 2nd

Both the US ambassador to the UN, John Negroponte, and the UK ambassador, Jeremy Greenstock, publicly confirmed the reading of the resolution, assuring that Resolution 1441 provided no "automaticity" or "hidden triggers" for an invasion.

George Walker Bush2002

Warfare / Gulf War, 2nd

Bush to "strictly enforce through the U. N.

George Walker Bush2002

Warfare / Gulf War, 2nd

The Bush administration briefly used the term Coalition of the Willing to refer to the countries who supported, militarily or verbally, the military action in Iraq and subsequent military presence in post-invasion Iraq since 2003.

George Walker Bush2002

Warfare / Gulf War, 2nd

Visiting Europe for a NATO summit, Bush declares that, "should Iraqi President Saddam Hussein choose not to disarm, the United States will lead a coalition of the willing to disarm him".

George Walker Bush2002

Warfare / Gulf War, 2nd

threat posed by Iraq; and enforce all relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions regarding Iraq".

2003

Colin Powell5 February 2003

Warfare / Gulf War, 2nd

His presentation to the United Nations Security Council contained a computer-generated image of a "mobile biological weapons laboratory.."

Colin Powell5 February 2003

Warfare / Gulf War, 2nd

However, this information was based on claims of Rafid Ahmed Alwan al-Janabi, codenamed "Curveball", an Iraqi emigrant living in Germany who later admitted that his claims had been false.

Colin Powell5 February 2003

Warfare / Gulf War, 2nd

On 5 February 2003, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell addressed the United Nations General Assembly, continuing U.S. efforts to gain United Nations authorization for an invasion.

George Walker BushFebruary 2003

Warfare / Gulf War, 2nd

US Secretary of State Colin Powell addressed the United Nations General Assembly, continuing US efforts to gain United Nations authorization for an invasion

Colin PowellFebruary 2003

Warfare / Gulf War, 2nd

US Secretary of State Colin Powell addressed the United Nations General Assembly, continuing US efforts to gain United Nations authorization for an invasion. Powell presented evidence alleging that Iraq was actively producing chemical and biological weapons and had ties to al-Qaeda

George Walker Bush17 March 2003

Warfare / Gulf War, 2nd

Unlike the first Gulf War or the war in Afghanistan (2001), this war had no explicit United Nations authorisation. In his 2003 address to the nation, Bush demands that Hussein and his two sons, Uday and Qusay, surrender and leave Iraq, giving them a 48-hour deadline

George Walker Bush18 March 2003

Warfare / Gulf War, 2nd

The bombing of Iraq by the United States, the United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, Poland, Australia, and Denmark begins

George Walker Bush19 March 2003

Warfare / Gulf War, 2nd

The invasion is preceded by an air strike on the Presidential Palace in Baghdad

George Walker Bush20 March 2003

Warfare / Gulf War, 2nd

Prior to the invasion, the United States official position was that Iraq was in violation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1441 regarding weapons of mass destruction and had to be disarmed by force

George Walker Bush20 March 2003

Warfare / Gulf War, 2nd

Start of the conflict known as the Iraq War or Operation Iraqi Freedom in which a combined force of troops from the United States, alongside the United Kingdom, and smaller contingents from Australia and Poland.

George Walker Bush20 March 2003

Warfare / Gulf War, 2nd

The US launches the invasion of Iraq, termed "Operation Iraqi Freedom". The United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, South Korea, Italy and Poland supply the vast majority of the invading forces, in co-operation with Kurdish forces.

George Walker Bush20 March 2003

Warfare / Gulf War, 2nd

The invasion of Iraq was strongly opposed by some traditional US allies, including the Governments of France, Germany, New Zealand, and Canada.

George Walker Bush20 March 2003

Warfare / Gulf War, 2nd

The reasons for the invasion were "to disarm Iraq of weapons of mass destruction, to end Saddam Hussein's alleged support for terrorism, and to free the Iraqi people".

Tommy Ray Franks20 March 2003

Iraq · Warfare / Gulf War, 2nd

Franks commands United States Central Command during the opening invasion of Iraq.

George Walker Bush23 March 2003

Basra · Warfare / Gulf War, 2nd

The main invasion army moved into southern Iraq, occupying the region and engaging in the Battle of Nasiriyah

George Walker Bush26 March 2003

Kirkuk · Warfare / Gulf War, 2nd

The 173rd Airborne Brigade is airdropped near the northern city of Kirkuk where they joined forces with Kurdish rebels and fought several actions against the Iraqi army to secure the northern part of the country

George Walker Bush9 April 2003

Warfare / Gulf War, 2nd

Bush declares the end of major combat operations, terminating the Baath Party's rule and removing Iraqi President Saddam Hussein from office

George Walker Bush9 April 2003

Baghdad · Warfare / Gulf War, 2nd

Most of the Iraqi military is quickly defeated and Baghdad was occupied on April 9th

George Walker Bush10 April 2003

Kirkuk · Warfare / Gulf War, 2nd

US forces invade Iraq after disputed intelligence claims.

George Walker Bush12 April 2003

Baghdad · Warfare / Gulf War, 2nd

The final resistance to US forces is mounted but by late afternoon, all fighting had ceased & a total of 34 US soldiers and 2,320 Iraqi soldiers and Fedayeen were killed

George Walker Bush15 April 2003

Tikrit · Warfare / Gulf War, 2nd

US forces take control of Tikrit, the last major outpost in central Iraq, with an attack led by the Marines Task Force Tripoli

George Walker BushApril 2003

Baghdad · Warfare / Gulf War, 2nd

US-led Coalition troops promptly began searching for the key members of Saddam Husseins Government identified by a variety of means, most famously through sets of most-wanted Iraqi playing cards. Three weeks into the invasion, US-led Coalition forces move into Baghdad, units of the Iraqi Special Republican Guard led the defence of the city

Tommy FranksApril 2003

Kirkuk · Warfare / Gulf War, 2nd

US-led Coalition troops promptly began searching for the key members of Saddam Husseins Government identified by a variety of means, most famously through sets of most-wanted Iraqi playing cards. US General Tommy Franks assumed control of Iraq as the supreme commander of the coalition occupation forces

George Walker Bush1 May 2003

Warfare / Gulf War, 2nd

An end of major combat operations is declared, ending the invasion period and beginning the military occupation period

George Walker Bush22 July 2003

Warfare / Gulf War, 2nd

During a raid by the US 101st Airborne Division and men from Task Force 20, Saddam Husseins sons Uday and Qusay, and one of his grandsons were killed in a massive fire-fight

George Walker BushSeptember 2003

Warfare / Gulf War, 2nd

UNMOVIC "did not find evidence of the continuation or resumption of programs of weapons of mass destruction" or significant quantities of proscribed items.

George Walker BushSeptember 2003

Warfare / Gulf War, 2nd

As of February 2003, the IAEA "found no evidence or plausible indication of the revival of a nuclear weapons program in Iraq".

George Walker BushSeptember 2003

Warfare / Gulf War, 2nd

the IAEA concluded that certain items which could have been used in nuclear enrichment centrifuges, such as aluminum tubes, were in fact intended for other uses.

Richard Perle20 November 2003

Warfare / Gulf War, 2nd

An article published in the Guardian alleged that Richard Perle, a senior member of the administrations Defence Policy Board Advisery Committee, conceded that the invasion was illegal but still justified

George Walker Bush13 December 2003

Warfare / Gulf War, 2nd

Saddam Hussein was captured by the US Armys 4th Infantry Division and members of Task Force 121 during Operation Red Dawn

2006

George Walker Bush21 June 2006

Warfare / Gulf War, 2nd

United States Senator Rick Santorum claimes that "We have found weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, chemical weapons"

2007

George Walker Bush11 January 2007

Erbil · Warfare / Gulf War, 2nd

Troops storm an Iranian diplomatic office in Kurdish-controlled Erbil and detain five people, urdish officials are outraged at the move, and about 100 Kurdish troops stop US troops from crossing a checkpoint

George Walker Bush16 January 2007

Warfare / Gulf War, 2nd

The tally of death certificates and reports from morgues, hospitals, and other institutions indicates more than 34,000 Iraqi civilians died in 2006

George Walker Bush24 January 2007

Warfare / Gulf War, 2nd

Senate Foreign Relations Committee votes, 12-9, in favor of a nonbinding resolution that denounces President Bushs plan to deploy additional troops to Iraq

George Walker Bush2 February 2007

Warfare / Gulf War, 2nd

National Intelligence Estimate finds the Iraqi leadership is likely too weak to hold the country together, the military is ill-equipped to rein in militias, and US troops are necessary to stabilize Iraq

George Walker Bush16 February 2007

Warfare / Gulf War, 2nd

The House of Representatives votes, 246-182, in favor of a nonbinding resolution that expresses support for US troops but criticizes President Bushs "surge" that calls for some 20,000 additional troops to be sent to Iraq

George Walker Bush15 May 2007

Warfare / Gulf War, 2nd

President Bush selects Lt Gen Douglas Lute to oversee war policy in Iraq and Afghanistan

Douglas Lute15 May 2007

Warfare / Gulf War, 2nd

President Bush selects Lt Gen Douglas Lute to oversee war policy in Iraq and Afghanistan

George Walker Bush25 May 2007

Warfare / Gulf War, 2nd

Moktada al-Sadr, leader of the Mahdi Army militia and an opponent of the US-led war in Iraq, reemerges from hiding for the first time since January. In a speech, he calls for a timetable for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq

George Walker Bush31 May 2007

Warfare / Gulf War, 2nd

With 127 deaths, May is the deadliest month for U.S. troops since November 2004

George Walker Bush24 August 2007

Warfare / Gulf War, 2nd

A review of progress in Iraq, called the National Intelligence Estimate, says the Iraqi Government has failed to end sectarian violence even with the surge of American troops

David Petraeus10 September 2007

Warfare / Gulf War, 2nd

Petraeus tells the House Foreign Affairs and Armed Services committees that the US military needs more time to meet its goals in Iraq, he says troops in Iraq may be reduced from 20 brigades to 15, or from troops to 130,000, beginning in July 2008

Carl Levin11 September 2007

Warfare / Gulf War, 2nd

Senator Carl Levin, Democrat from Michigan, says, "Year after year, the president and the administration have touted progress in Iraq and called for patience. It has been a litany of delusion"

David Petraeus11 September 2007

Warfare / Gulf War, 2nd

Petraeus and Ryan Crocker face more intense and critical questioning from members of the Senate Foreign Relations and Armed Services committees, they failed to answer definitely repeated questions about how long US troops would be in Iraq

George Walker Bush13 September 2007

Warfare / Gulf War, 2nd

n a nationally televised address, President Bush outlines a plan for withdrawing troops from Iraq, he says by July 2008 troop levels would drop from the current high of 169,000 to 130,000

George Walker Bush12 October 2007

Warfare / Gulf War, 2nd

Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, the former Commander of US forces in Iraq, criticizes the Bush administration for its "catastrophically flawed, unrealistically optimistic war plan"

George Walker Bush17 October 2007

Warfare / Gulf War, 2nd

Turkeys Parliament votes, 507 to 19, to allow the deployment of troops into northern Iraq to deal with attacks on Turkey by Kurdish rebels in Iraq

George Walker Bush6 November 2007

Warfare / Gulf War, 2nd

Six American soldiers are killed in Iraq, bringing the total deaths in 2007 to 852, the highest annual total since the war began in 2003

David Petraeus24 November 2007

Diyala Province · Warfare / Gulf War, 2nd

A brigade of 5,000 U.S. troops starts to leave Diyala Province, the first significant pullback of troops. Once the withdrawal is complete, there will be 157,000 soldiers in Iraq, from a high of 162,000

David Petraeus16 December 2007

Dohuk Province · Warfare / Gulf War, 2nd

With the help of the US military, Turkish fighter jets bomb areas in Dohuk Province in northern Iraq, targeting the Kurdish militant group, the Kurdistan Workers Party

David Petraeus26 December 2007

Warfare / Gulf War, 2nd

Gen. David Petraeus reports that car bombs and suicide attacks have dropped by 60% since June 2007

2009

Barack Hussein Obama27 February 2009

Camp Lejeune · Warfare / Gulf War, 2nd

In front of a crowd of Marines in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, President Obama announced his intention to withdraw most American troops out of Iraq by August 31, 2010

Barack Hussein Obama30 June 2009

Warfare / Gulf War, 2nd

In compliance with the status of forces agreement between the US and Iraq, US troops complete their withdrawal from Iraqi cities, including Baghdad, and transfer the responsibility of securing the cities to Iraqi troops

Names involved

Barack Hussein ObamaCarl LevinColin PowellCondoleezza RiceDavid PetraeusDouglas LuteGeorge Walker BushJohn NegroponteRichard PerleTommy FranksTommy Ray Franks

Provenance

This factsheet is generated from stored World History Database records matching the country, broad category, detailed category and exact Event value shown above. Duplicate display records are collapsed; database wording is otherwise preserved. Source provenance varies by record, so formal academic citation should be checked against the relevant primary source, archive or specialist historical reference.