Invasion
Sniper of 1st Battalion The Irish Guards, Iraq, 2003. NAM 2005-01-67-27
Crown Copyright
The invasion of Iraq began on 20 March 2003, after the expiry of an American ultimatum for Saddam Hussein to leave Iraq. Saddam's refusal to co-operate with United Nations (UN) weapons inspectors and his alleged possession of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) had formed the main justification for the action. Inspectors later concluded that Iraq had no WMD stockpiles.
Commando assault
An early objective for the coalition was to seize the Al Faw peninsula, to secure access to Umm Qasr port. Coalition forces, led by 40 and 42 Royal Marine Commandos, launched an amphibious assault, using helicopters and landing craft, supported by three Royal Navy frigates providing fire support.
The securing of Al Faw and the Rumaylah oilfields was a key early success for the coalition, allowing their forces to press north. It was important to prevent Iraqi forces using Basra, Iraq's second largest city, as a base for attacks on coalition lines of communication. Within four days British troops had taken Basra’s airport, despite encountering significant Iraqi resistance. They soon began expanding their area of control in the surrounding region.
The Royal Irish Regiment dig fox holes, Iraq, April 2003. NAM 2005-01-67-14 Crown Copyright
Basra captured
A soldier of 3 Para walks past a monument to Saddam Hussein, Basra, April 2003.
NAM 2005-01-67-30 Crown Copyright
By 6 April 2003, British Commanders judged that conditions were right to enter Basra itself in strength. They launched assaults from three directions, encountering only patchy resistance, and stormed the Ba'ath Party headquarters. British troops were initially welcomed by locals, and although there was some looting, the city soon began to return to normal. British officers quickly established contact with local leaders and assisted in restoring a functioning police force. The first joint UK-Iraqi police patrols took place a week after the city was captured.
Fall of Baghdad
Soldiers of the 1st Battalion Royal Irish Regiment travel past burning oil wells in Iraq, March 2003. NAM 2005-01-67-16 Crown Copyright
British control of south-east Iraq helped US troops to push towards Baghdad. Within four days of the start of the operation the US Army was at An Najaf, some 95 kilometres (60 miles) from Baghdad, while US Marines were pressing north along a different route towards Al Kut.
After several days of consolidating their position while attacking Iraqi forces with artillery and aircraft, US forces engaged the Republican Guard divisions around Baghdad. By 4 April 2003 they had seized the city outskirts, including the airport.
By 8 April, US troops had secured the city approaches. The following day, crowds gathered in the centre of the city to welcome coalition forces and destroy symbols of the old regime.
An Iraqi civilian is searched by soldiers of 1st Battalion The Irish Guards, Basra, March 2003. NAM 2005-01-67-23 Crown Copyright
By now the west and north of Iraq had largely been secured, and a few days later the northern cities of Tikrit, Mosul and Kirkuk fell to coalition troops.
Chaos and unrest
Many Iraqis seized the chance to plunder ministries, palaces, houses, offices, museums, schools and hospitals. Lawlessness wreaked havoc in many neighbourhoods and coalition forces were criticised for not doing enough to maintain order in the newly captured cities.
