Events 2003 in Iraq

1 events

1.1 january
1.2 february
1.3 march
1.4 april
1.5 may
1.6 june
1.7 july
1.8 august
1.9 september
1.10 october
1.11 november
1.12 december

events
january

january 3 - united nations arms inspectors unmovic have established base of operations in mosul, 375 kilometers or 200 miles north of baghdad, speed inspection process.
january 7 - french president jacques chirac, in new year s message french forces, stated french forces should prepare activated if united nations decides on military action in iraq.
january 9 - un chief weapons inspector hans blix , international atomic energy agency head mohammed el baradei give report united nations security council. progress on search weapons of mass destruction in iraq inching forward more pro-active stance required iraqi government.
january 16 - un weapons inspectors in iraq stated found empty rocket warheads, designed carry chemical warfare agents, @ ukhaider ammunition storage area.
january 18 - mass mobilization pulls global protests against iraq war in cities around world, including tokyo, moscow, paris, london, montreal, ottawa, toronto, cologne, bonn, göteborg, istanbul, , cairo. nion , answer hold protests in washington, d.c. , san francisco, california.
january 20 - part of plan invade iraq, british defence secretary geoff hoon announces 26,000 british troops , equipment including 120 tanks sent kuwait, joining 5,000 troops on way there.
january 23 - 350 australian troops begin journey towards iraq, joining , uk troops assembled there. prime minister john howard said pre-positioning troops increased likelihood of (the crisis) being resolved peacefully . around 150 people protested troop ship left sydney, shouting go yourself! mr. howard.
january 27 - speaking united nations security council, iraqi foreign minister naji sabri said united states , allies unjustifably aggressive , iraq complying requests made un weapons inspectors. speaking same forum, hans blix, chief inspector, later said iraq had not been co-operative united nations inspection teams.
january 30 - facing worldwide criticism , against wishes of majorities of own electorates, leaders of britain, spain, italy, portugal, hungary, poland, denmark, , czech republic release statement, letter of eight, demonstrating support united states plans invasion of iraq.

february

february 5 - @ united nations secretary of state colin powell presents government s case against saddam hussein government of iraq, part of diplomatic side of u.s. plan invade iraq. presentation includes tape recordings, satellite photographs , other intelligence data, , aims prove wmd production, evasion of weapons inspections , link al-qaeda.
february 7 - chief united nations arms inspector hans blix said iraq appeared making fresh efforts cooperate u.n. teams hunting weapons of mass destruction, washington said momentum building war iraq.
february 8 - sections of dodgy dossier issued uk government, purported present latest british intelligence iraq, , had been cited tony blair , colin powell evidence need war, criticized plagiarisms. had been copied without permission number of sources including jane s intelligence review , 12-year-old doctoral thesis of californian student had been published in journal middle east review of international affairs. sentences copied word-for-word, , spelling mistakes had been reproduced original articles. downing street responded saying government had never claimed exclusive authorship , information accurate.
february 9 - 13% of 3,300 reservists called british government in preparation possible war in iraq have attempted avoid being drafted.
february 10 - france , belgium broke nato procedure of silent approval concerning timing of protective measures turkey in case of possible war iraq. germany said supports veto. procedure put operation on february 6 secretary general george robertson. in response turkey called upon article 4 of nato treaty, stipulates member states must deliberate when asked member state if feels threatened.
february 12 - audio tape attributed osama bin laden released al jazeera television. recounts battle of tora bora , urges muslims fight united states , overthrow iraq regime of saddam hussein.
february 13 - post-iraq invasion

austria bars military units involved in attack on iraq entering or flying on territories without united nations mandate attack iraq.
united states military officials anonymously confirm washington post 2 special forces units have been operating on ground inside iraq on month, making preliminary preparations large-scale invasion.
a united nations panel reports iraq s al-samoud 2 missiles have range of 180 km (above 150 km limit allowed un), splitting opinion on whether breach unscr 1441.


february 14 - post-iraq invasion

a large demonstration held in melbourne protest against australian government s support s policy on iraq. organisers estimated 200,000 people came out on streets, while news sources put number @ 150,000 .
unmovic chief weapons inspectors hans blix , mohamed elbaradei presented report united nations security council. stated iraqis had been co-operating inspectors , no weapons of mass destruction had been found, saddam hussein regime had still account many banned weapons believed have been in arsenal. mr blix expressed doubts of conclusions in colin powell s security council presentation of february 5, , questioned significance of of photographic evidence mr powell had presented.
tariq aziz of iraq met pope john paul ii.


february 15 - more 6 million people protest in on 600 cities worldwide, largest war protest take place before war occurred.
february 16 - missile larger allowed un sanction rules has been found in iraq.
february 24 - general colin powell states @ meeting in beijing time take action. evidence clear ... reaching point serious consequences must flow. speech appears imply military action follow within 3 weeks, based on previous pentagon briefings.
february 25 - post-iraq invasion

the united states, britain , spain present un security council much-anticipated second resolution stating iraq has failed take final opportunity disarm, not include deadlines or explicit threat of military force. meanwhile, france, germany, , russia offer counter-proposal calling peaceful disarmament through further inspections. sometime reporter jeff gannon, actual name james guckert, signs in @ white house first time, according secret service white house access logs obtained through foia representatives john conyers (d-mi) , louise slaughter (d-ny).
both major parties of kurdistan, autonomous region in northern iraq, vow fight turkish troops if enter kurdistan capture mosul or interfere in kurdish self-rule. between them 2 parties can mobilize 80,000 guerillas – no match modern turkish army, severe blow unity of u.s. allies on northern front expected in u.s. plan invade iraq.


february 26 - post-iraq invasion

united nations chief weapons inspector hans blix said there no evidence iraq has weapons of mass destruction.
u.s. president george w. bush talks publicly vision of post-invasion democracy in iraq. bush says example other nations in arabia.
the house of commons saw largest rebellion mps governing party in britain @ least 100 years. 122 mps ruling labour party among 199 parties voted add phrase [this house] finds case military action against iraq yet unproven government motion. motion endorsed un security council resolution 1441 , supported ... government s continuing efforts in un disarm iraq of weapons of mass destruction.
saddam hussein, in interview dan rather, rules out exile option. calls dialogue united states president george w. bush, , suggests 2 should engage in televised debate.


february 27 - post-iraq invasion

spanish prime minister josé maría aznar asks united states president george w. bush silence secretary of defense donald rumsfeld, indicating rumsfeld s numerous public remarks on european countries iraq policies viewed inflammatory , overwhelmingly counterproductive within european diplomatic community. aznar indicated preference secretary of state colin powell.
regarding disarmament of iraq, chief weapons inspector hans blix, says results in terms of disarmament have been limited far.
elie wiesel, nobel peace prize winner , holocaust survivor, announced support united states , united kingdom campaign against iraq.


february 28 - post-iraq invasion

iraq begins process of destroying al samoud 2 missiles on march 1. hans blix, u.n. chief weapons inspector said significant piece of real disarmament . however, spokesman of white house, ari fleischer declared iraq commitment destroy these missiles fraud president george w. bush had predicted, , indicated united states wanted total , complete disarmament of iraq. repeated if united nations did not act disarm baghdad, united states lead coalition of voluntary countries disarm saddam hussein.
canada s prime minister jean chrétien indicates believes regime change dangerous goal invasion of iraq, , disarmament should goal of international pressure.
it reported that, citing national interest reason, british government under margaret thatcher contributed approximately £1bn of taxpayer money iraq under saddam hussein in 1980s. of money went military infrastructure built british companies such gec-marconi.



march

us president george w. bush addresses nation oval office, march 19, 2003, announce beginning of operation iraqi freedom.



march 1 - post-iraq invasion

the united arab emirates calls iraqi president saddam hussein step down avoid war. sentiment later echoed bahrain , kuwait.
the turkish speaker of parliament voids vote accepting u.s. troops involved in planned invasion of iraq turkey on constitutional grounds. 264 votes , 250 against accepting 62,000 military personnel not constitute necessary majority under turkish constitution, due 19 abstentions.
under u.n. supervision, iraq begins destroying 4 of al samoud missiles.


march 2 - iraq destroys 6 more al-samoud 2 missiles, bringing total destroyed 10 out of estimated 100 missiles ordered eliminated u.n. u.s. continues dismiss iraq s actions part of game of deception. iraq indicates may halt destruction of missiles if u.s. indicates go war anyway.
march 3 - under intense american pressure, turkey indicates parliament consider second vote on whether allow u.s. troops use turkish bases military attack on iraq.
march 5 - post-iraq invasion

the foreign ministers of france, germany , russia indicate oppose un security council proposals authorize war iraq.
uk newspaper times reports united nations secretly drawn plan establish post-war government in iraq. although no consensus have reached among un security council members in regard military action, document indicates un leaders may consider war inevitable.
meeting of organisation of islamic conference in qatar fails produce statement opposing war in iraq.
saudi arabia deploys 3,300 troops kuwait in preparation potential iraq conflict.
students protest , go on strike in number of countries around world.
crossgates mall in guilderland, new york, dropped charges of trespassing against man had been arrested refusing remove give peace chance t-shirt. change of heart occurred after on 100 anti-war demonstraters marched through mall , threatened stay until mall backed down.


march 7 - post-iraq invasion

hans blix reports un security council citing iraq s increased qualified cooperation.
revising draft resolution put forth united states, united kingdom , spain week ago, britain proposes setting march 17 date iraq voluntarily disarm or face prospect of war.
the nikkei benchmark hit 20-year low record war in iraq appears closer, alleged stock manipulation nikko salomon smith barney came light, north korea preparing test fire mid-range missile, , new political scandal in party of prime minister junichiro koizumi came light.


march 8 - post-iraq invasion

kuwaiti workers have been instructed make 35 holes in fence between iraq , kuwait, , kuwaiti army positioning tanks @ these openings. pakistan daily times reported unikom had found armed marines in demilitarized zone along fence last month. cbc reported 230 un support workers have been ordered out of demilitarized zone.
the japanese government expressed support revised draft resolution submitted jointly united states, united kingdom , spain united nations security council sets march 17 deadline iraq. japanese media opinion polls taken last week indicate 84% of japanese people oppose iraq war.


march 9 - post-iraq invasion

in interview on bbc radio 4, clare short, member of tony blair s cabinet, describes stance on iraq reckless , , says resign if committed uk war without unambiguous mandate united nations.
arabnews reports saddam hussein demanded un security council lift embargo against iraq , denounce united states , united kingdom liars , strip israel of weapons of mass destruction , force israel withdraw palestine , occupied arab land .
albania says send troops join war against iraq, largely symbolic measure thanking united states , nato intervening in kosovo in 1999 kosovo war.


march 10 - post-iraq invasion

the white house press secretary, paraphrasing president, stated if united nations fails act, means united nations not international body disarms saddam hussein. international body disarm saddam hussein.
kofi annan, secretary general of united nations, stated if , others go outside [security] council , take military action not in conformity [un] charter .
french president jacques chirac declares france veto un resolution sponsored spain, united kingdom, , united states. resolution authorise use of force against iraq unless country proves disarmament march 17.
russian foreign minister igor ivanov announced russia veto un resolution , uk authorising use of force against iraq.
u.s. diplomat john brown, joined state department in 1981, resigned. said bush administration s iraq policy fomenting massive rise in anti-us sentiment around world , not support it.


march 11 - post-iraq invasion

iraqi fighters threaten 2 u.s. u-2 surveillance planes, flying missions u.n. weapons inspectors, forcing them abort mission , return base. iraqi officials described incident technical mistake u.n. inspectors. ewen buchanan, spokesman unmovic, said iraqi officials had been notified flight beforehand
according arab media, saddam hussein opens terrorist training camps in iraq arab volunteers willing carry out suicide bombings against u.s. forces if u.s.-led attack took place.


march 12 - british prime minister tony blair proposes amendment possible 18th u.n. resolution, call iraq meet benchmarks prove disarming. amendment rejected france, promises veto new resolution.
march 14 - post-iraq invasion

u.s. representative james p. moran, democrat virginia, forced out of party leadership post after furor on remarks interpreted saying american jews responsible possible war iraq.
key documents presented evidence should invade iraq revealed forgeries. documents stated niger selling 500 tons of uranium iraq. one, dated 2000, on stationery military government of 1980s , referred foreign minister had not been in power 14 years; bore signature of president of niger obvious fake. iraq s supposed acquisition of african uranium feature in colin powell s speech un security council in february , in george w. bush s state of union address. senator john rockefeller asked fbi investigate origin of documents. rockefeller expressed concern forgeries may part of larger deception campaign aimed @ manipulating public opinion , foreign policy regarding iraq.


march 15 - round of protests against iraq war takes place in cities across world.
march 16 - post-iraq invasion

the leaders of united states, britain, portugal, , spain meet @ summit in azores islands. u.s. president bush calls monday, march 17, moment of truth , meaning coalition of willing make final effort extract resolution u.n. security council give iraq ultimatum disarm or disarmed force.
largest co-ordinated worldwide vigil part of global protests against war on iraq.


march 17 - post-iraq invasion

president bush gives final ultimatum saddam hussein. conditions saddam , sons must leave iraq in 48 hours.
kofi annan, secretary general of united nations, orders un personnel leave iraq.
peter goldsmith, attorney general of uk set out legal justification invasion of iraq. robin cook, leader of british house of commons, resigned uk cabinet on plan invade iraq. uk , have withdrawn proposed un security council resolution on iraq. united states advised unmovic , international atomic energy agency withdraw weapon inspectors out of iraq. japanese prime minister junichiro koizumi said supports u.s., u.k., , spain ending diplomatic efforts against iraq. indicates no further un resolution necessary invade iraq.


march 18 - post-iraq invasion

u.s. secretary of state colin powell says thirty nations have joined united states in coalition of willing remove saddam hussein power, 15 quietly promising support.
naji sabri, iraqi foreign minister, calls u.s. president george w. bush war criminal , tyrant , despot , idiot . claims evacuation of unikom demilitarized zone violates un resolution of 1991.
approximately us$1 billion stolen central bank of iraq, hours after united states began bombing baghdad.
the united kingdom parliament votes in grant parliamentary approval invasion of iraq.


march 19 - president bush orders invasion of iraq. general tommy franks supreme commander in area. bombs begin dropping on military targets in baghdad. jørn siljeholm, weapons inspector in iraq, accused u.s. of lying evidence weapons of mass destruction.
march 20 - land troops united states, united kingdom, australia, , poland invade iraq.
march 21 - united states , united kingdom begin shock , awe campaign massive air strike on military targets in baghdad using cruise missiles fired navy warships, royal navy submarines , b-52 bombers; , laser guided missiles fired stealth bombers.
march 26 - 2003 invasion of iraq

un secretary general kofi annan says american , allied troops in iraq must used provide humanitarian aid iraqis whilst security situation unstable.
at least 14 people killed in baghdad after missile hits marketplace.
al jazeera television broadcasts images of 2 dead soldiers , 2 prisoners of war, whom says british.
954 paratroopers of army s 173rd airborne made combat jump bashur drop zone part of operation iraqi freedom.


march 28 - during coalition invasion of iraq, 2 a-10 thunderbolts usaf 190th fighter squadron fired on , destroyed 2 armored vehicles united kingdom s d-squadron, killing 1 british soldier, , injuring 5 others.

april

statue of saddam hussein being toppled in baghdad s firdos square on april 9, 2003.



april 9 - baghdad formally secured u.s. forces.
april 10 - kurdish forces capture kirkuk.
april 15 - 2003 invasion of iraq

u.s. forces seize control of of tikrit.
u.s. forces capture abu abbas in baghdad.


april 21 - retired lt gen jay garner becomes civil leader of iraq when office reconstruction , humanitarian assistance (orha) formed , placed administrator 3 deputies, including tim cross.
april 23 - u.s. forces arrive in fallujah.
april 28 - group of 200 protestors defy u.s. imposed curfew in fallujah , organize protest. during protest soldiers occupying schoolhouse claim have been fired upon, , kill 15 in returning fire. no u.s. casualties reported.

may

the uss abraham lincoln returning port carrying mission accomplished banner



may 1 - 2003 invasion of iraq

u.s. president bush announces end major combat operations.
secretary of defense donald rumsfeld arrives in baghdad , greets jay garner.


may 12 - paul bremer arrives in iraq head of newly formed coalition provisional authority (cpa) , replaces general jay garner civil leader of iraq.
may 15 - operation planet x captures 260 suspected fugitives near tikrit. 230 later released. high-level fugitives captured raid.
may 22 - reports of high uranium concentration in afghan urine in 2003 fueled speculation coalition used depleted uranium weapons in afghanistan. however, further research in 2005 showed isotope ratios more consistent natural (not depleted) uranium source.

june


u.s. marines in iraq, june 2003



june 24 - 6 british royal military police soldiers killed mob in majar al-kabir in southern iraq.

july

july 2 - president bush declared u.s. troops remain in iraq in spite of attacks, challenging insurgents answer bring em on, criticized line bush later expressed misgivings about.
july 6 - joseph c. wilson iv, reveals in new york times editorial page iraqi s yellow cake excuse bunk.
july 7 - general john abizaid replaces general tommy franks centcom commander.
july 22 - paul bremer appoints special iraq interim governing council prominent iraqis different areas of iraq.
july 22 - members of 101st airborne kill uday , qusay hussein during three-hour firefight in mosul, iraq.

august

un headquarters in baghdad after zarqawi s men bombed it, august 22



august 19 - truck bomb attack on un kills sérgio vieira de mello , 21 others. leads un leaving iraq due security concerns.
august 29 - shi ite imam ali mosque hit suicide car bomber assassinating head of 1 of iraq s largest shi ite parties had led prayers there , killing between 85 , 125 others.

september

september 20 - aquila al-hashimi, member of iraq interim governing council shot in abdomen. dies 5 days later.

october

as part of cpa plan of de-ba athification americans briefly paid many iraqi soldiers saddam failed compensate wages around time of u.s. lead invasion.

on october 5, 2003, payments abruptly came end when cash ran out ahead of announced timetable such payouts. many soldiers of iraq army still had yet receive wages either iraqi government or coalition. jobless , without income crowd of appx 20,000 people, largely former soldiers , ba ath party members gathered @ pay sites location on damascus street in baghdad , began demonstration developed full-scale riot. notable uptick in insurgency attacks against coalition forces followed thereafter.

november

u.s. president george w. bush meets troops on thanksgiving day.



november 12 – in nasiriyah, @ least 23 people, among them first italian casualties of 2003 iraq war killed in suicide bomb attack on italian police base.
november 26 – uk foreign minister jack straw pays brief, surprise visit iraq.
november 26 – abed hamed mowhoush, iraqi general, tortured death usa army personnel while in prison.
november 27 – president bush drops surprise thanksgiving dinner soldiers in baghdad condoleezza rice.

december

saddam hussein being pulled hideaway in operation red dawn, 13 december 2003



december 9 - japan promises 1,000 troops reconstruction effort.
december 13 - saddam hussein captured members of 4th infantry division, 1st brigade. hiding in spider hole in ad dawr, near tikrit, hometown. saddam captured in hole below two-room mud shack. when captured styrofoam square , rug between saddam , u.s. forces. major general raymond odierno commented, “he caught rat.”


saddam hussein. president of iraq. want negotiate. - saddam hussein, upon surrendering.
president bush sends regards. - response american soldiers accepting saddam s surrender.
ladies , gentlemen, got him. - paul bremer, announcing capture @ press conference.




^ https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2003/03/20030317-7.html
^ alex kirby (may 22, 2003). afghans uranium levels spark alert . bbc. 
^ asaf durakovic, quantitative analysis of uranium isotopes in urine of civilian population of eastern afghanistan after operation enduring freedom (pdf) 
^ https://www.theguardian.com/world/2003/jun/26/iraq.jasonburke
^ https://www.theguardian.com/world/2006/jan/08/iraq.military
^ president regrets bring em on . newsmax.com wires. 2005-01-14. retrieved 2006-09-01. 
^ timeline: iraq after saddam . bbc.co.uk. 2005-11-25.