Military

483 sourced events. Showing 481-483.

Events

Military Timeline

2003

Military 21st Century Middle East & North Africa

US-Led Coalition Invades Iraq

Tensions had escalated after the September 11 attacks as the United States accused Iraq under Saddam Hussein of possessing weapons of mass destruction and supporting terrorism. A coalition including the UK, Australia, and Poland prepared military action despite lacking full UN Security Council approval. On March 20, 2003, coalition forces launched airstrikes and a ground invasion from Kuwait, rapidly advancing toward Baghdad. Iraqi resistance varied, but major cities fell within weeks. The operation, codenamed Iraqi Freedom, marked the start of a prolonged conflict that toppled the Ba'athist regime.

Event Detail US Military Atlas

2003

Military 21st Century Middle East & North Africa

U.S. Forces Capture Former Iraqi Leader Saddam Hussein

Following the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in March 2003 that toppled his regime, Saddam Hussein evaded capture for nine months while a massive manhunt continued. On December 13, 2003, American soldiers from the 4th Infantry Division located him in a small underground hideout, or "spider hole," near a farmhouse outside Tikrit, his hometown. The raid, codenamed Operation Red Dawn, involved intelligence from captured associates and resulted in Hussein's peaceful surrender without resistance. He was found disheveled and armed only with a pistol, which he did not use. The capture marked a symbolic victory for coalition forces and was announced by U.S. administrator Paul Bremer.

Event Detail US Military Atlas

2011

Military 21st Century Middle East & North Africa

United States Declares End to Iraq War

The Iraq War, launched in 2003 to remove Saddam Hussein and address alleged weapons of mass destruction, evolved into a prolonged conflict involving insurgency, sectarian violence, and nation-building efforts that cost thousands of lives. By 2011, the U.S. had withdrawn most combat troops under a status-of-forces agreement with the Iraqi government. On December 15, 2011, the Pentagon formally announced the conclusion of the U.S. military mission in Iraq during a ceremony in Baghdad. Remaining American personnel shifted to advisory and diplomatic roles, marking the official close of major combat operations after nearly nine years.

Event Detail US Military Atlas