Ukrainian involvement in the Iraq War

Part of the Iraq War
| Date| 11 August 2003 – 9 December 2008 (2003-08-11 – 2008-12-09)

|

Location|

Multinational Division Central-South, Iraq

Result|  Ukrainian withdrawal; see Iraq War for full results
Belligerents
Ukraine|

* Ba'ath loyalists
* Mahdi Army

Commanders and leaders

* Leonid Kuchma
* Viktor Yushchenko
* Yevhen Marchuk
* Oleksandr Kuzmuk

* Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri
* Muqtada al-Sadr
* Abu Deraa

Units involved

* 19th NBC Protection Battalion [uk]
* 5th Mechanized Brigade
* 6th Mechanized Brigade
* 7th Mechanized Brigade [uk]
* 81st Tactical Group [uk]

|  Unknown
Strength
1,690|  Unknown
Casualties and losses
18 killed
40+ wounded|  Unknown kills (Battle of Kut [uk])
(per US intelligence)[1][better source needed]

* v
* t
* e

Ukrainian involvement in the Iraq War

* 19th separate battalion of RCBP [uk]
* 5th Mechanized Brigade
* 6th Mechanized Brigade
* 7th Mechanized Brigade [uk]
* 81st Tactical Group [uk]

|  |

This article is part of
a series about

Leonid Kuchma

|

* Political positions [uk]
* Family and personal life

* * *

* PA Pivdenmash
* Ukrainian oligarchs
* Dnipropetrovsk Mafia

* * *

2nd Prime Minister of Ukraine

(government)

* Privatisation
* Decrees [uk]
* 1990s Donbas miners' strikes

* * *

2nd President of Ukraine

* Presidency [uk]
* Inaugurations [uk]
* Multi-Vector Policy

* * *

First term

(1994–1999)

* Constitution
* Denuclearisation
* Budapest Memorandum
* United States v. Lazarenko
* Monetary reform (1996)
* Russian–Ukrainian Friendship Treaty

* * *

Second term

(1999–2004)

* Constitutional referendum (2000)
* Siberia Airlines Flight 1812 (2001)
* Tuzla Island conflict (2003)
* Iraq War
* European Union integration
* NATO integration

* * *

Post-presidency

* Minsk agreements

* * *

Controversies and protests

* Funeral of Patriarch Volodymyr
* Assassination of Yevhen Shcherban
* Death of Viacheslav Chornovil
* Murder of Georgiy Gongadze
* Cassette Scandal
* Ukraine without Kuchma
* Rise up, Ukraine!
* Orange Revolution

* * *

Governments

* Masol II
* Marchuk
* Lazarenko
* Pustovoitenko
* Yushchenko
* Kinakh
* Yanukovych I

* * *

Elections

* 1990
* 1994
* parliamentary
* presidential
* 1998
* 1999
* 2002

* * *

Media gallery

* v
* t
* e

Ukraine began its involvement in the Iraq War on 5 June 2003, shortly after the 2003 invasion of Iraq. As part of the Multi-National Force – Iraq, they engaged in combat with Iraqi insurgents. On 9 December 2008, Ukraine formally withdrew its last forces from Iraq, ending its participation in the Iraq War. Prior to the Russo-Ukrainian War, Ukraine's involvement in the Iraq War was the largest military operation ever performed by the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Over 6,000 Ukrainians performed military service in Iraq and Kuwait during the war, including a permanent presence of 1,600, and 18 Ukrainians were killed.

Ukraine's involvement in the Iraq War was strongly opposed by the Ukrainian population. It was seen both within and outside Ukraine primarily as an effort by President Leonid Kuchma to distract attention from the Cassette Scandal, which opponents claimed implicated him in the murder of journalist Georgiy Gongadze and the sale of the Kolchuga system to Saddam Hussein's Iraq. Public opposition to war increased following Ukrainian troops hasty retreat and loss of Kut city in 2004 [uk] to insurgents, which infuriated coalition leaders and led to a reassessment of Ukrainian activities in Iraq. Following the 2004 Ukrainian presidential election, Kuchma's successor, Viktor Yushchenko, announced the departure of most of Ukraine's contingent, and the final peacekeepers left three years later.[2][3]

## Background

[edit]

### Ukraine and Iraqi weapons of mass destruction

[edit]

Prior to the 2003 invasion of Iraq, Ukraine had already previously established its involvement in the Middle East by participating in the United Nations Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) programme. Kostyantyn Gryshchenko, a Ukrainian diplomat, served as one of sixteen commissioners to UNMOVIC,[4] and the Ukrainian delegation to the United Nations expressed support for an agreement between UNMOVIC, the government of Iraq, and the International Energy Agency.[5]

On 18 March 2003, two days before the invasion of Iraq, Kuchma signed Presidential Decree 227, sending the 19th Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Protection Battalion [uk] to Kuwait, citing the risk of weapons of mass destruction being used against the civilian population.[6] The 19th NBC Protection Battalion would later participate in the occupation of Iraq.

### The Cassette Scandal

[edit]

Main article: Cassette Scandal

Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma sought to use the Iraq War to shore up western support for his government

In addition to Ukraine's existing involvement in Iraq, Ukrainian involvement in the Iraq War began in part due to the political concerns of President Leonid Kuchma.[7] By 2004, Kuchma's popularity had reached a low point; the Cassette Scandal had domestically led to the Ukraine Without Kuchma protests, while internationally the Cassette Scandal worsened views of Kuchma in lieu of controversies regarding his killings of political opponents (namely Georgiy Gongadze)[8] and his sale of the Kolchuga passive sensor to Iraq, led by Saddam Hussein. Though Ukraine's government denied the allegations,[9] the Federal Bureau of Investigation stated that the recordings in the Cassette Scandal were authentic.[7]

Ukraine's international isolation under Kuchma pushed him to seek involvement in the Iraq War. Yevhen Marchuk, then Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, claimed responsibility for Ukraine's involvement in the war, saying that Kuchma was at first opposed to sending troops.[10] While Ukrainian involvement in the Iraq War helped calm Ukraine–United States relations, one western diplomat said to the Washington Post in 2003 that "cooperation on Iraq is not a panacea for everything in the relationship."[7]

## History

[edit]

Further information: 2003 invasion of Iraq

The land invasion of Iraq by the Multi-National Force – Iraq began on 20 March 2003, following air attacks the previous evening. Twenty-two days later, the Iraqi capital of Baghdad was captured by American and British forces. In a 1 May 2003 speech, U.S. President George W. Bush declared the end of major combat operations in Iraq. Saddam Hussein, Iraq's president, went into hiding.

### Beginning of Ukrainian involvement

[edit]

Soldiers of the 19th NBC Protection Battalion [uk] practicing decontamination measures at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait (3 August 2003)

In mid-May 2003, the National Security and Defense Council recommended Ukrainian troops be sent to Iraq as a peacekeeping force. Kuchma also expressed his agreement with such a measure, specifically stating his wish to send Ukrainian troops to Iraq under the guidance of Polish-led forces already in the country. Carlos Pascual, the United States' ambassador to Ukraine, also expressed his support for Ukrainian involvement in the Iraq War, saying that the United States would be willing to partially pay the expenses brought on by transporting Ukrainian soldiers to Iraq.[11]

On 5 June 2003, the Verkhovna Rada (parliament of Ukraine) approved a law proposed by Kuchma to send Ukrainian troops to Iraq, with 273 votes out of 450 in favour. Troops arrived from the capital of Kyiv and from the southern port city of Mykolaiv. The first Ukrainian troops to participate in the occupation of Iraq departed from Boryspil International Airport to Kuwait on 7 August 2003, after a speech by Marchuk which celebrated Ukrainian commitment to the Charter of the United Nations.[12] The Ukrainian contingent was assigned to Wasit Governorate, part of the Polish-led Multinational Division Central-South. Their base of operations was the city of Kut. The 19th NBC Protection Battalion crossed the Kuwaiti border on 11 August 2003, followed by the 5th Mechanized Brigade on 1 September 2003. The 6th Mechanized Brigade, 7th Mechanized Brigade [uk], and 81st Tactical Group [uk] would eventually join them, bringing the total number of Ukrainian soldiers stationed in Iraq to 1,660.[13]

Though Ukraine's involvement in the war was a victory for Kuchma's public image in the US and UK which had invaded Iraq, it was deeply unpopular in Ukraine from the outset; a poll by Dzerkalo Tyzhnia and cited by The Guardian stated that 90% of Ukrainians were opposed to the war and only 4.6% in favour. 57% of Ukrainians in the same poll viewed George W. Bush as a threat to world peace, compared to 38% of Ukrainians who viewed Saddam Hussein in the same way.[14]

An attempted attack against Ukrainian peacekeepers in the city of Al-Suwaira occurred in early September 2003, with a remote-controlled improvised explosive device being used to attack a Ukrainian patrol car. Nobody was injured in the explosion, though the vehicle was slightly damaged. Ukrainian peacekeepers also cooperated with Iraqi police to detain a bank robber, additionally turning over two weapons (an AK-47 and a pistol) to Iraqi police.

### Battle of Al Kut

[edit]

Ukrainian soldiers taking cover during the 2004 Battle of Kut [uk]

The Ukrainian contingent in Iraq, accompanied by 20 other coalition troops as well as British and American mercenaries, was drawn into its first major battle in early April 2004, when they faced off against the Mahdi army of Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr in the city of Kut. In the resulting clashes, Ukrainian soldiers lost one soldier, Ruslan Androshchuk, to an anti-tank grenade launcher, and six others were wounded, while fighting near Kut's bridge across the Tigris river.[15] Facing resistance from the Mahdi army, Ukrainian forces withdrew from the city on 7 April 2004.[16] The retreat of the Ukrainian contingent, against the orders of the US military commander in Iraq, has privately infuriated coalition leaders.[2] Sadr's militia have proved to be a far stronger military force than the coalition had believed. By April 8, they were effectively in control of Kut and Kufa. Sadr, meanwhile, was surrounded by his followers at the holy city of Najaf.[2] According to data provided by American intelligence, Ukrainian soldiers killed 180–200 insurgents in the first day of the battle.[1][better source needed]

Following the Battle of Kut, Ukrainian opposition to the Iraq War increased. The Verkhovna Rada voted in favour of a resolution calling on Kuchma to withdraw from Iraq on 3 December 2004, with 257 votes in favour and none against. Viktor Yushchenko and Viktor Yanukovych, the two major candidates in the 2004 Ukrainian presidential election, both expressed their support for a withdrawal of Ukrainian forces. Proposals to withdraw Ukrainian troops were criticised by Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksandr Kuzmuk, as well as the Iraqi Interim Government, who both argued for Ukrainian troops to remain to secure the 2005 Iraqi governorate elections.[17]

Another incident took place on 9 January 2005, with 7 Ukrainian sappers and 1 Kazakh sapper being killed by an IED explosion. An additional 7 Ukrainians and 4 Kazakhs were injured by the explosion.[18]

### Withdrawal

[edit]

After the 2004 Ukrainian presidential election and the subsequent Orange Revolution, Viktor Yushchenko became President of Ukraine. On 1 March 2005, Yushchenko announced a withdrawal of Ukrainian troops by 15 October 2005, though Defence Minister Anatoliy Hrytsenko later clarified that some troops could remain in Iraq until two months after the withdrawal. Following a meeting with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Borys Tarasyuk, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice praised Ukraine–United States relations following the withdrawal announcement.[19]

Ukraine ended up maintaining peacekeeping forces in Iraq after 2005, but drastically reduced to 40 peacekeepers by 2006. They also moved from Kut to Al Diwaniyah, where they participated in a training programme for specialised sections of the Iraqi Army and police. The remaining Ukrainian contingent continued to participate in this role until 9 December 2006, when they completely withdrew.[20]

## Deployment

[edit]

The amount of permanently-deployed troops numbered at 1,660,[13][21][22] and over 6,100 Ukrainians performed military service in either Iraq or Kuwait during the Iraq War. Prior to the Russo-Ukrainian War, Ukraine's Iraq War contingent was the largest military force fielded by Ukraine since independence in 1991, and it remains the largest peacekeeping force ever fielded by Ukraine, and was the third- to fifth-largest contingent of the Multi-National Force – Iraq.[21][a] In total, 18 Ukrainian soldiers were killed and over 40 were wounded.[21][23]

Ukrainian fatalities of the Iraq War  Name  | Date of death  | Cause of death

|
|

Yuriy Anatoliyovych Koidan
(Ukrainian: Юрій Анатолійович Койдан)  | 30 September 2003  | Traffic accident[24]
Serhiy Petrovych Suslov
(Ukrainian: Сергій Петрович Суслов)  | 11 November 2003  | Accident while using weapon[25]
Oleksiy Viktorovych Bondarenko
(Ukrainian: Олексій Вікторович Бондаренко)  | 18 November 2003  | Suicide[26]
Ruslan Andriyovych Androshchuk
(Ukrainian: Руслан Андрійович Андрощук)  | 6 April 2004  | Iraqi anti-tank gun attack[15]
Kostiatyn Viktorovych Mikhaliev
(Ukrainian: Костянтин Вікторович Міхалєв)  | 28 April 2004  | Iraqi attack[27][28]
Yaroslav Yaroslavovych Zlochevskyi
(Ukrainian: Ярослав Ярославович Злочевський)
Roman Oleksandrovych Henzerskyi
(Ukrainian: Роман Олександрович Гензерський)  | 2 July 2004  | Suicide[29]
Yuriy Viktorovych Ivanov
(Ukrainian: Юрій Вікторович Іванов)  | 15 August 2004  | IED detonation[30]
Oleh Valentynovych Tykhonov
(Ukrainian: Олег Валентинович Тихонов)  | 29 September 2004  | Traffic accident[31]
Oleh Viktorovych Matizhev
(Ukrainian: Олег Вікторович Матіжев)  | 9 January 2005  | IED detonation[18]
Yuriy Mykhailovych Zahrai
(Ukrainian: Юрій Михайлович Заграй)
Serhiy Mykolaiovych Andrushchenko
(Ukrainian: Сергій Миколайович Андрущенко)
Valeriy Viktorovych Brazhevskyi
(Ukrainian: Валерій Вікторович Бражевський)
Oleksandr Ivanovych Katsarskyi
(Ukrainian: Олександр Іванович Кацарський)
Andriy Anatoliyovych Sitnykov
(Ukrainian: Андрій Анатолійович Сітников)
Vira Ivanivna Petryk
(Ukrainian: Віра Іванівна Петрик)
Volodymyr Mykolaiovych Siedoi
(Ukrainian: Володимир Миколайович Сєдой)
Roman Volodymyrovych Serednytskyi
(Ukrainian: Роман Володимирович Середницький)  | 6 February 2005  | Heart attack[32]

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ The size of Ukraine's contingent has been variously placed as third, fourth, or fifth-largest by various sources; the United States Army website says that "the Ukrainians served as the third-largest Coalition forces contingent in Iraq."[20] An article by NBC News dated 3 December 2004 refers to the Ukrainian contingent as "mak[ing] up the fourth-largest contingent."[17] A 13 April 2004 article from the Washington Post, meanwhile, notes that Ukraine has the "fourth-largest contingent among U.S. allies in the occupation force behind Britain, Italy and Poland."[3]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "Спекотний квітень 2004-го".  Ukrainian Intelligence. 26 April 2010. Archived from the original on 24 December 2013.
2. ^ a b c "Shia militia takes city as Ukrainians flee".  The Telegraph. 2004. Archived from the original on 29 May 2024.
3. ^ a b Baker, Peter (13 April 2004). "Revolt in Kut Echoes in Ukraine". Washington Post. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
4. ^ "UNMOVIC Commissioners". United Nations. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
5. ^ "Return of United Nations inspectors, without conditions, is key to solving arms impasse with Iraq, Security Council is told". United Nations. 16 October 2002. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
6. ^ Kuchma, Leonid (18 March 2003). "Указ президента України про направлення 19-го окремого батальйону радіаційного, хімічного та біологічного захисту Збройних Сил України до Держави Кувейт для надання допомоги в захисті цивільного населення цієї держави від наслідків можливого застосування зброї масового ураження та у ліквідації можливих наслідків застосування зброї масового ураження на території Держави Кувейт" [Decree by the President of Ukraine on dispatching the 19th Separate Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Protection Battalion of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to the State of Kuwait to provide assistance in protecting the civilian population of said state from the consequences of possible weapons of mass destruction usage, and eliminating the possible consequences of weapons of mass destruction usage on the territory of the State of Kuwait]. Verkhovna Rada (in Ukrainian). Archived from the original on 30 October 2016. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
7. ^ a b c Glasser, Susan B. (27 July 2003). "U.S. Shifts Stance on Ukrainian". Washington Post. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
8. ^ "10 топ-скандалов 20 лет независимости" [Top 10 scandals from 20 years of independence]. UNIAN (in Russian). 23 August 2011. Archived from the original on 5 December 2018. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
9. ^ "Inquiry into Kuchma's Iraq 'deal'". CNN. 11 October 2002. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
10. ^ ""Наши 20": Год 2003-й" ["Our 20": 2003]. Podrobnosti (in Russian). 16 August 2011. Archived from the original on 11 October 2014. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
11. ^ "Сша готовы оплатить часть расходов украинских военных в ираке" [U.S. ready to pay partial expenses of Ukrainian military in Iraq]. Kuryer.ua (in Russian). 3 June 2003. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
12. ^ "Minister lauds Ukrainian participation in stabilizing Iraq". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 8 August 2003. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
13. ^ a b "Воєнна розвідка на службі миру" [Military intelligence in service of peace]. Main Directorate of Intelligence (Ukraine) (in Ukrainian). 30 July 2009. Archived from the original on 21 June 2010. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
14. ^ Zalizniak, Yuriy (3 July 2003). "Kuchma trades troops for respectability". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
15. ^ a b "В Іраку загинув український кулеметник Руслан Андрощук" [Ukrainian machine gunner Ruslan Androshchuk dies in Iraq]. Ukrainian Contingent in Iraq (in Ukrainian). 6 April 2004. Archived from the original on 8 May 2019. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
16. ^ Anashkina, Nastya (7 April 2004). "Ukrainian troops pull out of al Kut". CNN. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
17. ^ a b "Ukraine parliament wants troops out of Iraq". NBC News. 3 December 2004. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
18. ^ a b "В ІРАКУ ЗАГИНУЛИ СІМ УКРАЇНЦІВ, ЯКІ ОХОРОНЯЛИ РОЗВАНТАЖЕННЯ ЗБРОЇ" [Seven Ukrainians guarding weapons unloading in Iraq die]. Ukrainska Pravda (in Ukrainian). 9 January 2005. Archived from the original on 6 May 2019. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
19. ^ "Ukraine begins Iraq pullout". Al-Jazeera. 12 March 2005. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
20. ^ a b "Ukrainians complete mission in Iraq". United States Army. 11 December 2008. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
21. ^ a b c Foliente, Rodney, Sgt. (2nd BCT, 4th Inf. Div., U.S. Army): "Ukrainians complete mission in Iraq," December 11, 2008, U.S. Army, retrieved June 17, 2024
22. ^ "Kuchma trades troops for respectability," July 3, 2003, The Guardian, retrieved June 17, 2024
23. ^ "Українські миротворці" [Ukrainian Peacekeepers]. Local History (in Ukrainian). 6 December 2022. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
24. ^ "В Ираке погиб украинский солдат" [Ukrainian soldier dies in Iraq]. Lenta.ru (in Russian). 1 October 2003. Archived from the original on 21 March 2005. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
25. ^ "В Ираке погиб украинский солдат" [Ukrainian soldier dead in Iraq]. Korrespondent.net (in Russian). 13 November 2003. Archived from the original on 6 May 2019. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
26. ^ "В Ираке покончил с собой украинский офицер" [Ukrainian officer commits suicide in Iraq]. Ukrainian Contingent in Iraq (in Russian). 18 November 2003. Archived from the original on 19 October 2019. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
27. ^ "В Ираке погиб украинский миротворец" [Ukrainian peacekeeper dies in Iraq]. Comments.ua (in Russian). 28 April 2004. Archived from the original on 6 May 2019. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
28. ^ "Еще один украинский миротворец в Ираке умер" [Another Ukrainian peacekeeper dies in Iraq]. Zavtra (in Russian). 29 April 2004. Archived from the original on 6 May 2019. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
29. ^ "В Ираке застрелился 23-летний украинский миротворец сержант Роман Гензерский" [23-year old Ukrainian peacekeeper sergeant Roman Henzerskyi shoots self in Iraq]. Newsinfo (in Russian). 2 July 2004. Archived from the original on 6 May 2019. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
30. ^ "Капитан юрий иванов, подорвавшийся в ираке на радиоуправляемом фугасе, посмертно награжден орденом "за мужество"" [Captain Yuriy Ivanov, blown up by a radio-controlled explosive in Iraq, posthumously awarded Order for Courage]. Fakty.ua (in Russian). 17 August 2004. Archived from the original on 6 May 2019. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
31. ^ "В ИРАКЕ ПЕРВАЯ ПОТЕРЯ НАШЕЙ 7-Й БРИГАДЫ" [First casualties of our 7th Brigade in Iraq]. Sohodni (in Russian). 30 September 2004. Archived from the original on 6 May 2019. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
32. ^ "Обстоятельства смерти в багдаде 42-летнего полковника романа середницкого выясняет представитель генеральной прокуратуры украины" [Circumstances of death of 42-year-old colonel Roman Srednytskyi in Baghdad revealed by General Prosecutor's Office of Ukraine representative]. Fakty.ua (in Russian). 8 February 2005. Archived from the original on 6 May 2019. Retrieved 12 June 2023.

* 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
* El Salvador
* 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|

* Cyclone
* Iron Hammer
* Matador
* New Market
* Spear (Romhe)
* Squeeze Play
* Steel Curtain

2006|

* Al Majid
* Gaugamela
* Iron Triangle
* 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
* 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 Wikipedia Changelogs
* Unilateralism
* Unitary executive theory
* U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East
* WikiLeaks
* Ba'ath Party archives

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