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Iraq War
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Iraq War: U.S. soldiers Casus belli for the Iraq War emergency summit prior to Iraq War Iraq War Iraq War: George W. Bush with sailors Abu Ghraib prison Iraq Study Group before U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee prisoner abuse at Abu Ghraib missile cruiser U.S. Sen. Bill Frist
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Iraq War: U.S. soldiers
Iraq War summary
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Louis IX of France (St. Louis), stained glass window of Louis IX during the Crusades. (Unknown location.)
World Wars
D-Day. American soldiers fire rifles, throw grenades and wade ashore on Omaha Beach next to a German bunker during D Day landing. 1 of 5 Allied beachheads est. in Normandy, France. The Normandy Invasion of World War II launched June 6, 1944.
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Iraqi Army Soldiers from the 9th Mechanized Division learning to operate and maintain M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tanks at Besmaya Combat Training Center, Baghdad, Iraq, 2011. Military training. Iraq war. U.S. Army
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US Marines firing at Fallujah, Iraq, during the Second Battle of Fallujah in November 2004. Operation Iraqi Freedom, Iraq War.
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Iraq War: Facts & Related Content

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News •

JD Vance says Europe should have done more to stop Iraq War • Apr. 16, 2025, 2:15 AM ET (Deutsche Welle)
'Warfare' movie co-director Ray Mendoza gives 'voice' to Gen X, millennial veterans' Iraq War memories • Apr. 11, 2025, 2:44 AM ET (NBC)
'Warfare' co-director Ray Mendoza: His and fellow Navy SEALS’ memories are ‘truer statement’ of second Iraq War • Apr. 11, 2025, 2:44 AM ET (NBC)
He has a Purple Heart & is a convicted felon. ICE wants to deport him. • Apr. 8, 2025, 5:53 AM ET (NPR)
Film 'Warfare' immerses viewers in real-time Iraq War mission • Apr. 2, 2025, 6:55 AM ET (Reuters)

Facts

Also Known As Second Persian Gulf War • Operation Iraqi Freedom
Date March 2003 - December 2011
Location Iraq
Participants Iraq • United Kingdom • United States

Photos and Videos

Iraq War: U.S. soldiers
Casus belli for the Iraq War
emergency summit prior to Iraq War
Iraq War
Iraq War: George W. Bush with sailors
Abu Ghraib prison
Iraq Study Group before U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee
prisoner abuse at Abu Ghraib
missile cruiser
U.S. Sen. Bill Frist
How Barack Obama became the first Black president of the United States
See All Videos and Images →

Related Topics and References

Topics
Dig Deeper: More Articles That Discuss This Topic

Key People

Barack Obama
Barack Obama
president of United States
George W. Bush
George W. Bush
president of United States
Tony Blair
Tony Blair
prime minister of United Kingdom
Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein
president of Iraq
Nouri al-Maliki
Nouri al-Maliki
prime minister of Iraq
Stanley McChrystal, 2010.
Stanley McChrystal
United States general
Muqtada al-Sadr
Muqtada al-Sadr
Iraqi Shīʿite leader
Gen. David Petraeus.
David Petraeus
United States commander in chief of Central Command
Cheney, Dick
Dick Cheney
vice president of United States
Robert M. Gates
Robert M. Gates
American government official
Condoleezza Rice
Condoleezza Rice
American government official
Donald Rumsfeld
Donald Rumsfeld
American government official
Ayad Allawi
Ayad Allawi
prime minister of Iraq
Dunford, Joseph
Joseph Dunford
United States general
Michelle Howard
Michelle Howard
United States admiral
Tommy Franks during a press briefing at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan, 2002.
Tommy Franks
United States general
Colin Powell
Colin Powell
United States general and statesman
Wolfowitz, Paul
Paul Wolfowitz
United States government official
Talabani, Jalal
Jalal Talabani
president of Iraq

Related Quizzes and Features

Quiz
Encyclopaedia Britannica thistle graphic to be used with a Mendel/Consumer quiz in place of a photograph.
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Louis IX of France (St. Louis), stained glass window of Louis IX during the Crusades. (Unknown location.)
World Wars
D-Day. American soldiers fire rifles, throw grenades and wade ashore on Omaha Beach next to a German bunker during D Day landing. 1 of 5 Allied beachheads est. in Normandy, France. The Normandy Invasion of World War II launched June 6, 1944.
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List
Iraqi Army Soldiers from the 9th Mechanized Division learning to operate and maintain M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tanks at Besmaya Combat Training Center, Baghdad, Iraq, 2011. Military training. Iraq war. U.S. Army
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Iraqi Army Soldiers from the 9th Mechanized Division learning to operate and maintain M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tanks at Besmaya Combat Training Center, Baghdad, Iraq, 2011. Military training. Iraq war. U.S. Army
8 Deadliest Wars of the 21st Century