The Iraq War, also known as Operation Iraqi Freedom, began in 2003 and lasted for nearly nine years. The war started on March 19, 2003, when US and coalition forces launched a military invasion of Iraq, led by President George W. Bush.
Key Events
On October 16, 2002, President Bush signed a congressional resolution authorizing him to go to war if Iraqi President Saddam Hussein refused to give up weapons of mass destruction. In February 2003, US Secretary of State Colin Powell made the case to the UN that Hussein posed an imminent threat.
On March 17, 2003, Bush issued an ultimatum to Hussein and his family, giving them 48 hours to leave Iraq. When they failed to comply, the US and coalition forces launched a military invasion on March 19, 2003. The war ended on December 18, 2011, when the last US troops crossed the border into Kuwait.
Aftermath
The war resulted in the deaths of over 4,000 US troops and tens of thousands of Iraqi civilians. The US spent over $2 trillion on the war, and the conflict led to a significant destabilization of the region.
Original reporting: KRDO (Colorado Springs metro) — read the source article.
