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[[File:Ramadi august 2006 patrol.jpg|thumb|right|[[United States Army|
The '''occupation of [[Iraq]]''' was characterized by a large [[United States Armed Forces|United States military]] deployment on Iraqi territory, beginning with the [[2003 invasion of Iraq|
It was a period of violence and political turmoil with strong foreign influence exerted on Iraqi politics. In April 2003, a [[military occupation]] was established and run by the [[Coalition Provisional Authority]] (CPA), which later appointed and granted limited powers to the [[Iraq Interim Governing Council]]. In June 2004, the [[Iraqi Interim Government]], a [[caretaker government]], was established. Following [[January 2005 Iraqi parliamentary election|parliamentary elections]] in January 2005, this administration was replaced in May by the [[Iraqi Transitional Government]]. A year later, the [[Al Maliki I Government]] took office.
During this period, tens of thousands of [[private military company]] personnel—many from abroad—were employed in the protection of infrastructure, facilities, and personnel. Efforts toward the [[reconstruction of Iraq]] after the damage of the invasion were slowed when coalition and allied Iraqi forces fought a stronger-than-expected militant [[Iraqi insurgency (2003–2011)|Iraqi insurgency]], leading to difficult living conditions for the population of Iraq throughout the period.
==Military occupation==
[[File:Raid during Operation Thar Thar Dam.jpg|thumb|right|Marines from D Company, [[3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion]] guard detainees prior to loading them into their vehicle]]
A [[military occupation]] was established and run by the [[Coalition Provisional Authority]] (CPA), which later appointed and granted limited powers to an [[Iraq Interim Governing Council]]. Troops for the invasion came primarily from the [[United States]], the [[United Kingdom]], and [[Australia]], but 29 other nations also provided some troops, and there were varying levels of assistance from [[Japanese Iraq Reconstruction and Support Group|Japan]] and other allied countries. Tens of thousands of private security personnel provided protection of infrastructure, facilities and personnel.
Coalition and allied Iraqi forces fought a stronger-than-expected militant [[Iraqi insurgency (2003–2011)|Iraqi insurgency]], and so the [[reconstruction of Iraq]] was slow. In mid-2004, the direct rule of the CPA was ended and a new "sovereign and independent" Interim Government of Iraq assumed the full responsibility and authority of the state. The CPA and the Governing Council were disbanded on 28 June 2004, and a [[Law of Administration for the State of Iraq for the Transitional Period|new transitional constitution]] came into effect.<ref>{{cite web
Sovereignty was transferred to a Governing Council [[Iraqi interim government]] led by [[Iyad Allawi]] as Iraq's first post-Saddam prime minister; this government was not allowed to make new laws without the approval of the CPA. The Iraqi Interim Government was replaced as a result of the elections which took place in January 2005. A period of negotiations by the elected [[Iraqi National Assembly]] followed, which culminated on 6 April 2005 with the selection of, among others, Prime Minister [[Ibrahim al-Jaafari]] and President [[Jalal Talabani]]. Prime Minister al-Jaafari led the majority party of the [[United Iraqi Alliance]] (UIA), a coalition of the al-Dawa and SCIRI (Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq) parties. Both parties are backed by Tehran, and were banned by Saddam Hussein.
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From 2003 to 2011, the US-dominated [[multinational force in Iraq]] exercised considerable power in the country and, with the [[Iraqi Armed Forces]], conducted military operations against the Iraqi insurgency. The role of Iraqi government forces in providing security increased from 2009 to 2011.{{Citation needed|date=March 2011}}
According to Article 42 of the [[Hague Conventions (1899 and 1907)|Hague Convention]], "[[Territory (administrative division)|territory]] is considered occupied when it is actually placed under the authority of the hostile army."<ref>Laws of War: [http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/lawofwar/hague04.htm Laws and Customs of War on Land] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150525082008/http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/lawofwar/hague04.htm |date=25 May 2015}} (Hague IV); 18 October 1907. The Avalon Project, Yale Law School</ref> The [[International Humanitarian Law]] Research Initiative states: "the wording of Security Council resolution 1546 .
There may be situations where the former occupier will maintain a military presence in the country, with the agreement of the legitimate government under a security arrangement (e.g.,
The [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 1546]] in 2004 looked forward to the end of the occupation and the assumption of full responsibility and authority by a fully [[Sovereignty|sovereign]] and independent [[Politics of Iraq|Interim Government of Iraq]].<ref>[http://www.usembassy.it/file2004_06/alia/a4060913.htm Iraq Resolution Endorses Plan for Transition, Elections] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130919134806/http://www.usembassy.it/file2004_06/alia/a4060913.htm
In January 2005, [[John Negroponte]], US ambassador to Iraq, indicated the US government would comply with a [[United Nations]] resolution declaring that coalition forces would have to leave if requested by the Iraqi government. "If that's the wish of the government of Iraq, we will comply with those wishes. But no, we haven't been approached on this issue – although obviously we stand prepared to engage the future government on any issue concerning our presence here."<ref>MacAskill, Ewen, Richard Norton-Taylor, and Rory McCarthy, "[https://www.theguardian.com/Iraq/Story/0,2763,1396221,00.html US and UK look for early way out of Iraq]". ''[[The Guardian]]'', 22 January 2005</ref>
On 10 May 2007, 144 Iraqi Parliamentary lawmakers signed onto a legislative petition calling on the United States to set a timetable for withdrawal.<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,271210,00.html Iraq Bill Demands
==2003==
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===Fall of Saddam Hussein's government===
[[File:SaddamStatue.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Firdos Square statue destruction|Statue of Saddam Hussein being toppled]] in [[Baghdad]]'s [[Firdos Square]] on 9 April 2003.]]
Schools, police, courts, government, and military were shut down, which meant that most Iraqis were unemployed.<ref>{{cite magazine|last1=Davidson|first1=Adam|title=Michael Cohen and the End Stage of the Trump Presidency|url=https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/michael-cohen-and-the-end-stage-of-the-trump-presidency|access-date=19 April 2018|magazine=The New Yorker|date=14 April 2018|archive-date=18 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180418202133/https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/michael-cohen-and-the-end-stage-of-the-trump-presidency|url-status=live}}</ref> Cities, especially Baghdad, suffered through reductions in electricity, clean water, and telephone service from pre-war levels, with shortages that continued through at least the next year.<ref>Baker, David R., "[http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2004/04/17/BUGAI66IF61.DTL Bechtel nowhere near done] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090618081040/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2004%2F04%2F17%2FBUGAI66IF61.DTL |date=18 June 2009 }}; Reconstruction in Iraq going slowly – airports patched up, but water, power way behind". ''San Francisco Chronicle'', 17 April 2004.</ref>
On 1 May 2003, [[President of the United States]] [[George W Bush]] declared the "end of major combat operations" in Iraq, while aboard the {{USS|Abraham Lincoln|CVN-72|6}} with a large "[[2003 Mission Accomplished Speech|Mission Accomplished]]" banner displayed behind him. The weeks following the removal of Ba'ath Party rule were portrayed by American media as generally a euphoric time among the Iraqi populace. ''[[New York Post]]'' correspondent [[Jonathan Foreman (journalist)|Jonathan Foreman]] wrote from [[Baghdad]] in May 2003 that "the intensity of the population's pro-American enthusiasm is astonishing".<ref>Foreman, Jonathan, "[http://weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/002/629xnqei.asp Bad Reporting in Baghdad] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017115225/http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/002/629xnqei.asp |date=17 October 2015}}". News Corporation, ''Weekly Standard'', 12 May 2003, Volume 008, Issue 34. (Originally in 12 May 2002 issue: You have no idea how well things are going.)</ref>
There were widespread reports of looting, though much of the looting was directed at former government buildings and other remnants of the former government, and reports of [[Archaeological looting in Iraq|losses of up to 170,000 items of Iraq's archaeological treasures]] worth billions of
===Insurgency begins===
[[File:UNOfficeofHumanitarianCoordinator-Baghdad (UN DF-SD-04-02188).jpg|thumb|left|Canal Hotel Bombing]]
In the summer of 2003, the
After the initial invasion, most of the Iraqi military's former soldiers and officers offered little resistance to [[Multi-National Force – Iraq|Coalition forces]] in the early days of the occupation. Many soldiers had simply gone home rather than openly fight the invading forces. This seeming acceptance of Coalition authority stemmed from the US military continuing to pay the salaries of Saddam's former soldiers, while promising senior Iraqi officers that they would have a major role to play "in building a new Iraq."
However, on 11 May 2003, the Bush Administration established the "[[Coalition Provisional Authority]]" (CPA) to take control of Iraq's domestic affairs away from the US military. Twelve days later, [[Paul Bremer]], head of the CPA, issued an order dissolving the entire Iraqi military, as well as most civilian employees of the old government, and pledged to build a new military and government from scratch. One "untainted by any ties to Saddam's regime," according to the CPA. The Iraqi army's abrupt end, against the protests of many US field commanders, sparked immediate rioting among former Iraqi soldiers. In addition to broader civil unrest as unemployment skyrocketed to 70% and practically every government service, from the police to trash collectors, ended without warning.<ref name="Thompson">{{Cite magazine|url=http://time.com/3900753/isis-iraq-syria-army-united-states-military/|title=How Disbanding the Iraqi Army Fueled ISIS|last=Thompson|first=Mark|magazine=Time|access-date=2017-10-08}}</ref> Soon, large numbers of former Iraqi military personnel allied with the surviving [[Ba'ath Party|Ba'ath]] loyalists and formed guerrilla units, igniting an eight-year insurgency against Coalition forces. Besides scattered attacks in Baghdad, these insurgents began to focus on taking and holding ground in and around [[Mosul]], [[Tikrit]], and [[Fallujah]]. In the fall of 2003, these largely secular units were joined by religiously motivated "[[Jihadist]]s" insurgents, both foreign and domestic. With the growing influence of religious fanatics, the insurgency's mostly traditional tactics of sniping, small unit ambushes and planting roadside [[improvised explosive device]]s against foreign military personnel began transforming into frequent suicide bombings and death squads targeting civilians that were perceived as "loyal" to coalition forces.<ref name="Thompson"
They favored attacking the unarmored [[Humvee]] vehicles, and in November they successfully attacked
===Saddam captured and elections urged===
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| footer = Saddam Hussein shortly after capture by [[Military of the United States|American forces]], and after being shaved to confirm his identity
}}
In December 2003, Saddam himself was [[Operation Red Dawn|captured]]. The provisional government began training a security force intended to defend critical infrastructure, and the
The United States and the [[Coalition Provisional Authority]], run by [[Jay Garner]] and three deputies, including [[Tim Cross]], opposed allowing democratic elections at this time, preferring instead to eventually hand over power to an unelected group of Iraqis.<ref>Steele, Jonathan, "''[http://www.commondreams.org/views04/0119-08.htm Why the US is Running Scared from Elections in Iraq] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116062212/http://www.commondreams.org/views04/0119-08.htm |date=16 January 2013 }}''". [[The Guardian]], 19 January 2004.</ref> More insurgents stepped up their activities. The two most turbulent centers were the area around Fallujah and the poor Shia sections of cities from Baghdad to Basra in the south.
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===Spring uprisings===
{{Main|Iraq spring fighting of 2004}}
In the spring, the United States and the [[Coalition Provisional Authority]] decided to confront the rebels with a pair of assaults: one on Fallujah, the center of the "Mohammed's Army of Al-Ansar", and another on Najaf, home of an important mosque, which had become the focal point for the [[Mahdi Army]] and its activities. In Fallujah four private security contractors, working for [[Blackwater USA]], were ambushed and killed, and their corpses desecrated. In retaliation a
A truce was negotiated that put a former Ba'athist general in complete charge of Fallujah. The 1st Armored Division along with the 2nd ACR were then shifted south, because Spanish, Salvadoran, Ukrainian, and Polish forces were having increasing difficulties retaining control over [[Al Kut]], and [[Najaf]]. The 1st Armored Division and 2nd ACR relieved the Spaniards, Salvadoran, Poles, and put down the overt rebellion.
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At the same time, British forces in Basra were faced with increasing restiveness, and became more selective in the areas they patrolled. In all, April, May and early June represented the bloodiest months of fighting since the end of hostilities. The Iraqi troops who were left in charge of Fallujah after the truce began to disperse and the city fell back under insurgent control.
In the April battle for Fallujah,
===Transfer of sovereignty===
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Militia leader [[Muqtada al-Sadr]] used his grass-roots organization and Mahdi Militia of over a thousand armed men to take control of the streets of Baghdad. The [[Coalition Provisional Authority]] (CPA) soon realized it had lost control and closed down his popular newspaper. This resulted in mass anti-American demonstrations. The CPA then attempted to arrest al-Sadr on murder charges. He defied the American military by taking refuge in the Holy City of Najaf.
Through the months of July and August, a series of skirmishes in and around Najaf culminated with the Imman Ali Mosque itself under siege, only to have a peace deal brokered by al-Sistani in late August.<ref>Dominick, Brian, "''[http://newstandardnews.net/content/?action=show_item&itemid=858
The Allawi government, with significant numbers of holdovers from the [[Coalition Provisional Authority]], began to engage in attempts to secure control of the oil infrastructure, the source of Iraq's foreign currency, and control of the major cities of Iraq. The continuing insurgencies, poor state of the Iraqi Army, disorganized condition of [[Iraqi Police|police]] and security forces, as well as the lack of revenue hampered their efforts to assert control. In addition, both former Ba'athist elements and militant Shia groups engaged in sabotage, terrorism, open rebellion, and establishing their own security zones in all or part of a dozen cities. The Allawi government vowed to crush resistance, using
===Offensives and counteroffensives===
[[File:4-14 Marines in Fallujah.jpg|thumb|Marines from Mike Battery, [[4th Battalion 14th Marines|4th Battalion, 14th Marines]] an activated reserve artillery unit, operate the 155 mm [[M198 howitzer]] in November 2004 supporting Operation Phantom Fury.]]
Beginning 8 November, American and Iraqi forces invaded the militant stronghold of Fallujah in [[Operation Phantom Fury]], killing and capturing many insurgents. Many rebels were thought to have fled the city before the invasion.
Another offensive was launched by insurgents during the month of November in [[Mosul]].
In December, 14 American soldiers were killed and over a hundred injured when an explosion struck an open-tent mess hall in Mosul, where President Bush had spent Thanksgiving with troops the year before. The explosion is believed to have come from a suicide bomber.
After a review of the military strategy in the end of 2004, then commanding general of the [[MNF-I]], General [[George W. Casey
==2005==
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[[File:Iraqi voters inked fingers.jpg|right|thumb|Voters in the [[January 2005 Iraqi legislative election|2005 Iraqi legislative election]]]]
{{Main|January 2005 Iraqi legislative election}}
On 30 January, an [[January 2005 Iraqi legislative election|election]] for a government to draft a permanent constitution took place. Although some violence and lack of widespread [[Sunni]] Arab participation marred the event, most of the eligible [[Kurd]] and [[Shia]] populace participated. On 4 February, [[Paul Wolfowitz]] announced that 15,000
Hopes for a quick end to an insurgency and a withdrawal of
[[File:Op matador explosion.jpg|thumb|left| A large weapons cache in New Ubaydi is destroyed]]
During early and mid-May, the
The Marines succeeded, recapturing the whole region and even fighting insurgents all the way to the Syrian border, where they were forced to stop (Syrian residents living near the border heard the American bombs very clearly during the operation). The vast majority of these armed and trained insurgents quickly dispersed before the
===Announcements and renewed fighting===
On 14 August 2005 the ''[[Washington Post]]'' quoted one anonymous
On 22 September 2005, [[Prince Saud al-Faisal]], the [[Saudi foreign minister]], said he had warned the Bush administration that [[Civil war in Iraq (2006-07)|Iraq was hurtling toward disintegration]], and that the election planned for December was unlikely to make any difference.<ref>{{Cite news|last=MacAskill
===Constitutional ratification and elections===
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[[File:Iraq Al Muthanna Governorate.svg|thumb|Al Muthanna Governorate [[Arabic language|Arabic]]: المثنى]]
On 12 July 2006, Iraq took full control of the [[Al Muthanna Governorate|Muthanna province]], marking the first time since the [[Invasion of Iraq|invasion]] that a province had been handed from foreign troops to the Iraqi government. In a joint statement, the
===Forward Operating Base Courage handed over to Nineveh province government===
[[File:Iraq Ninawa Governorate.svg|thumb|left|Nineveh Governorate]]
A former presidential compound of Saddam Hussein, dubbed Forward Operating Base Courage by [[Multinational force in Iraq|Coalition forces]], was handed over by Charlie Company 4-11FA to the [[Nineveh Governorate|Nineveh province government]] on 20 July 2006. The main palace had been home to the 101st Airborne Division Main Command Post, Task Force Olympia CP, 4-11FA of the 172nd SBCT, and the Task Force Freedom CP. The palace served as the last command post for the Multinational Force-Iraq–Northwest.
===British troops leave Camp Abu Naji===
[[File:Iraq Maysan Governorate.svg|thumb|Maysan Governorate [[Arabic language|Arabic]]: ميسان]]
On 24 August 2006, Maj
The base had been a target for frequent mortar and rocket barrages since being set up in 2003, but Burbridge dismissed suggestions the British had been forced out of Amara while acknowledging the attacks had been one reason for the decision to withdraw, the second being that a static base did not fit with the new operation. "Abu Naji was a bulls-eye in the middle of a dartboard. The attacks were a nuisance and were a contributing factor in our planning", to quit the base, he said, adding "By no longer presenting a static target, we reduce the ability of the militias to strike us ... We understand the militias in Maysan province are using this as an example that we have been pushed out of Abu Naji, but that is not true. It was very rare for us to take casualties." Burbridge stated that Iraqi security forces would now be responsible for day-to-day security in Maysan but stressed that the British had not yet handed over complete control to them.
[[Muqtada al-Sadr]] called the departure the first expulsion of
The Iraqi troops asked the province's governor for permission to return fire, a decision the British military highlighted as evidence of the security force's training. "It demonstrated that they understand the importance of civilian primacy, that the government – and not the military – is in charge", Burbridge said in a phone interview with ''The Washington Post''. Injuries were reported on both sides, but no one was killed. Burbridge attributed the looting to economic factors rather than malice, stating "The people of Amarah – many of whom are extremely poor – saw what they believed to be a bit of an Aladdin's cave inside." Some residents of Amarah, however, told the Post that antipathy toward the occupation was strong. "The looters stole everything – even the bricks ... They almost leveled the whole base to the ground", said
===Situation in and around Baghdad===
[[File:3rd ID M1A1 Abrams TC and Gunner 2008.jpg|right|thumb|Soldiers conduct a [[improvised explosive device|counter improvised explosive device]] (CIED) mission in Baghdad, December 2007.]]
[[File:IED Baghdad from munitions.jpg|thumb|Munitions rigged for an IED discovered by Iraqi police in Baghdad in November 2005]]
[[File:M1A1 Abrams with Integrated Management System new Tank Urban Survivability Kit Dec. 2007.jpg|thumb|right|[[M1A1 Abrams]] with an ''Abrams Integrated Management System'' and the ''Tank Urban Survivability Kit'' conducting a patrol in Baghdad, 2007.]]
The American military command acknowledged in the week of 16 October 2006 that it was considering an overhaul of its latest security plan for Baghdad, where three months of intensive American-led sweeps had failed to curb violence by [[Sunni
Numerous car and roadside bombs rocked the capital 9 November 2006 morning: In the [[Karrada]] district, a car bomb killed six and wounded 28 others. Another car bomb killed seven and wounded another 27 in the northern Qahira neighborhood. In South Baghdad, a mortar then a suicide car bomber killed seven and wounded 27 others near the Mishin bazaar. Near the college of Fine Arts in north-central Baghdad, a car bomb targeting an Iraqi patrol killed three and wounded six others. Two policemen were injured when they tried to dismantle a car bomb in the [[Zayouna]] district. A car bomb on Palestine Street in northeastern Baghdad meant for an Iraqi patrol killed one soldier but also wounded four civilians. Yet another car bomb in southern Baghdad wounded three people. And another car bomb near a passport services building in a northern neighborhood killed 2 people and wounded 7 others.
A roadside bomb in central Baghdad killed two and wounded 26 others. A police patrol was blasted by a roadside bomb near a petrol station; four were killed in the explosion. Another four people were wounded in the New Baghdad neighborhood by yet another roadside bomb. A bomb hidden in a sack exploded in Tayern square killing three and wounding 19. Another bomb in the Doura neighborhood killed one and wounded three. Mortars fell in Kadmiyah killing one woman and injuring eight people, and in Bayaladat where four were wounded.
Also in the capital, a group of laborers were kidnapped in the morning of 9 November 2006
▲11 November 2006, two bombs planted in an outdoor market in central Baghdad exploded around noon, killing six and wounded 32 people. A car bomb and a roadside bomb were detonated five minutes apart in the market, which is in an area close to Baghdad's main commercial center. The U.S. military said it has put up a $50,000 reward for anyone who helps find an American soldier kidnapped in Baghdad. The 42-year-old Army Reserve specialist, Ahmed K. Altaie, was abducted on 23 October when he left the [[Green Zone]], the heavily fortified section where the United States maintains its headquarters, to visit his Iraqi wife and family.
A suicide bomber killed 40 Iraqis and wounded 70 on 12 November 2006 morning outside the national police headquarters' recruitment center in western Baghdad, an emergency police official said. They were among dozens of men waiting to join the police force in the Qadessiya district when a suicide bomber detonated an explosives belt. In central Baghdad, a car bomb and roadside bomb killed four Iraqi civilians and wounded 10 near the Interior Ministry complex. And in the Karrada district of central Baghdad, one Iraqi was killed and five were wounded when a car bomb exploded near an outdoor market 12 November 2006 morning. Gunmen shot dead an Iraqi officer with the new Iraqi intelligence system as he was walking towards his parked car in the southwestern Baghdad neighborhood of Bayaa. Two civilians were killed and four more were wounded when a roadside bomb hit a car in the eastern Baghdad neighborhood of Zayuna.<ref name=cnn121106>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/11/12/iraq.main/index.html|title=Suicide bomber attacks police recruitment center|publisher=CNN|date=12 November 2006|access-date=22 September 2012|archive-date=31 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120831120017/http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/11/12/iraq.main/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
===Violent incidents in other cities===
9 November 2006.<ref name="antiwar1"
*Suwayrah: Four bodies were recovered from the [[Tigris]] River. Three of them were in police uniforms.
*[[Amarah]]: A roadside bomb killed one and wounded three others in Amarah. Gunmen also shot dead a suspected former member of the [[Fedayeen Saddam|Fedayeen]] paramilitary.
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Although Saddam Hussein was accused of having links to Al-Qaeda members, only a few Al-Qaeda members were found hiding in Iraq before the invasion, and all were of lower standings.
On 3 September 2006, Iraq says it has arrested the country's second most senior figure in [[Al-Qaeda]], "severely wounding" an organization the US military says is spreading sectarian violence that could bring civil war. The National Security Adviser Mowaffak al-Rubaie summoned reporters to a hastily arranged news conference to announce that al Qaeda leader Hamid Juma Faris al-Suaidi had been seized some days ago. Hitherto little heard of, and also known as Abu Humam or Abu Rana, Suaidi was captured hiding in a building with a group of followers. "Al-Qaeda in Iraq is severely wounded", Rubaie said. He said Suaidi had been involved in ordering the bombing of the Shi'ite shrine in Samarra in February 2006 that unleashed the wave of tit-for-tat killings now threatening civil war. Iraqi officials blame Al-Qaeda for the attack. The group denies it. Rubaie did not give Suaidi's nationality. He said he had been tracked to the same area north of Baghdad where US forces killed Al-Qaeda's leader [[Abu Musab al-Zarqawi]] in June 2006. "He was hiding in a building used by families. He wanted to use children and women as human shields", Rubaie said. Little is publicly known about Suaidi. Rubaie called him the deputy of [[Abu Ayyub al-Masri]], a shadowy figure, probably [[Egypt]]ian, who took over the Sunni Islamist group from Zarqawi.<ref name=tvnz>{{cite news|url=http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/411416/825598
The US military says Al-Qaeda is a "prime instigator" of the violence between Iraq's [[Sunni Islam|Sunni]] minority and [[Shi'a Islam|Shi'ite]] majority but that
A handover ceremony on 2 September 2006 was postponed at the last minute, first to 3 September 2006, then indefinitely, after a dispute emerged between the government and [[Washington, D.C.|Washington]] over the wording of a document outlining their armies' new working relationship. "There are some disputes", an Iraqi government source said. "We want thorough control and the freedom to make decisions independently." US spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Barry Johnson played down any arguments and expected a signing soon: "It is embarrassing but it was decided it was better not to sign the document." Practically, US troops remain the dominant force. Their tanks entered the southern, Shi'ite city of [[Diwaniya]] on 3 September 2006. The show of force came a week after Shi'ite militiamen killed 20 Iraqi troops in a battle that highlighted violent power struggles between rival Shi'ite factions in the oil-rich south.<ref name=tvnz
===Abu Ghraib===
On 2 September 2006, the [[Abu Ghraib prison]] was formally handed over to Iraq's government. The formal transfer was conducted between
===Iraqi government takes control of the 8th Iraqi Army Division===
[[File:Iraqi T-72 tanks.jpg|thumb|left|Units of the New Iraqi Army with T-72 tanks in 2006.]]
On 7 September 2006, [[Prime Minister of Iraq|Prime Minister]] [[Nouri al-Maliki]] signed a document taking control of Iraq's small naval and air forces and the [[8th Division (Iraq)|8th Iraqi Army Division]], based in the south. At a ceremony marking the occasion, Gen [[George W. Casey Jr.|George Casey]], the top
===Anbar province reported as politically "lost" to
{{Main|Al Anbar campaign}}
[[File:Iraq Al Anbar Governorate.svg|thumb|right|Al Anbar province in Iraq.]]
[[File:L company 3rd Battalion 3rd Marines search house.jpg|thumb|left|Marines in Al Anbar Province, 2006]]
On 11 September 2006, it transpired that Colonel Peter Devlin, chief of intelligence for the Marine Corps in Iraq, had filed a secret report, described by those who have seen it as saying that the
The next day, Major General Richard Zilmer, commander of the Marines in Iraq, stated: "We are winning this war... I have never heard any discussion about the war being lost before this weekend."<ref>{{cite news|agency=Reuters|author=Peter Graff|title=Marines deny losing Iraq's biggest province|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/12/AR2006091201188.html|date=12 September 2006|access-date=12 September 2006|newspaper=The Washington Post}}{{dead link|date=June 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
In the fall of 2006 several Iraqi tribes near Ramadi led by [[Sheikh]] [[Abdul Sattar Abu Risha]] revolted against various insurgent groups with Al Qaeda in Iraq.
Two more provinces were transferred to [[Provincial Iraqi Control]] in late 2006.
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On 21 September 2006, Italian troops handed security control of the [[Dhi Qar]] province to Iraqi forces, making Dhi Qar the second of the country's 18 provinces to come under complete local control. A transfer ceremony was carried out in [[Nasiriyah]].<ref name=dhiqar>{{cite news|url=http://news.bostonherald.com/international/view.bg?articleid=158592 |title=Iraq takes over security responsibility for southern Dhi Qar province from Italian troops |agency=Associated Press |date=21 September 2006}}{{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
On 20 December 2006,
==2007==
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[[File:Army mil-2007-05-11-085013.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Sheikh Abdul Sattar who helped spark the [[Anbar Awakening]] Movement]]
In January 2007
In May 2007, Iraq's Parliament called on the United States to set a timetable for withdrawal<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,271210,00.html Iraq Bill Demands
During the summer the US turned its attention to eastern Anbar and secured the cities of [[Fallujah]] and [[Al-Karmah]].
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===Iraqi forces begin process of arming with advanced US weapon systems===
[[File:Flickr - DVIDSHUB - Iraqi army battalion trains for urban operations (Image 2 of 3).jpg|thumb|Iraqi army battalion trains for urban operations ]]
Iraq became one of the top current purchasers of
Iraq sought 36 [[F-16]]'s, the most sophisticated weapons system Iraq has attempted to purchase. The Pentagon notified Congress that it had approved the sale of 24 American attack helicopters to Iraq, valued at as much as $2.4 billion. Including the helicopters, Iraq announced plans to purchase at least $10 billion in
In 2008 Iraq accounted for more than $12.5 billion of the $34 billion US weapon sales to foreign countries (not including the potential F-16 fighter planes).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/JI24Ak02.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090724093252/http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/JI24Ak02.html |url-status=unfit |archive-date=24 July 2009 |title=Business as usual for US arms sales |work=Asia Times |date=24 September 2008 |access-date=17 October 2010}}</ref>
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==2009==
{{Main|2009 in Iraq}}
==2010==
===Final departure of
[[File:Barack Obama & Nouri al-Maliki in Baghdad 4-7-09 2.JPG|thumb|right|Prime Minister [[Nouri al-Maliki]] shakes hands with
On 18 August 2010 the final
In a released statement,
The closure of [[Operation Iraqi Freedom]] was announced on 31 August. "It is time to turn the page," Obama said in a national address. The operations in Iraq were renamed "[[Iraq War|New Dawn]]".
==Participating nations==
{{details|Multi-National Force – Iraq}}
As of May 2011, the United States was the only country with military forces stationed in Iraq. Other nations also present but under the United Nations banner.<ref name="autogenerated2">"[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/ops/iraq_orbat_coalition.htm Iraq Coalition Troops; Non-
As of September 2006, there were an estimated 145,000
==Casualties==
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==Iraqi councils and authorities==
On 11 October 2002, President Bush's senior adviser on the Middle East, [[Zalmay Khalilzad]], released
[[File:Bremer signing.jpg|thumb|left|Bremer signs over limited sovereignty to Iraq's interim government, 28 June 2004]]
In November 2003, [[Paul Bremer]] announced the plan to hand over limited sovereignty to the Iraqi governing council by 30 June 2004. A draft constitution was written and approved by the [[Iraqi Governing Council]] in March 2004.
The
In the early months of the occupation, looting and vandalism slowed the restoration of basic services such as water, electricity, and [[sanitation]]. By Spring 2004, these services were mostly restored to pre-war levels. Ongoing work is continuing to provide sufficient sanitation. Uneven power distribution remained a problem through 2004, with the Baghdad area continuing to have periodic blackouts.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cidi.org/humanitarian/hsr/iraq/ixl49.html |title=IRAQ: Electricity almost back to pre-war levels |access-date=2005-12-01 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050430031530/http://www.cidi.org/humanitarian/hsr/iraq/ixl49.html |archive-date=30 April 2005}}. United Nations, 2 March 2004.</ref> On 28 July 2005, Iraq's Electricity Minister announced that Iraq's electricity supply had risen to above pre-war levels.<ref>"[http://www.iraqdirectory.com/files/articles/article623.htm Iraq electricity surpasses pre-war levels] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051122172939/http://www.iraqdirectory.com/files/articles/article623.htm |date=22 November 2005 }}". Iraq Directory, 28 July 2005.</ref>
Numerous allegations were made of [[Human rights in post-invasion Iraq|human rights violations by the occupying forces]] in post-invasion Iraq. One of the most significant of these was the [[Abu Ghraib torture and prisoner abuse]] scandal, where 11 American soldiers from the [[372nd Military Police Company (United States)|372nd Military Police Company]] were convicted in 2005 for a series of [[United States war crimes|war crimes]] over the mistreatment of Iraqi prisoners. The Bush administration denied that the abuses were indicative of
Former [[Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party – Iraq Region|Ba'ath Party]] members and military officers who have no criminal past or human rights abuses have been allowed to return to government positions.<ref>Wright, Robin, and Walter Pincus, "[https://web.archive.org/web/20120330181039/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A37921-2004Apr23.html
===Reconstruction===
{{Main|Reconstruction of Iraq}}
For the reconstruction, contracts were awarded to private companies. Initially companies from countries that had opposed the war were excluded from these contracts, but this decision was reversed due to protests.<ref>"[http://www.globeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20031209.wpent1209/BNStory/National/ Canada barred from Iraq contracts] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040404112439/http://www.globeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20031209.wpent1209/BNStory/National/ |date=4 April 2004}}". Associated Press, 9 December 2003.</ref> Political activists and commentators allege that [[The Pentagon]] favoured companies like [[Halliburton]], former employer of Vice President [[Dick Cheney]], because they had connections to high-ranking members of the Bush administration.<ref>"[https://web.archive.org/web/20040312122859/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/4508115/ Halliburton won deal after auditor warns Pentagon saw 'systemic' problems with contracts]". ''Financial Times'', 11 March 2004.</ref><ref>"[https://money.cnn.com/2003/09/25/news/companies/cheney/index.htm Cheney may still have Halliburton ties] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126053712/https://money.cnn.com/2003/09/25/news/companies/cheney/index.htm |date=26 January 2021 }} Congressional report finds Vice President still has financial interest in his old company". CNN, 25 September 2003.</ref> This suspicion had already been a concern during the [[Protests against the 2003 Iraq war|global protests against the war on Iraq]]. An audit found that Halliburton subsidiary [[Kellogg, Brown and Root]] (KBR) may have overcharged the
Some also argue that foreign contractors are doing work which could be done by unemployed Iraqis, which might be a factor fueling resentment of the occupation.<ref>Kelley, Matt, "[http://www.casperstartribune.net/articles/2004/04/27/news/world/421458792344630787256e830003f3bd.txt Bid rigging, fraud and damage common in Iraq]". Associated Press, 27 April 2004.</ref><ref>"[http://www.mees.com/postedarticles/oped/a46n40d02.htm Evidence Of Waste Of
On 14 August 2005, a ''[[Washington Post]]'' story<ref>[[Robin Wright (author)|Wright, Robin]], and Ellen Knickmeyer, "[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/13/AR2005081300853_pf.html
A report of the United States [[Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction]] found widespread "fraud, incompetence and confusion" in the American occupation's handling of billions of dollars of Iraqi government money and American funds given for reconstruction. Inspector-general [[Stuart Bowen, Jr.]] noted that only 49 of 136 planned water- and sanitation-related projects will be completed.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/25/international/middleeast/25reconstruct.html?hp&ex=1138251600&en=0138ddaecd4566f6&ei=5094&partner=homepage|title=Audit Describes Misuse of Funds in Iraq Projects|last=Glanz|first=James|author-link=James Glanz|date=25 January 2006|work=The New York Times|access-date=2 July 2014|archive-date=23 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140923125041/http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/25/international/middleeast/25reconstruct.html?hp&ex=1138251600&en=0138ddaecd4566f6&ei=5094&partner=homepage|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Reference unavailable at http://today.reuters.com/investing/financeArticle.aspx?type=bondsNews&storyID=URI:urn:newsml:reuters.com:20060127:MTFH70618_2006-01-27_00-21-24_N26152510:1 -->
In April 2007, the ''New York Times'' reported that
In
==Civilian government==
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The establishment of a new civilian government of Iraq was complicated by religious and political divisions between the majority [[Shi'ite]] population and the formerly ruling [[Sunni]] Arabs. Moreover, many of the people in Saddam's ruling [[Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party – Iraq Region|Ba'ath Party]] were perceived as tainted by the association by some parties. In northern Iraq, [[Kurd]]s had already had effectively autonomous rule for 12 years under the protection of the no-fly zone.
On 16 May 2003,
On 13 July 2003, an [[Iraqi Governing Council]] was appointed by Coalition Provisional Authority Administrator [[
<!-- Unsourced image removed: [[File:Iraqcouncil.jpg|framed|The Iraq Interim Governing Council.|{{Deletable image-caption|1=Tuesday, 2 September 2008|date=January 2012}}]] -->
===United Nations resolutions===
[[File:Kofi Annan.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Kofi Annan]], 7th [[Secretary-General of the United Nations]]]]
On 22 May 2003, the [[UN Security Council]] voted 14–0 to give the United States and Britain the power to govern Iraq and use its oil resources to rebuild the country. [[UN Security Council Resolution 1483|Resolution 1483]] removed nearly 13 years of economic sanctions originally imposed after Iraq's 1990 invasion of Kuwait. The resolution allows UN Secretary-General [[Kofi Annan]] to appoint a special representative to work with
The resolution also created the [[Development Fund for Iraq]], which collected funds from oil sales. The fund was initially run by the United States and Britain to rebuild the country, and is overseen by a new advisory body composed of the United Nations and international financial institutions. In June 2004, the ''[[New York Times]]'' reported that American authorities spent $2.5 billion from Iraqi oil revenue despite agreements that the oil revenues should be set aside for use after the restoration of Iraq's sovereignty.<ref>Weisman, Steven R., "[https://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/21/politics/21DIPL.html?pagewanted=print&position=
On 14 August 2003, the Security Council voted 14–0 to "welcome" the creation of the Iraqi Governing Council. [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 1500|Resolution 1500]] stopped short of formally recognizing the governing council as Iraq's legitimate governing body but called it an "important step" towards creating a sovereign government.
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By February 2004, democratic elections, under the supervision of the CPA, had already been held at the municipal and city level in some of the southern and northern provinces.<ref>Shadid, Anthony, "[https://web.archive.org/web/20180821123202/https://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A44553-2004Feb15/ In Iraqi Towns, Electoral Experiment Finds Some Success]". ''The Washington Post'', 16 February 2004.</ref>
On 15 November, the Iraqi Governing Council announced that a transitional government would take over in June from the
The Governing Council revealed the timetable after the United States government, in reaction to terrorist and [[Insurgent|militant]] activity against occupying troops and aid organisations, abandoned its earlier plan that a sovereign government would take charge only after creating a constitution and elections held. [[Jalal Talabani]], who was chairman of the council, said the transition would involve "the creation of a permanent constitution by an elected council, directly elected by the people, and also the election of a new government according to the articles of this new constitution before the end of 2005."
In March 2004, an interim constitution was created, called the [[Law of Administration for the State of Iraq for the Transitional Period]]. The document called for the creation of an elected National Assembly to take place no later than January 2005. The question of the election calendar became a matter of importance for Iraq and the
The elected assembly drafted a new [[Constitution of Iraq|constitution for Iraq]], submitting it to the Iraqi people for review on 28 August. On 15 October, Iraqis [[Iraqi constitution ratification vote, 2005|voted to approve the new constitution]]. On 15 December, the first [[December 2005 Iraqi legislative election|legislative election]] under the new constitution was held.
===Sovereignty for Iraq===
[[File:Iraq-sovereign.jpg|thumb|
{{details|topic=Politics of Iraq|Iraqi sovereignty}}
In a 1 June 2004, press conference, President Bush said that he was working with various world leaders to create a [[
On 28 June 2004, the occupation was nominally ended by the CPA, which transferred limited power to a new Iraqi government led by Prime Minister Iyad Allawi. The [[multinational force (Iraq)|multinational]] [[military alliance]] continued to assist the Allawi government in governing the Iraqis. The purpose of the Occupation of Iraq was, according to [[
A further milestone in sovereignty was achieved with the creation of a democratically elected administration on 6 April 2005 including Prime Minister [[Ibrahim al-Jaafari]] and President [[Jalal Talabani]] following the [[January 2005 Iraqi legislative election|Iraqi elections]] of January 2005.
Under [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 1790]], the mandate of the [[multinational force in Iraq]] was extended until 31 December 2008, after which there is no justification for foreign militaries to remain in the country.
===Provincial Iraqi control===
The objective of the [[Iraqi Government]] and [[Multinational force in Iraq|Multi-National Forces in Iraq]] is to achieve the transition of responsibility for each of the 18 provinces in Iraq from the Coalition to the Iraqi civil authorities, both national and local.
Provinces are subject to regular assessment by the Iraqi government and the Coalition; when a province appears to be ready, a recommendation is made to the Iraqi Ministerial Committee for National Security, with the [[Prime Minister of Iraq|Prime Minister]] making the final decision.
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====Provinces under Iraqi Control====
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:PIC at end of Oct09.jpg|300px|right|thumb|Provincial Security Transition Assessment As of October 2009.]] -->
As of October 2008, thirteen provinces had successfully completed transition to provincial Iraqi control: [[Muthanna Governorate|Muthanna]], [[Dhi Qar Governorate|Dhi Qar]], [[Najaf Governorate|Najaf]], [[Maysan Governorate|Maysan]], [[Dohuk Governorate|Dahuk]], [[Erbil Governorate|Erbil]], [[As Sulaymaniyah Governorate|Sulaymaniyah]], [[Karbala Governorate|Karbala]], [[Basra Governorate|Basra]], [[Al-Qādisiyyah Governorate|Al-
Muthanna was the first, on 13 July 2006, when Australian, Japanese and British forces from [[Multinational Division Central-South|Multi-National Division-South East]] transferred responsibility to the Governor and local authorities. With a small and homogeneous Shia population, there had been very little militia violence and few attacks on Coalition forces in the preceding months, encouraging good progress in developing the capacity of the [[Iraqi armed forces]] and [[Ministry of
Dhi Qar, also within the area of responsibility of the British-led MND-SE and the responsibility of the Italian and Romanian brigade, was handed over on 21 September 2006.
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In October 2007, Karbala became the eighth province to transfer to provincial Iraqi control. The transfer of Basra in December 2007 marked the half-way point in transferring all provincial security over to Iraqi security forces.<ref name="mnf-iraq.com">{{Cite web|url=http://ww38.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1469&Itemid=78&subid1=20200916-0332-5457-bf61-aa95d7982905|title=mnf-iraq.com|website=ww38.mnf-iraq.com}}</ref>
In July 2008 the tenth province, [[Al-
[[File:Anbar ceremony 2008-09-01.JPG|thumb|right|Maj. Gen. John Kelly and Gov. Maamoon Sami Rasheed al-Alwani Governor of Al Anbar sign formal agreement turning security responsibilities of the Al Anbar province to the Government of Iraq. (1 September 2008)]]
On 1 September 2008, in the wake of the decreasing levels of violence, the
In October 2008, Babil province became the twelfth province to return to Iraqi control,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7685713.stm |work=BBC News |title=US forces hand province to Iraqis |date=23 October 2008 |access-date=18 February 2014 |archive-date=22 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222143110/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7685713.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> whilst Wasit was transferred later in the month, making it the thirteenth province to be transferred.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7696785.stm |work=BBC News |title=US hands province to Iraqi forces |date=29 October 2008 |access-date=18 February 2014 |archive-date=9 November 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081109041553/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7696785.stm |url-status=live }}</ref>
====Transition after Security Agreement signed====
As of 31 December 2008, 13 of Iraq's 18 provinces had successfully transitioned to Provincial Iraqi Control (PIC).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.defense.gov/|title=
into effect, transferring security responsibility to the GoI, even though not all of the provinces had completed the PIC transition process. At the request of the GoI, however, a new Joint Sub-Committee for Provincial Security was formed under the auspices of the SA to assess conditions in the remaining five Iraqi provinces that did not transition to PIC before 1 January 2009. This sub-committee met for the first time in January 2009.
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After the 2003 invasion, an insurgency developed against Coalition forces during as part of the [[Iraq War]]. The [[Iraqi insurgency (2003–2006)|first phase of the insurgency]] began shortly after the invasion and lasted until the establishment of a provisional Iraqi government, and from around 2004 until May 2007 primarily targeted American-led Coalition forces. In the early months following the "end of major combat operations", insurgents conducted sniper attacks, suicide bombings at road checkpoints, and ambushes, resulting in about 112 Coalition fatalities per month.<ref>Abdullah, T.A.J., 2006, ''Dictatorship, Imperialism & Chaos: Iraq since 1989'', London, Zed Books</ref>
In February 2006, a [[Iraqi civil war (2006–2008)|sectarian civil war]] broke out in Iraq, leading to insurgents to direct many of their attacks against the [[Iraqi Police|police]] and [[Iraqi Ground Forces|armed forces]] of the [[Al Maliki I Government|Iraqi government]]. The attacks continued during the [[Investment in post-invasion Iraq|transitional reconstruction of Iraq]], as the Iraqi government attempted to establish its authority throughout the country.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2017-07-20|title=After Mosul, Islamic State digs in for guerrilla warfare|page=“Intelligence and security officials are bracing for the kind of devastating insurgency al Qaeda waged following the 2003
Though the civil war (and the accompanying sectarian violence) ended in mid-2008, the insurgency continued after the [[Withdrawal of United States troops from Iraq (2007–2011)|withdrawal of
===Guerrilla war===
In late June 2003 there was some public debate in the
===Sabotage===
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{{details|Fallujah}}
The Fallujah offensive [[Operation Vigilant Resolve]] was launched on 5 April 2004 in response to 31 March murder and mutilation of four of Blackwater's employees. Roads leading into and out of the city were closed. When the
The ensuing firefight resulted in a large number of casualties. Dozens of Marines were killed and injured. Two hundred and seventy-one members of the non-coalition forces were killed and 793 injured, according to official counts for the period of 5 April through 22 April. Conflicting reports leave it unclear how many of the dead and injured were rebel fighters or women and children.<ref>"Iraq:
After several failed attempts at ceasefires, the
Afterwards, the city was referred to as "free rebel town"; banners in the city streets proclaimed victory over the United States, and some of its mosques praised the Iraqi insurgency. The general, [[Muhammed Latif]], told [[Reuters]], "I want the American soldier to return to his camp. What I want more is that he returns to the United States."<ref>Chandrasekaran, Rajiv, [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A6897-2004May6.html "Gamble Brings Old Uniforms Back Into Style"]{{dead link|date=June 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}. ''Washington Post'', 7 May 2004; Page A01.</ref>
===Muqtada al-Sadr===
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The coalition responded by arresting one of al-Sadr's closest aides, leading to al-Sadr calling on his followers to rise up. The next days fighting erupted in many cities in southern Iraq, including [[Karbala]], [[Kut]], [[Nasiriya]] and [[Basra]]. The CPA announced the existence of a three-month-old arrest warrant, issued by an Iraqi judge, on al-Sadr, claiming that he was responsible for the killing of Coalition-aligned cleric [[Abdul Majid al-Khoei]]. The warrant itself inspired further opposition, as Khoei's own followers blamed Ba'athists for the murder, the Coalition-appointed Iraqi Minister of Justice stated that he had no knowledge of the warrant, and the Iraqi Jurists Association declared the warrant "illegal". Al-Sadr, who had previously created his own parallel government and a militia called the al-Mahdi Army, instructed his followers to no longer follow along with the occupation, and suggested that they attack Coalition soldiers, and his followers took control of several southern cities, often with the support of local authorities and police.
During the first few days of the uprising al-Sadr stayed in [[Kufa]], where he traditionally had a large following. On 7 April he moved to Najaf, into a building close to the shrine of the [[Imam Ali]], the holiest shrine in the Shia faith. After fierce fighting during the first days of the uprising, his followers took control over many cities in southern Iraq. In Kut the Ukrainian occupational contingent was forced out of the city by a rain of mortar fire. The Italians were contained inside their base in Nassiriya, and in Basra the governor's palace was occupied. In [[Karbala]], Polish and Bulgarian forces were able to hold their own after a battle lasting the whole night. The Alliance reacted by dispensing a reactionary force on 8 April to Kut, forcing al-Sadr followers to melt away into the city's population. The same happened in most of the other cities and control was nominally ceded. Only Najaf and Kufa, which the Americans did not enter, remained effectively under the control of al-Sadr followers. The Coalition sent 2,500
Initially hopeful that al-Sistani would force al-Sadr to capitulate, the coalition was disappointed when, while he called for all sides to show restraint, he focused instead on condemning coalition activities in Fallujah. In mid-May 2004, a
While the Alliance continually insisted that he had little support, and there were limited clashes with the smaller SCIRI, he was seldom condemned by his more senior clerics. Islamic courts expanded their influence in areas he controlled. The [[Imam Ali]] mosque ended its call for prayers with a request for divine protection for him, and his followers were clearly large in number.<ref>"[http://www.boston.com/dailynews/137/world/Once_considered_fringe_al_SadrP.shtml Once considered fringe al Sadr movement now leads anti-
In August 2004, al-Sadr attempted a second rebellion, and his al-Mahdi army again incited violence, especially in the [[Sadr city]] slum area of Baghdad, and in Najaf.
By August 2005, al-Sadr had adopted a more conciliatory tone, along with a much lower profile, saying "I call upon all the believers to save the blood of the Muslims and to return to their homes" after an outbreak of violence between some of his followers and those of [[Abdul Aziz al-Hakim]].<ref>"[http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/meast/08/25/iraq.main/ One-day extension for Iraq constitution] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051213084947/http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/meast/08/25/iraq.main/ |date=13 December 2005 }}; Shiites, Kurds again fail to reach consensus with Sunnis". CNN, 25 August 2005.</ref>
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===Hostages===
[[File:JackHensley.PNG|thumb|Jack Hensley, an American engineer, prior to his death]]
After the fall of the Ba'ath-regime, people with varying agendas have taken foreign and Iraqi hostages, including citizens of both countries that supported and opposed the invasion. This includes citizens of [[Australia]], [[Brazil]], [[Bulgaria]], [[Canada]], [[China]],
The hostage-taking appears to be uncoordinated, with different groups making various demands. Some hostages are released whilst others are killed, sometimes by beheading. Several kidnappings have been claimed by the [[Jama'at al-Tawhid wal Jihad|Tawhid and Jihad]] (The Unity of God and Holy War) Islamist group, which changed its name to "Al-Qaeda in Iraq" in October 2004. The group was run by the Jordanian-born Palestinian [[Abu Musab al-Zarqawi]]. The hostages who have been beheaded by Zarqawi's group, and possibly by Zarqawi himself, include Americans [[Nick Berg]], [[Eugene Armstrong]] and [[Jack Hensley]], South Korean [[Kim Sun-il]], [[Shosei Koda]] from Japan, and [[Kenneth Bigley]] from the UK. Italian [[Fabrizio Quattrocchi]] was shot in the head, possibly by another group, as was British aid worker [[Margaret Hassan]]. According to the [[Committee to Protect Journalists]], at least 25 journalists have been kidnapped by armed groups in Iraq since April 2004, when insurgents began targeting foreigners for abduction.
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While some hostagetaking seems to be politically motivated, a large number of hostages are taken by criminals as a means of obtaining cash. Iraqis presumed to have high incomes have especially been targeted.
On the evening of 4 March 2005, the car leading [[Giuliana Sgrena]], freshly liberated, along with two agents of the [[Sismi]], the Italian Military Intelligence service, was fired upon by
===Fall-out===
As a result of the uprisings
===Iraq Study Group Report===
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==American withdrawal==
On 18 August 2010 the 4th Stryker Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, the last
On 19 August 2010,
==
During the "post-war" Iraq occupation, occupying forces have turned their attention to enforcing order through [[patrolling]]. These patrols faced insurgents who conduct ambushes using assault rifles, rocket propelled grenades, and carefully placed and timed explosives. The patrols require armored vehicles capable of stopping at least small arms fire of 7.62 mm machine gun rounds along with mandatory external weapons platforms and tracking equipment. Experience is also key in detecting any potentially threatening, out of place car, box or person while following the [[rules of engagement]] that dictate a passive-but-ready posture. Patrolling soldiers spend nearly eight hours a day in sector and accrue nearly 30 patrols per month.
==
In October 2004, Iraq's interim government transferred to
Besides the embassy complex, four "super bases" are being built for permanent deployment. One would be adjacent to Baghdad, two would be close to the southern and northern oil fields and the fourth would be in the west towards Syria.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oxfordresearchgroup.org.uk/publications/paulrogers/April06.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060831015421/http://www.oxfordresearchgroup.org.uk/publications/paulrogers/April06.htm|archive-date=31 August 2006|title=From Cold War to Long War}}</ref>
The
==Cultural dimensions==
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==See also==
{{Portal
* [[Archaeological looting in Iraq]]: Since the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime, looters have descended upon many archaeological sites, and have begun destroying them and looting artifacts to an alarming degree.
* [[Criticism of the Iraq War]]: A list of common criticisms of the 2003 invasion and subsequent military occupation of Iraq.
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* [[Iraq and weapons of mass destruction]]: The Iraqi government's use, possession, and alleged intention of acquiring more types of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) during the reign of Saddam Hussein.
* [[United Nations Security Council and the Iraq War]]: Actions associated with the Gulf War in 1991 and UN Security Council Resolution 1441 in late 2002–2003 with at least 14 other resolutions and 30 statements between those two events.
* [[Iraq War order of battle]]: Current list of
* [[Ibn Sina Hospital]]
* [[Iraq disarmament crisis]]: Issue of Iraq's disarmament reached a crisis in 2002–2003, after demands of the complete end to Iraqi production and use of weapons of mass destruction and that Iraq comply with UN Resolutions requiring UN inspectors unfettered access to areas those inspectors thought might have weapons production facilities.
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* [[Timeline of the Iraq War]]: Timeline of events during Multinational force's occupation of Iraq, following 2003 invasion of Iraq, and relevant quotations about nature of occupation from officials
* [[Iraq War order of battle 2009]]: Overview of coalition forces in Iraq.
* [[War on Terror]] (in
* [[256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (United States)]]
'''Post World War II occupations:'''
* [[Occupied Japan]]: The post World War II
* [[United States Army Military Government in Korea]]:
* [[Morgenthau Plan]]: The post World War II
* [[History of Germany since 1945]]
* [[GARIOA]] Government And Relief in Occupied Areas of Europe
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==Further reading==
* {{cite web |title=Iraq Coalition Casualty Count |url=http://icasualties.org/oif/ |access-date=29 June 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050628212100/http://icasualties.org/oif/ |archive-date=28 June 2005}}
* {{Cite news |title=Non-
* {{Cite journal |author=Iraq Body Count |title=A Dossier of Civilian Casualties in Iraq 2003–2005 |year=2005 |url=http://reports.iraqbodycount.org/a_dossier_of_civilian_casualties_2003-2005.pdf|access-date=30 December 2008}}
* {{Cite news |last=Gillan |first=AudreyMaggie |title=Shocking images revealed at Britain's 'Abu Ghraib trial' |date=19 January 2005 |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/Iraq/Story/0,2763,1393637,00.html |location=London}}
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* {{Cite news |title=Seven soldiers charged with Iraqi's murder |date=3 February 2005 |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/military/story/0,11816,1405166,00.html |location=London |access-date=22 May 2010}}
* {{Cite news |title=Iraq timeline: 1 February 2004 to 31 December 2004 |date=January 2005 |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/Iraq/page/0,12438,1151021,00.html |location=London |access-date=22 May 2010}}
* {{Cite news |last=Carroll |first=Rory |title=Meet the men who Britain and the
* {{Cite journal |author=Cordesman, Anthony |title=
*''The Road Ahead: Lessons in Nation Building from Japan, Germany, and Afghanistan for Postwar Iraq'' by Ray Salvatore Jennings May 2003 Peceworks No. 49 [[United States Institute of Peace]]
* [[Lyal S. Sunga]], "Dilemmas facing INGOs in coalition-occupied Iraq", in ''Ethics in Action: The Ethical Challenges of International Human Rights Nongovernmental Organizations'', edited by Daniel A. Bell, Cambridge University Press 2007.
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;Management of the Iraq Reconstruction Program
* "[https://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/15/international/middleeast/15nations.html
==External links==
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* Senator Byrd, Robert [https://web.archive.org/web/20041207041554/http://www.commondreams.org/views04/0407-15.htm A Call for an Exit Door from Iraq] 7 April 2004, Common Dreams News Center
* [http://www.monthlyreview.org/0604editors.htm Is Iraq Another 'Vietnam'?] ''Monthly Review'', volume 56, issue 2, June 2004
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080503203008/http://www.missionandjustice.org/?s=iraq+usa
* Jason Vest, "Willful Ignorance", ''Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists'', July/August 2005. Discusses
* Sheehan-Miles, Charles [http://www.veteransforcommonsense.org/?Page=Module&ModuleID=48 Iraq in Transition: An Examination of Iraqi resistance, terrorism, insurgency and organized crime] 2005
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060902220839/http://www.kultursmog.com/Life-Page01.htm Americans are Losing the Victory in Europe], and [https://web.archive.org/web/20060831232005/http://www.kultursmog.com/Life-Page02.htm Grim Europe Faces Winter of Misery] [[Life (magazine)|''Life'']], 7 January 1946
* [http://www.trumanlibrary.org/oralhist/draperw.htm Oral History Interview with General William H. Draper Jr.] Chief, Economics Division, Control Council for Germany, 1945–46
* [http://www.trumanlibrary.org/oralhist/clayl.htm Oral History Interview with General Lucius D. Clay] Deputy military governor, Germany (
* [http://www.marchofwar.com/ MarchofWar.com – Up-to-date Iraq war clock, war quotes and slogans, plus poll]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20160526203058/http://shadewhile.com/contractor1.html Interview with an American Contractor in Iraq]
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