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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.

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2010

Civil Rights 21st Century North America

U.S. Repeals Don't Ask, Don't Tell Policy

Since 1993, the U.S. military's Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy had required gay, lesbian, and bisexual service members to conceal their sexual orientation or face discharge, creating a climate of secrecy and discrimination within the armed forces. After years of debate and advocacy, Congress passed legislation to repeal the policy during the final months of 2010. On December 22, 2010, President Barack Obama signed the Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010 into law, setting the stage for its full implementation in 2011 after certification by military leaders. The repeal ended the ban on open service by LGBTQ+ personnel and aligned military policy more closely with evolving civilian attitudes toward equality. Service members who had lived under the restrictions...

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2011

Civil Rights 21st Century North America

U.S. Military Ends Don't Ask, Don't Tell Policy

The Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy, enacted in 1993 under President Clinton, permitted gay, lesbian, and bisexual service members to serve only if they concealed their sexual orientation. After years of advocacy, court challenges, and legislative efforts, Congress passed repeal legislation in December 2010, which President Obama signed. Certification by military leaders followed in July 2011. On September 20, 2011, the policy officially ended at 12:01 a.m., allowing service members to serve openly without fear of discharge based on sexual orientation.

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2011

Politics 21st Century Middle East & North Africa

Muammar Gaddafi Captured and Killed in Sirte

Following the Arab Spring uprising and NATO-supported rebel advances, Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi’s regime collapsed in August 2011. Gaddafi fled Tripoli and sought refuge in his hometown of Sirte, one of the last loyalist strongholds. On October 20, rebel forces from the National Transitional Council overran the city after weeks of fighting. Gaddafi’s convoy was attacked by NATO aircraft and then ambushed; he was captured alive near a drainage pipe, beaten by fighters, and fatally shot. His death ended 42 years of rule and marked the culmination of the Libyan civil war, though it left the country fragmented.

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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