Iraq War: Interesting Facts
Here are some interesting facts about the Iraq War:
Operation Telic: The British invasion of Iraq was named Operation Telic. It began with air strikes on Baghdad and a ground assault from the Persian Gulf on the Al-Faw peninsula to secure oil fields and key ports.
Fall of Saddam Hussein: By April 9, 2003 US troops had reached Baghdad effectively ending Saddam Hussein’s regime.
End of Major Combat: On May 1, 2003 US President George W. Bush declared the end of major combat operations stating that the battle of Iraq was a victory in the war on terror.
Post-Invasion Challenges: The aftermath of the invasion saw widespread looting in Baghdad and other cities, damaging the country’s infrastructure. Unemployment soared, exacerbated by the disbandment of the previous regime’s army.
Rise of Insurgency: A violent insurgency developed across Iraq targeting Coalition forces and Iraqis working with them. Large quantities of arms and ammunition looted during the invasion fueled the insurgency.
Civilian Casualties: Thousands of Iraqi civilians were killed, injured, or displaced due to the escalating violence, reaching its peak in 2006.
Stabilization Efforts: By 2008, with the increase of US troops, the situation began to stabilize. British combat troops were withdrawn in July 2009, and US combat operations formally ended in August 2010.
UK Military Deaths: Between 2003 and 2009 there were 179 UK military deaths in Iraq highlighting the human cost of the conflict.
Iraq War: Summary, Causes, Dates & Facts
Iraq War: The Iraq War, which lasted from 2003 to 2011, had two main parts. First, there was a short war in March–April 2003. The United States and Great Britain, along with some other countries, invaded Iraq and quickly defeated Iraqi military forces.
Then, there was a longer phase where the United States led an occupation of Iraq, but faced opposition from insurgents. Violence started to decrease in 2007, and the United States began to bring its troops home, completing the withdrawal in December 2011. Around 4,500 American soldiers were killed, and about 32,000 were wounded during the conflict.
In this article, we will talk about the Iraq War: what happened, why it happened, when it took place, and some important facts about it.
Table of Content
- Iraq War: Overview
- Iraq War Background
- Iraq War: Interesting Facts
- The 2003 conflict
- Iraq War: Occupation and Continued Warfare
- Iraq War: Causes
- Iraq War: Timeline
- Iraq War: Consequences
- Iraq War: Summary