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Withdrawal of American military forces from Iraq
Part of the Iraq War and the war on terror
Kuwaiti soldiers man a border crossing in December 2011, as the last of the U.S. military convoy crosses the border from Iraq into Kuwait, completing the withdrawal
Date 25 December 2007 – 18 December 2011 Location Iraq–Kuwait border Result Withdrawal of U.S. military forces from Iraqi territory End of the Iraq War ISI resurgence as ISIL and spread of ISIL into numerous wars worldwide Return of U.S. forces to Iraq in 2014 to assist Iraqi forces, as well as the rest of the global Operation Inherent Resolve by the U.S. to defeat ISIL
Belligerents
United States	Iraqi Ba'ath Party loyalists Supreme Command for Jihad and Liberation Army of the Men of the Naqshbandi Order Islamic State of Iraq Special Groups Promised Day Brigade Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq Kata'ib Hezbollah
Commanders and leaders
Lloyd Austin	Various

The withdrawal of the United States troops from Iraq began in December 2007 with the end of the Iraq War troop surge of 2007 and was mostly completed by December 2011, bringing an end to the Iraq War. The number of U.S. military forces in Iraq peaked at 170,300 in November 2007.

The withdrawal of U.S. military forces from Iraq was a contentious issue in the United States for much of the 2000s. As the war progressed from its initial invasion phase in 2003 to a nearly decade-long occupation, American public opinion shifted towards favoring a troop withdrawal; in May 2007, 55% of Americans believed that the Iraq War was a mistake, and 51% of registered voters favored troop withdrawal. In late April 2007 Congress passed a supplementary spending bill for Iraq that set a deadline for troop withdrawal but President George W. Bush vetoed this bill, citing his concerns about setting a withdrawal deadline. The Bush administration later sought an agreement with the Iraqi government, and in 2008 Bush signed the U.S.–Iraq Status of Forces Agreement. It included a deadline of 31 December 2011, before which "all the United States Forces shall withdraw from all Iraqi territory". The last U.S. troops left Iraq on 18 December 2011, in accordance with this agreement.

In 2014, the advance of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) from Syria to Iraq's western provinces prompted the U.S. to intervene again, alongside other militaries, to combat ISIL. In January 2019, Secretary Pompeo put the number of U.S. troops in Iraq at approximately 5,000. In early 2020 the Iraqi parliament voted to withdraw all remaining troops and the Iraqi Prime Minister told the U.S. to start working on troop withdrawal.

Background

Polling

Immediately before and after the 2003 invasion, most polls within the United States showed a substantial majority supporting war, though since December 2004 polls consistently showed that a majority thought the invasion was a mistake. In the spring of 2007, surveys generally showed a majority in favor of setting a timetable for withdrawal. However, in this area responses can vary widely with the exact wording of the question. Surveys found that most preferred a gradual withdrawal over time to an immediate pullout.

2004 U.S. presidential election

The issue was one on which John Kerry and George W. Bush differed in the 2004 U.S. presidential election. Kerry said in August 2004 that he would make the withdrawal of all U.S. forces from Iraq a goal of his first presidential term. However, he did not offer a deadline or a timetable, and proposed an increase in deployment size in the immediate future. In the debate, he said that he reiterated that withdrawal was a goal, if an initial troop increase works.

In the debate, Bush did not offer any timetable or estimate of troops, either increasing or decreasing, but said only that the commanders of the troops in Iraq had the ability to ask for whatever force they needed. In general, this is consistent with his earlier remarks. When questioned about troop strength, Bush and then-Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld said that they were using the troops asked for by the general staff.

Congressional proposals and acts

U.S. congressional opposition to American involvement in wars and interventions
1812 North America
House Federalists’ Address
1847 Mexican–American War
Spot Resolutions
1917 World War I
Filibuster of the Armed Ship Bill
1935–1939
Neutrality Acts
1935–1940
Ludlow Amendment
1970 Vietnam
McGovern–Hatfield Amendment
1970 Southeast Asia
Cooper–Church Amendment
1971 Vietnam
Repeal of Tonkin Gulf Resolution
1973 Southeast Asia
Case–Church Amendment
1973
War Powers Resolution
1974
Hughes–Ryan Amendment
1976 Angola
Clark Amendment
1982 Nicaragua
Boland Amendment
2007 Iraq
House Concurrent Resolution 63
2011 Libyan War
House Joint Resolution 68
2013 Syrian Civil War
Syria Resolution
2018–2019 Yemen
Yemen War Powers Resolution
v t e

On 17 November 2005 Representative John Murtha (D-PA) introduced H.J.Res. 73, a resolution calling for U.S. forces in Iraq to be "redeployed at the earliest practicable date" to stand as a quick-reaction force in U.S. bases in neighboring countries such as Kuwait. In response, Republicans proposed a resolution that "the deployment of United States forces in Iraq be terminated immediately," without any provision for redeployment, which was voted down 403–3.

On 16 June 2006 the House voted 256–153 in a non-binding resolution against establishing a deadline for the withdrawal of troops from Iraq. Republican then-House Majority Leader John Boehner, who argued against a deadline, stated "achieving victory is our only option", and "we must not shy away". On the other hand, Democratic then-House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi argued that a deadline is necessary, and stated "'stay the course' is not a strategy, it's a slogan", and "it's time to face the facts."

On 27 March 2007 Congress passed H.R. 1591, which called for the withdrawal of U.S. troops in Iraq by March 2008. However, President Bush vetoed the bill and the House of Representatives failed to override the veto. Congress then passed H.R. 2206, which provided funding for the Iraq War through 30 September 2007 and was signed into law by President Bush on 25 May 2007. H.R. 2206 included eighteen benchmarks for the Iraqi government to meet.

On 9 May 2007 Representative Jim McGovern introduced H.R. 2237 to the House, "To provide for the redeployment of United States Armed Forces and defense contractors from Iraq." The bill failed with a vote of 255 to 171, 13 of the Nays coming from Democrats representing districts won by John Kerry in 2004.

On 12 July 2007 the House passed H.R. 2956 by a vote of 223–201, for redeployment (or withdrawal) of U.S. armed forces out of Iraq. The resolution requires most troops to withdraw from Iraq by 1 April 2008.

On 18 July 2007, after an all-night debate, the Senate blocked the passage of a bill that would have set a troop withdrawal timetable with a vote of 52–47. The withdrawal would have started within 120 days, and would have required that all troops (except an unspecified number could be left behind to conduct a very narrow set of missions) be out of the country by 30 April 2008.

McGovern-Polk proposal

George McGovern and William R. Polk published a detailed proposal for U.S. withdrawal from Iraq in their book Out of Iraq: A Practical Plan for Withdrawal Now. A sizable excerpt was published in the October 2006 edition of Harper's magazine. This plan was completely abandoned. Some of the basic features of their proposal included:

• The first soldiers to be sent home should be private security contractors.
• An international stabilization force of 15,000 soldiers to be established. Troops will be drawn from Morocco, Tunisia, and Egypt, funded by the U.S. This force would remain for two years after the departure of U.S. troops.
• Transport, communications, and light arms equipment currently used by U.S. forces should be donated to the new multinational force.
• In place of a new Iraqi army, a national reconstruction corps should be established, modeled on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
• The immediate cessation of work on U.S. military bases.
• U.S. withdrawal from the Green Zone.
• Release of all prisoners of war.

ANSWER, NION, UFPJ positions

The three largest coalitions which organized demonstrations against the invasion of Iraq in 2003, United for Peace and Justice (UFPJ), Act Now to Stop War and End Racism (ANSWER), and Not in Our Name (NION), have all called for the immediate withdrawal of all U.S. troops, "out now." The anti-war movement has debated whether to support existing proposals in Congress.

The UFPJ legislative working group has endorsed Murtha's redeployment proposal "because it is a powerful vehicle to begin the debate on the war," though the organization as a whole has not taken a position. ANSWER, on the other hand, has stated that "Murtha has not adopted an antiwar position. He wants to redeploy militarily to strengthen the hand of U.S. imperialism in the Middle East."

Burner Plan

The Burner Plan, formally entitled A Responsible Plan to End the War in Iraq, was a 36-page policy paper presented 17 March 2008 by Darcy Burner and other 2008 Democratic congressional candidates, in cooperation with some retired national security officials. The plan outlined policy measures the candidates pledged to support in the 2008 United States presidential election.

Formulation of Withdrawal Plans

Withdrawals under President Bush

On 13 September 2007, President Bush announced that the 168,000 American troops in Iraq at that time would be reduced by 5,700 by Christmas and that additional troops would be withdrawn bringing the total U.S. troop level down from 20 to 15 combat brigades by July 2008. By the end of 2008, U.S. troops in Iraq had been reduced to 146,000.

2008 U.S.–Iraq Status of Forces Agreement

In 2008 the American and Iraqi governments signed the U.S.–Iraq Status of Forces Agreement. It included a specific date, 30 June 2009, by which American forces should withdraw from Iraqi cities, and a complete withdrawal date from Iraqi territory by 31 December 2011. On 14 December 2008 then-President George W. Bush signed the security agreement with Iraq. In his fourth and final trip to Iraq, President Bush appeared in a televised news conference with Iraq's prime minister Nouri al-Maliki to celebrate the agreement and applauded security gains in Iraq saying that just two years ago "such an agreement seemed impossible".

President Obama's speech on 27 February 2009

On 27 February 2009, at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, President Barack Obama announced his revision to the original date of withdrawal of combat troops from Iraq. The revision was to extend the original date of 30 June 2009 for an additional 10 months, to 31 August 2010. President Obama reaffirmed commitment to the original complete withdrawal date of 31 December 2011, set by the agreement between the Bush administration and the Iraqi government. President Obama defined the task of the transitional force as "training, equipping, and advising Iraqi Security Forces as long as they remain non-sectarian; conducting targeted counter-terrorism missions; and protecting our ongoing civilian and military efforts within Iraq".

Withdrawal

August 2010 partial withdrawal

On 19 August 2010 the 4th Stryker Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division was the last American combat brigade to withdraw from Iraq.

In a speech at the Oval Office on 31 August 2010 Obama declared: "the American combat mission in Iraq has ended. Operation Iraqi Freedom is over, and the Iraqi people now have lead responsibility for the security of their country."

About 50,000 American troops remained in the country in an advisory capacity as part of "Operation New Dawn," which ran until the end of 2011. The U.S. military continued to train and advise the Iraqi Forces.

Full withdrawal (2011)

With the collapse of discussions about extending the stay of U.S. troops, President Obama announced the full withdrawal of troops from Iraq, as previously scheduled, on 21 October 2011. The U.S. retained an embassy in Baghdad with some 17,000 personnel, consulates in Basra, Mosul and Kirkuk, which have been allocated more than 1,000 staff each, and between 4,000 and 5,000 defense contractors. President Obama and al-Maliki outlined a broad agenda for post-war cooperation without American troops in Iraq during a joint press conference on 12 December 2011 at the White House. This agenda included cooperation on energy, trade and education as well as cooperation in security, counter-terrorism, economic development and strengthening Iraq's institutions. Both leaders said their countries would maintain strong security, diplomatic and economic ties after the last U.S. combat forces withdraw.

President Barack Obama paid tribute to the troops who served in Iraq on 14 December 2011, at the Fort Bragg military base in North Carolina. As the last of the American troops prepared to exit Iraq, he said the United States was leaving behind a "sovereign, stable and self-reliant" Iraq. On 15 December, an American military ceremony was held in Baghdad putting a formal end to the U.S. mission in Iraq. The last 500 soldiers left Iraq on the morning of 18 December 2011. At the time of withdrawal, the United States had one remaining soldier, Staff Sergeant Ahmed K. Altaie, still missing in Iraq since 23 October 2006, and had offered a $50,000 (equivalent to $75,570 in 2023) reward for his recovery. On 26 February 2012, his death was confirmed.

See also

• Withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan (2011–2016) (comparable event)
• Paris Peace Accords (comparable event)
• House Concurrent Resolution 63: Disapproval of troop surge
• Kerry-Feingold Amendment
• Opposition to the Iraq War
• Strategic reset
• Iraqi insurgency (2003-2011)

References

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2. ^ "Last U.S. troops leave Iraq, ending war". USA Today. 17 December 2011. Retrieved 18 December 2011.
3. ^ Cutler, David (18 December 2011). "Timeline: Invasion, surge, withdrawal; U.S. forces in Iraq". Reuters. Archived from the original on 19 December 2011. Retrieved 18 December 2011.
4. ^ "Last US troops withdraw from Iraq". BBC. 18 December 2011. Archived from the original on 10 January 2012. Retrieved 18 December 2011.
5. ^ Green, Catherine (18 December 2011). "Final US Convoy Withdraws From Iraq". neontommy.com. Archived from the original on 31 May 2013. Retrieved 18 December 2011.
6. ^ Engel, Richard (18 December 2011). "'The war is over': Last US soldiers leave Iraq". NBC News. Archived from the original on 18 December 2011. Retrieved 18 December 2011.
7. "Quinnipiac University Poll". Archived from the original on 5 December 2016. Retrieved 17 June 2006.
8. "Senate passes Iraq withdrawal bill; veto threat looms". CNN. 26 April 2007. Archived from the original on 26 December 2017. Retrieved 7 May 2007.
9. "Bush vetoes war-funding bill with withdrawal timetable". CNN. 2 May 2007. Archived from the original on 23 October 2017. Retrieved 7 May 2007.
10. "Bush Vetoes Iraq War Spending Bill". Fox News. 1 May 2007. Archived from the original on 6 April 2015. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
11. ^ "President Bush and Iraq Prime Minister Maliki Sign the Strategic Framework Agreement and Security Agreement". whitehouse.gov. Archived from the original on 5 March 2012. Retrieved 18 June 2014 – via National Archives.
12. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Retrieved 13 June 2014.
13. ^ "Bush Administration May Not Get Iraq Security Deal Before End Term". Fox News. 9 June 2008. Archived from the original on 22 March 2015. Retrieved 18 June 2014.

14. Today in Iraq, at the government’s invitation, we have approximately 5,000 troops where there were once 166,000.

    — Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo in his speech at The American University in Cairo, Egypt; January 10, 2019

15. "Iraqi PM tells US to start working on troop withdrawal". CNBC. 10 January 2020. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
16. "Iraq". Pollingreport.com. Archived from the original on 5 December 2016. Retrieved 25 December 2012.
17. "Confidence in U.S. Foreign Policy Index". Publicagenda.org. Archived from the original on 21 May 2007. Retrieved 25 December 2012.
18. "House rejects Iraq withdrawal deadline". NBC News. 16 June 2006. Retrieved 25 December 2012.
19. ^ Angle, Martha (12 July 2007). "Defying Bush, House Passes New Deadline for Withdrawal From Iraq". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 24 April 2009. Retrieved 18 July 2007.
20. Warner, John (11 June 2007). "Excerpt of Senator Warner's Iraq benchmark provisions in H.R.2206, U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Care, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act, 2007". United States Senate. Archived from the original on 30 June 2007. Retrieved 18 July 2007.
21. "H.R. 2237". Thomas.loc.gov. Archived from the original on 11 November 2008. Retrieved 25 December 2012.
22. "wcbstv.com – House Passes Troop Withdrawal Bill". Archived from the original on 13 July 2007.
23. "House passes bill to bring troops home in '08 –". CNN. Archived from the original on 13 July 2007. Retrieved 25 December 2012.
24. Flaherty, Anne (18 July 2007). "Senate Troop Withdrawal Bill Scuttled". Time. Archived from the original on 5 July 2009. Retrieved 18 July 2007.
25. George McGovern and William R. Polk, Out of Iraq: A Practical Plan for Withdrawal Now, Simon & Schuster, 2006. ISBN 1-4165-3456-3
26. UFPJ Legislative Action Network National Conference Call 2-6-06 Archived 14 June 2006 at the Wayback Machine, ()
27. Act Now to Stop War & End Racism (ANSWER): A.N.S.W.E.R. Responds to UFPJ: Our Position on Unity in the AntiWar Movement Archived 28 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine, 16 December 2005, (mirror )
28. "US Ground Forces End Strength", Global Security.org http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/ops/iraq_orbat_es.htm Archived 9 December 2014 at the Wayback Machine; "President Bush's Speech on Iraq, 17 September 2007, https://www.npr.org/2007/09/13/14406922/president-bushs-speech-on-iraq-sept-13-2007 Archived 16 January 2023 at the Wayback Machine, accessed 16 January 2023
29. "Iraqi Journalist Hurls Shoes at Bush, Is Detained". Fox News. 14 December 2008. Archived from the original on 15 July 2014. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
30. "Transcript of Obama's Speech at Camp Lejeune, N.C." whitehouse.gov. 27 February 2009. Retrieved 18 June 2014 – via National Archives.
31. "Obama's Speech at Camp Lejeune, N.C." The New York Times. 27 February 2009. Archived from the original on 30 June 2017. Retrieved 26 February 2017.
32. Londoño, Ernesto (19 August 2010). "Operation Iraqi Freedom ends as last combat soldiers leave Baghdad". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 26 July 2017. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
33. "President Obama's Address on Iraq". The New York Times. 31 August 2010.
34. "Obama's full speech: 'Operation Iraqi Freedom is over'". NBC News. 31 August 2010. Retrieved 23 October 2010.
35. Al Jazeera & agencies (19 August 2010). "Last US combat brigade leaves Iraq". Al Jazeera and agencies. Archived from the original on 19 August 2010. Retrieved 19 August 2010. The 4th SBCT, 2ID left Baghdad and drove the entire distance to the Kuwaiti border in the same footprints that 3rd ID made during the invasion known as the "Race for Baghdad". I was one of those people driving out. We faced intense heat, the very real threat of the "final strike" against us and the possibility of breaking down in unsecured areas with very little support and the only combat power was what we brought with us. I crossed the border at 0548 in the morning and doing such, helped bring this war to an end, officially.
36. Lara Jakes & Rebecca Santana (15 October 2012). "Iraq Withdrawal: U.S. Abandoning Plans To Keep Troops in Country". Associated Press (AP). Archived from the original on 30 December 2011. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
37. ^ MacAskill (21 October 2011). "Iraq rejects US request to maintain bases after troop withdrawal". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 10 September 2013. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
38. ^ Denselow, James (25 October 2011). "The US departure from Iraq is an illusion". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 1 October 2013. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
39. Pace, Julie (12 December 2011). "Obama, Maliki chart next steps for U.S., Iraq". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 19 July 2012.
40. Robinson, Dan (12 December 2011). "Obama, Maliki Hail 'New Chapter' for Iraq Without US Troops". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 14 December 2011. Retrieved 14 December 2011.
41. "Obama Pays Tribute to Troops Who Served in Iraq". Voice of America. 14 December 2011. Archived from the original on 28 January 2012. Retrieved 14 December 2011.
    McGreal, Chris (14 December 2011). "Barack Obama declares Iraq war a success". The Guardian. Guardian News and Media Limited. Archived from the original on 4 September 2014. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
42. "US flag ceremony ends Iraq operation". BBC. 15 December 2011. Archived from the original on 15 December 2011. Retrieved 15 December 2011.
43. "US lowers flag to end Iraq war". London. Associated Press. 15 December 2011. Archived from the original on 1 February 2012. Retrieved 15 December 2011.
44. Mak, Tim (15 December 2011). "Leon Panetta marks end of Iraq war". Politico. Archived from the original on 8 January 2012. Retrieved 15 December 2011.
45. "We will never forget Sgt. Ahmed Altaie". US Army Reserve. Archived from the original on 19 April 2012. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
46. Allam, Hannah (26 February 2012). "U.S. military receives remains of last soldier missing in Iraq". McClatchy Newspapers. Archived from the original on 18 May 2013. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
47. "Army IDs remains of last missing U.S. soldier in Iraq". Associated Press (AP). 27 February 2012. Archived from the original on 23 April 2012. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
48. Graff, Peter (27 February 2012). "Michigan burial for last U.S. soldier missing in Iraq". Reuters. Archived from the original on 22 October 2012. Retrieved 28 April 2012.

Further reading

• Anthony Arnove, Iraq: The Logic of Withdrawal. Haymarket Books, Chicago, 2006.
• Malorie R. Medellin, "Iraq: Pull-out Rundown," Current (Winter 2007): 9.
• George McGovern and William Roe Polk, Out of Iraq: A Practical Plan for Withdrawal Now. Simon & Schuster, New York, 2006.

External links

• Rumsfeld forced out: Are U.S. troops next? Toronto Star – 9 November 2006

v t e Iraq topics
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v t e Iraq War (2003–2011)
Beginning of the Iraqi conflict
Prelude Background Pre-1990 17 July Revolution Iranian Revolution 1979 Ba'ath Party Purge Iran–Iraq War British / U.S. support for Iraq Chemical attacks against Iran Anfal campaign Iran–Contra affair 1990–2003 Gulf War Invasion of Kuwait Nayirah testimony Sanctions against Iraq No-fly zones 1991 uprisings UNSCOM Arms-to-Iraq affair Oil-for-Food Programme Investigations September 11 attacks Aftermath War on terror 2001 anthrax attacks U.S. War in Afghanistan Invasion Rationale WMD claims Yellowcake uranium Aluminum tubes Biological weapons Chemical weapons "Curveball" Mobile weapon labs Saddam–al-Qaeda conspiracy theory Anthrax claims Prague Ricin claims Oil as a possible rationale Issues American imperialism Bush Doctrine Wolfowitz Doctrine Colin Powell's UN presentation Disarmament crisis UNMOVIC Failed peace initiatives Iraq resolution / UK parliament's support for invasion Iraqi–Kurdish conflict Legality Legitimacy of the invasion Media coverage Military analyst program Rapid response operation Saddam's alleged shredder Preemptive war Saddam Hussein and human rights Dossiers and memos Habbush letter Downing Street memo September Dossier Vilnius letter Letter of the eight Bush–Blair 2003 memo February Dossier Bush–Aznar memo
Overview Key events Invasion (2003) Occupation (2003–2011) Insurgency 2003–06 period Anbar campaign Fallujah Capture of Saddam Hussein Interrogation Trial Execution / Reactions 2006 al-Askari mosque bombing Civil war (2006–08) 2007 U.S. troop surge timeline U.S. withdrawal Status of forces agreement Invasion (2003) Timeline Preparations for invasion Multi-National Force Battle of Nasiriyah Fall of Baghdad Battle of Debecka Pass Firdos Square statue Mission Accomplished speech US public opinion Occupation (2003–2011) Occupation of Ramadi De-Ba'athification 100 Orders CPA Order 2 CPA Order 17 U.S. military bases Blackwater Reconstruction Development Fund Economic reform UNAMI Al Qa'qaa high explosives U.S. kill or capture strategy Replacement governments Coalition Provisional Authority Iraqi Governing Council Interim Government 2005 parliamentary elections Transitional Government Constitution Ratification
Participants Countries Australia Ba'athist Iraq Denmark Georgia Iran Italy Japan Poland South Korea Thailand Ukraine United Kingdom United States Insurgent groups Sunni groups Islamic Army in Iraq 1920 Revolution Brigades Jaish al-Rashideen Islamic Front for the Iraqi Resistance Hamas of Iraq Jeish Muhammad Mujahideen Shura Council Islamic State of Iraq Al-Qaeda in Iraq Jaish al-Ta'ifa al-Mansurah Jama'at al-Tawhid wal-Jihad Jamaat Ansar al-Sunna Ansar al-Islam in Kurdistan Black Banner Organization Wakefulness and Holy War Abu Theeb's group Abu Bakr Al-Salafi Army Mujahideen Army Shia groups Mahdi Army Abu Deraa's militia Badr Organization Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq Sheibani Network Soldiers of Heaven Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq Promised Day Brigade Kata'ib Hezbollah Ba'ath loyalists Fedayeen Saddam Al-Awda Popular Army Al-Abud Network Army of the Men of the Naqshbandi Order Supreme Command for Jihad and Liberation
Battles and operations Operations 2003 Ancient Babylon Catalyst Desert Scorpion Desert Thrust Falconer Iron Hammer Iron Justice Ivy Blizzard Northern Delay Airborne Dragon Panther Squeeze Peninsula Strike Planet X Capture of Saddam Hussein (Red Dawn) Telic 2004 Baton Rouge Bulldog Mammoth Iron Saber New Dawn (Al Fajr) Phantom Fury Phantom Linebacker Plymouth Rock Vigilant Resolve Warrior's Rage 2005 Able Rising Force Able Warrior Cyclone Iron Hammer Matador New Market Spear (Romhe) Squeeze Play Steel Curtain 2006 Al Majid Gaugamela Guardian Tiger Iron Triangle River Falcon Sinbad Swarmer Together Forward 2007 Alljah Arbead II Ardennes Black Eagle Commando Eagle Forsythe Park Imposing Law Leyte Gulf Marne Avalanche Marne Torch Mawtini Phantom Strike Phantom Thunder Polar Tempest Purple Haze Saber Guardian Sledgehammer Stampede 3 Tiger Hammer Valiant Guardian (Harris Ba'sil) 2008 Defeat Al Qaeda in the North Augurs of Prosperity Phantom Phoenix 2009–2011 New Dawn Battles 2003 Invasion Umm Qasr Al Faw Basra I Nasiriyah Karbala I Haditha Dam Najaf I Samawah I Karbala II Al Kut Hillah Karbala Gap Debecka Pass Baghdad I Majar al-Kabir Ramadan Offensive 2004 Spring fighting Karbala City Hall Fallujah I Siege of Sadr City Ramadi I Good Friday ambush Baghdad International Airport Husaybah Danny Boy Najaf II CIMIC House Samarra Fallujah II Mosul 2005 Lake Tharthar Abu Ghraib Al-Qa'im Hit convoy Haditha Tal Afar 2006 Baghdad II Ramadi II Diwaniya Al Rumaythah Amarah Turki 2007 Haifa Street Karbala provincial HQ Najaf III Shurta Nasir Basra II Baqubah Route Bismarck Donkey Island Karbala III 2008 Spring fighting Iraqi Day of Ashura Nineveh Basra III Al-Qaeda offensive 2009–2011 Palm Grove (2010) Related events Turkish incursions into northern Iraq 2007 2008 Abu Kamal raid
War crimes Occupation forces Killings and massacres During the 2003 invasion U.S. killings of journalists Fallujah killings Killing of Nadhem Abdullah (2003) Murder of Muhamad Husain Kadir Mukaradeeb wedding party massacre (2004) Haifa Street helicopter incident (2005) Tal Afar shootings (2005) Basra prison incident (2005) Haditha massacre (2005) Mahmudiyah rape and killings (2006) Ishaqi massacre (2006) Baghdad detainee killings (2006) Hamdania incident (2006) Iraqi bodyguard killing (2006) Iron Triangle Murders (2006) Baghdad airstrike (2007) Nisour Square massacre (2007) Iraq War Logs (2010) Chemical weapons Use of white phosphorus by the United States (2004–05) Torture and abuse Abu Ghraib prison (2003–06) Camp Bucca (2003–09) Camp Nama (2003–04) Balad Air Base (2003–2011) Death of Nagem Hatab (2003) Killing of Baha Mousa (2003) Death of Abed Hamed Mowhoush (2003) Killing of Manadel al-Jamadi (2003) Death of Fashad Mohamed (2004) § Other killings and bombings 2003 Jordanian embassy Canal Hotel Imam Ali mosque bombing Baghdad October 2003 2004 Erbil 2004 Ashura massacre Basra 2004 Mosul 2004 2004 church bombings Baghdad bombings 14 September 30 September Karbala and Najaf bombings Baqubah 2004 Kufa mosque bombing 2005 Al Hillah 2005 Erbil 2005 Musayyib bombing Baghdad bombings August September Balad 2005 Khanaqin bombings 2006 Karbala and Ramadi Al-Askari mosque 2006 Buratha mosque bombing Sadr City bombings July November Hayy Al-Jihad massacre 2007 Mustansiriya University Baghdad bombings 22 January 3 February 12 February 18 February 29 March 18 April 26 July 1 August Al Hillah 2007 Tal Afar 2007 Iraqi Parliament 2007 Karbala mosque bombings Massacres of Yazidis April massacre Qahtaniyah bombings Makhmour Abu Sayda Al-Askari mosque 2007 Al-Khilani mosque bombing Amirli bombing Kirkuk 2007 Al Amarah bombings 2008 Bagdad bombings February March June Balad 2008 Karbala 2008 Al-Karmah Dujail bombing Balad Ruz bombing Attacks on Christians in Mosul 2009 Bagdad bombings March 6 April June August October December Baghdad–Miqdadiyah Taza bombing Kirkuk 2009 Tal Afar 2009 2010 Nationwide attacks 10 May 25 August Bagdad bombings January February April August September November Baqubah 2010 Baghdad church massacre 2011 Nationwide attacks January August Bagdad bombings January August October Arba'een bombings Tikrit assault Al Hillah 2011 Samarra bombing Al Diwaniyah bombing Taji bombings Karbala 2011 Basra 2011 Other war crimes Raid on Camp Ashraf (2011) Archaeological looting Chlorine bombings Torture by the Wolf Brigade (2004–2011) Prosecution United States and the International Criminal Court Hague Invasion Act Prosecution for the 2003 invasion Abtan v. Blackwater Hamdan v. Rumsfeld Saleh v. Bush Taguba Report § All attacks listed in this group were either committed by insurgents, or have unknown perpetrators
Impact General Casualties Iraq Body Count Iraq Family Health Survey Lancet surveys ORB survey Damage to Baghdad Al-Aimmah Bridge disaster Human rights Humanitarian crisis 2007 cholera outbreak Financial cost Refugees Iraqi Christians Mandaeans Violence against Iraqi academics Political controversies Post-invasion WMD conjecture Iraq scandal in Finland Dixie Chicks comments Plame affair Hood event Death of David Kelly Hutton Inquiry Kidnapping of Angelo dela Cruz 2004 document leak Al Jazeera bombing memo Scott Thomas Beauchamp controversy MoveOn.org ad controversy Six Days in Fallujah Role of Canada War resisters Investigations Senate Report on WMD Intelligence Duelfer Report Chilcot Inquiry Reactions Pre-war Pre-war international reactions Khuy Voyne! Saddam Hussein interview Views on the invasion U.S. public opinion Opposition Criticism United Nations Oprah's Anti-war series Iraqi map pendant Winter Soldier: Iraq & Afghanistan Photo Op A Responsible Plan to End the War in Iraq Bush shoe-throwing incident Protests Halloween 2002 February 15, 2003 March 20, 2003 Bring Them Home Now Tour January 20, 2005 September 24, 2005 January 27, 2007 March 17, 2007 2007 Port of Tacoma September 15, 2007 March 19, 2008 Aftermath in Iraq The rise of ISIL Insurgency (2011–13) War in Iraq (2013–17) War against ISIL (2014–present) U.S.-led intervention in Iraq (2014–2021) Insurgency (2017–present)
Miscellaneous Terminology Axis of evil Outposts of tyranny "Baghdad Bob" "Chemical Ali" Coalition of the willing Dead checking Embedded journalism Freedom fries Friedman Unit "Mother of All Bombs" "Mrs. Anthrax" Old Europe and New Europe Regime change Shock and awe "Sixteen Words" "Smoking gun / mushroom cloud" Star Spangled Ice Cream Strategic reset "There are unknown unknowns" Triangle of Death "Yo, Blair" Critical Global arrogance Inverted totalitarianism "The wrong war, at the wrong place, at the wrong time" Memorials Afghan–Iraqi Freedom Memorial (Salem, Oregon) Al-Shaheed Monument Iraq and Afghanistan Memorial (London) Northwood Gratitude and Honor Memorial Old North Memorial Garden Saving Iraqi Culture Lists Assassinations Aviation shootdowns and accidents Bombings Coalition military operations Documentaries Iraqi security forces fatality reports Most-wanted Iraqi playing cards Private contractor deaths Timeline 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
Related Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty Chelsea Manning CIA black sites Efforts to impeach George W. Bush "Enhanced interrogation techniques" Torture in the United States Extraordinary rendition Green Zone Guantanamo Bay detention camp Gulf of Tonkin incident Resolution Military–industrial complex Neoconservatism Patriot Act Petrodollar warfare theory Post-9/11 Special Relationship The Iraq War: A Historiography of Misplaced Pages Changelogs Unilateralism Unitary executive theory U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East WikiLeaks Ba'ath Party archives
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