Iraq War
It began with a United States–led coalition invasion that overthrew the Ba'athist government of Saddam Hussein, and persisted as an insurgency and sectarian civil war during the US occupation. The war had lasting geopolitical effects, including the emergence of the extremist Islamic State, and damaged the international reputation of the United States and the standing of UK Prime Minister Tony Blair.
- Location
- Iraq
- Belligerents
- United States–led coalition vs. Ba'athist government, then insurgents
- Key Justification
- False claims of weapons of mass destruction and links to al-Qaeda
Lore & Background
Coalition forces defeated Iraqi forces and toppled the Ba'athist regime.
Reader's Guide
The war's primary rationale—false claims that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction and that Saddam Hussein supported al-Qaeda—was widely criticized. The 9/11 Commission found no credible evidence linking Saddam to al-Qaeda, and no WMD stockpiles were found. UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan declared the invasion illegal under international law, and the 2016 Chilcot Report concluded the war was unnecessary. The fall of Saddam's regime created a power vacuum, fueling a sectarian civil war and insurgency.
Did You Know?
- No weapons of mass destruction stockpiles were found in Iraq after the invasion.
- Kofi Annan, then UN Secretary-General, declared the invasion illegal under international law.
- The 2016 Chilcot Report concluded the war was unnecessary because peaceful alternatives had not been fully explored.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who fought in the Iraq War?
The initial phase pitted a United States–led multinational coalition against Saddam Hussein's Ba'athist government. After the regime fell, the fighting shifted to a US-led occupation force battling various insurgent groups and, later, sectarian militias.
More in Military Conflicts And Wars 1-18
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