As we mark the 23rd anniversary of the start of the second Iraq War and honour the service and sacrifices of the British Armed Forces, we reflect on the key facts about the conflict.
When and why did the war in Iraq start?
The Iraq War, also known as the Second Gulf War started on March 20th, 2003.
The Iraq War was a U.S. led coalition effort aimed at confronting Saddam Hussein’s regime and addressing the perceived threat of weapons of mass destruction. The invasion also formed part of a wider strategy within the Global War on Terror following the 9/11 attacks on the United States.
Iraq was also in breach of the Gulf War settlement1, under which it had agreed to allow United Nations weapons inspections and comply with no-fly zones. Saddam Hussein violated these terms by restricting access to military sites and disregarding no-fly zone regulations, which increased suspicions that weapons of mass destruction were being developed or obtained.
Weapons of mass destruction
It was suspected that Iraq had the capability to rapidly produce chemical weapons if required, using dual-use facilities such as chlorine and phenol plants.
Prior to the Gulf War, Saddam Hussein had pursued an advanced nuclear weapons programme, and there were concerns that development had continued. A report released on 9th September, 2002, by the International Institute for Strategic Studies, an independent research organisation, concluded that Iraq could potentially build a nuclear bomb within months if it obtained fissile material.
There were also concerns that Iraq was developing ballistic missiles with a range exceeding 150 kilometres, in violation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 687.
What countries were involved?
Operation Iraqi Freedom was led by the United States, along with forces from the United Kingdom, Australia, Denmark, The Netherlands and Poland.
When and how did the war in Iraq end?
In April 2003, Saddam Hussein’s government lost control of Iraq’s capital, Baghdad, as U.S. forces advanced into the city.
On 13th December 2003, Saddam Hussein was captured by U.S. troops in a cellar south of his hometown; Tikrit.3
In July 2004, the Butler Review into military intelligence concluded that key information used to justify the Iraq War was unreliable. It also stated that the 2002 dossier should not have included the claim that Iraq could deploy weapons of mass destruction within 45 minutes.
On 30th December 2006, Saddam Hussein was executed after being found guilty of the massacre of 148 Shia Muslims from the town of Dujail in the Saladin Governorate in Iraq.
Despite his capture and execution, U.S. and coalition forces, including those from the UK, remained in Iraq in an effort to prevent civil war and promote stability across the region.
In January 2007, amid increasing insurgent attacks, the United States deployed a “surge” of additional troops and extended tours for troops already stationed in volatile areas.
On 30th April 2009, UK forces lowered their flag over the city of Basra, signalling the end of their combat operations. In June 2009, Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced an inquiry to “learn the lessons” of the Iraq War.
On 30th June 2009, U.S. combat troops withdrew from Baghdad and other Iraqi cities in accordance with the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) between Iraq and the United States.
On 21st October 2011, President Barack Obama announced that the remaining U.S. troops would be withdrawn from Iraq by the end of the year, marking the conclusion of the nearly nine-year war and “a new phase” in relations between the two countries.
In a ceremony held in Baghdad on 15th December 2011, the war that began with the U.S.-led invasion in 2003 was officially declared over. However, violence persisted. Although the withdrawal of American troops had been a key priority for President Obama, the United States would later resume military operations in Iraq during his presidency.
The after effects of the war
It is estimated that around 461,000 people died in Iraq from war-related causes between 2003 and 20114. The conflict reshaped the Middle East and had a profound impact on public trust.
Approximately 4,500 U.S. service personnel were killed, with a further 32,000 estimated wounded5.
An estimated 179 British service personnel lost their lives during the war, and around 3,500 others were injured.
U.S. and coalition deaths and injuries were often as a result of roadside bombs, suicide bombers and improvised explosive devices (IEDs). The design of IEDs are intended not only to kill, but also to cause catastrophic, life-altering injuries that leave a lasting legacy of trauma for survivors and are strongly condemned internationally.
IEDs were not only discreetly placed on the side of roads, they were placed in everyday items such as bags of rubbish, drink cans, cardboard boxes and bags.
If a civilian or service member was not killed by an IED, they were often left severely injured, sometimes resulting in the loss of a limb. In many cases, victims were also left with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which can have a lifelong negative impact on both the individual and their loved ones.
Lionel O’Connor served with the Royal Anglian Regiment. He exclaimed to Blesma: “We were driving in a routine Land Rover patrol and I just remember seeing a big cloud of dust and sparks. I fell backwards, and everything went silent.
“One of the guys I was travelling with had taken me under his wing. We were good friends and he’d taught me how to be a soldier. After the explosion, his face was right by mine. I tried to get him off me but he was unresponsive, and when I opened his eye with my thumb I knew he was dead."
“Another soldier, Adam, was lying on top of both of us. He had died too. When the door was finally opened, blood poured out of the back of the vehicle like a river. I felt for my knee, and touched the bone that was sticking out.”
Lionel O'Connor, Blesma Member
Neil Heritage, a Corporal in the Royal Signals was also severely injured by a bomb blast while serving in Iraq in 2004, resulting in the loss of both legs above the knee.
“I didn’t actually see the incident happen. All I knew was that I was stood at the back of the vehicle; then I was inside the vehicle, and then I remember being engulfed in flames and threw myself out of the vehicle that was on fire onto the road. Instead of landing on my legs, I landed on the stumps that were left. That was the first time I realised I had lost my legs.”
Since 1932, Blesma has worked tirelessly to provide practical, emotional and financial support to injured military personnel, their families and widow(er)s as they rebuild their lives.
With the continued support of Blesma, Neil and Lionel have both been able to adapt to living life with limb loss and have rebuilt their lives.
Neil recollects his harrowing experience:
Blesma supports injured and limbless veterans from conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Falklands, as well as veterans who sustained lifelong injuries during military training or accidents. Help support to limbless and injured veterans.
We remember those who sacrificed their lives to keep us safe.
Thanks to Blesma, I’ve been able to adapt, walk again, and even take on new challenges like climbing.
Neil Heritage, Blesma Member
Header image UK MOD © Crown copyright 2009, photographed by Captain Tom McShane.
1George W Bush Library - The Iraq War Archival Research Guide
2The Whitehouse Archives - Saddam Hussein's Development of Weapons of Mass Destruction
3BBC News - Timeline: Iraq War
4BBC News - Mission accomplished? The 2003 boast that haunts today's Iran conflict
5Britannica - Iraq War
Last reviewed: 8th May 2026
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