The United States and its allies invade Iraq on March 20, 2003, after heavy airstrikes on Baghdad the day before. The stated War aim was to dismantle Saddam Hussein's regime based on allegations of weapons of mass destruction. The initial invasion toppled the government, rapidly but led to a long, costly insurgency.
Most U.S. forces withdrew from Iraq in December 2011. As of early 2026, roughly 2,500 U.S. troops remain in Iraq,
