When did the Iraq War begin and end?
The surprise military invasion of Iraq began at 5:34 am Baghdad time on the 20th of March 2003. The conflict concluded in 2011 when US forces withdrew from the country.
Questions about Iraq War
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Who declared the Iraq War illegal under international law?
Kofi Annan, then secretary-general of the United Nations, declared the invasion illegal under international law on the 16th of September 2004. He stated that the action violated the UN Charter.
What happened to Saddam Hussein after his capture?
Saddam Hussein was hanged on the 30th of December 2006 after being found guilty of crimes against humanity by an Iraqi court. His execution ended his twenty-four-year rule which had fallen on the 9th of April 2003.
How many troops were deployed during the initial invasion phase of the Iraq War?
Coalition forces included 248,000 soldiers from the United States, 45,000 British soldiers, 2,000 Australian soldiers, and 194 Polish soldiers from Special Forces unit GROM. Approximately forty other governments participated as part of the Coalition of the Willing.
Why did sectarian violence increase significantly in 2006?
Sectarian violence expanded to a new level of intensity following the al-Askari Mosque bombing in Samarra on the 22nd of February 2006. The explosion damaged one of the holiest sites in Shi'a Islam and led to over 100 dead bodies with bullet holes found on the 23rd of February.