Iraq Timeline

October 2002
War Authorized
The U.S. Congress authorizes President Bush to use military force against Iraq.

November 2002
Inspections
U.N. weapons inspections resume inside Iraq.

March 2003
Invasion
U.N. weapons inspectors evacuate Iraq just a day before the U.S.-led coalition invades Iraq.

April 2003
Victory
The Iraqi regime of Saddam Hussein collapses. Hussein escapes.

May 2003
Rebuilding
The Coalition Provisional Authority is established to rule Iraq. Economic sanctions against Iraq are lifted.

December 2003
Capture
Saddam Hussein is captured near Tikrit.

March 2004
Interim Constitution
A new, temporary constitution for Iraq is signed.

April 2004
Humiliation
Photographs emerge showing Iraqi prisoners being tortured and humiliated by Americans in the Abu Ghraib prison.

April 2004
al-Sadr
Uprisings led by Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr begin.

June 2004
Iraqi Government
Control of Iraq handed over to an Iraqi government. Elections planned.

January 2005
Elections
Iraqis elect the Iraqi National Assembly. Shiites won a majority. Sunnis largely boycott the vote.

April 2005
Leaders
New assembly chooses Jalal Talabani as president and Ibrahim al-Jaafari as prime minister.

May 2005
Contradictions
The so-called "Downing Street Memo" from July 2002 is revealed. These notes from high-level British meetings seem to contradict Bush Administration claims about the war's origin.

October 2005
Trial
Saddam Hussein's trial for crimes against humanity begins in Baghdad.

May 2006
New Leader
Nouri al-Maliki becomes Prime Minister of Iraq.

June 2006
Zarqawi Killed
Abu Musab al Zarqawi, an Al Qaeda leader, is killed by U.S. forces in Iraq.

November 2006
U.S. Elections
Republicans lose control of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives.

December 2006
Path Forward?
The Iraq Study Group, led by James Baker and Lee Hamilton, issues its findings and recommendations on the war.

December 2006
Hussein Executed
Saddam Hussein is executed after being found guilty by an Iraqi tribunal. Video of the execution appears online.

January 2007
Surge
President Bush announces 20,000 additional U.S. troops will be sent to Iraq.

September 2007
Death of an Ally
Sunni leader Abdul Sattar Abu Risha is killed in Iraq just ten days after meeting with President Bush.

February 2008
Turkey Invades
Turkey launches ground operations in northern Iraq to battle Kurdish separatists.

March 2008
Normalcy Declared
President Bush claims normalcy is returning to Iraq.

September 2008
Anbar Control
U.S. forces turn over Anbar Province to the Iraqi military.

September 2008
Odierno Commands
General Raymond Odierno becomes commander in Iraq.

November 2008
End for U.S.?
Iraq government passes security agreement calling for U.S. withdrawal by 2011.

December 2008
Violence Continues
Dozens dead and many more wounded in bomb attacks.

January 2009
Iraqi Sovereignty
United States turns over control of airspace and Green Zone to Iraq.