War in Iraq Support Group

The Iraq War, also known as the Occupation of Iraq, the Second Gulf War, or in the U.S., Operation Iraqi Freedom,[38] is an ongoing conflict which began on March 20, 2003 with the United States-led invasion of Iraq.

The war began on March 20, 2003, when a largely British and American force supported by small contingents from Australia, Denmark and Poland invaded Iraq. The invasion soon led to the defeat and flight of Saddam Hussein. The U.S.-led coalition occupied Iraq and attempted to establish a new democratic government; however it failed to restore order in Iraq. The unrest led to asymmetric warfare with the Iraqi insurgency, civil war between many Sunni and Shia Iraqis and al-Qaeda operations in Iraq. Coalition nations have begun to withdraw troops from Iraq as public opinion favouring troop withdrawal increases and Iraqi forces begin to take responsibility for security. The causes and consequences of the war remain controversial.