War in Iraq

 The Iraq War, sometimes referred to as the Second Persian Gulf War, was a protracted war that started in 2003 when a coalition led by the United States invaded Iraq. The main defense offered by the US and its allies was the need to overthrow Saddam Hussein's dictatorship and the claimed possession of WMD by the Iraqi government. However, Iraq was never found to have an operational WMD program.        Key Events and Phases The war had two main phases: 1. The 2003 invasion began on March 20, 2003, when a coalition led by the United States initiated an air campaign and then invaded land from Kuwait. On April 9, Saddam Hussein's administration was overthrown as coalition forces quickly overcame the Iraqi military and seized control of Baghdad, despite initial resistance.  2. Occupation and Insurgency: An insurgency against the US-led occupation forces arose following the overthrow of the regime. Serious sectarian bloodshed characterized this phase, with Sunni and Shia militias fig