This snapshot, taken on 08/04/2010, shows web content selected for preservation by The National Archives. External links, forms and search boxes may not work in archived websites.
Operations

Saddam’s breach of UN resolutions

In November 2002, the UN declared that it would no longer tolerate the Iraqi regime’s continuing defiance of international law.  UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1441 was unanimously adopted, declaring Iraq to be in material breach of previous resolutions, and setting out new procedures for the conduct of inspections, together with the threat of serious consequences in the event of Iraqi non-cooperation.  The resolution provided a final opportunity for Iraq to comply with its disarmament obligations and UNMOVIC inspectors were eventually allowed back later that month. Subsequent reports by UNMOVIC and the IAEA showed clearly, however, that not only was Iraq failing to offer active co-operation but it was engaged in a systematic pattern of concealment and deceit.

In view of the Iraqi regime’s failure to comply with the will of the United Nations, and based on the authority provided by a series of UN resolutions since 1991, the UK joined a US-led coalition that was prepared to use force as a last resort to secure Iraqi compliance.  The Government’s overriding political objective was to disarm Saddam of his weapons of mass destruction, which threatened his neighbours and his people.  It also undertook to support the Iraqi people in their desire for peace, prosperity, freedom and good government.

On 24 February 2003, the UK, the US and Spain tabled a draft resolution, making it clear that Iraq had failed to take the opportunity provided in UNSCR 1441.  Despite significant diplomatic efforts, by 18 March 2003 the Government and its coalition partners had concluded that the diplomatic process had been exhausted and that, unless Saddam Hussein complied with a final ultimatum, there would be no alternative to military action against the Iraqi regime.

UK Forces and the Military Campaign

The military campaign proper began in the early hours of 20 March 2003, some 90 minutes after the expiry of a US ultimatum for Saddam Hussein to leave Iraq.  Following intelligence about the location of senior members of the Iraqi leadership, US aircraft and a number of cruise missiles struck regime targets around Baghdad.  Iraqi forces responded by launching missiles into Kuwait, forcing Coalition troops and Kuwaiti civilians to don Nuclear Biological and Chemical (NBC) protective clothing as a precaution.

The land offensive began on 20 March 2003, less than 24 hours after the first bomb was dropped.  An early objective was to seize the Al Faw peninsula, to secure access to the strategically important port of Umm Qasr.  Coalition forces, led by 40 Commando (and subsequently 42 Commando) Royal Marines, launched an amphibious assault on the peninsula, using helicopters from the UK’s Joint Helicopter Command and a variety of landing craft, supported by three Royal Navy frigates providing fire support.

The securing of the Al Faw peninsula and the Rumaylah oilfields by UK and US forces was a key early success for the coalition, allowing Coalition forces to press north.  It was important to prevent Iraqi forces using Basrah,  Iraq’s second largest city, as a base for attacks on coalition lines of communication.  Within four days UK forces had taken Basrah’s airport, despite encountering significant Iraqi resistance, and began expanding their area of control in the surrounding region.

After several days of raids, UK forces entered the nearby town of As Zubayr, south-west of Basrah.  By 6 April 2003, British Commanders judged that conditions were right to enter Basrah itself in strength. UK forces launched assaults from three directions, encountering only patchy resistance, and stormed the Ba’ath Party headquarters.  Careful timing minimised casualties on both sides.  UK forces were welcomed by the local people, and although there was some looting during the first few days targeted at symbols of the Ba’ath regime, the city soon began to return to something resembling normal life.  UK commanders quickly established contact with local leaders and assisted in restoring a functioning police force.  The first joint UK-Iraqi police patrols took place just one week after Basrah had been liberated.

UK forces’ control of south-east Iraq helped US troops to push swiftly towards Baghdad.  Within four days of the start of the operation the US Army was at An Najaf, some 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 International Airport, and began to make successful forays within the city boundaries.

By 8 April 2003, US Forces had secured the city approaches and US troops had visited Saddam’s palaces in central Baghdad, and that night US troops maintained positions in central Baghdad overnight for the first time.  On 9 April 2003 crowds gathered in the centre of the city to welcome coalition forces and destroy symbols of the old regime.  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.  On 14 April 2003 the Prime Minister informed the House of Commons that:

“Less than four weeks after the commencement of the war, the regime of Saddam is gone, the bulk of Iraq is under coalition control, and the vast majority of Iraqis are rejoicing at Saddam’s departure.”

Reconstruction and the political process

Since the end of major combat operations in April 2003, the UK has been playing a full part in the re-building of Iraq, both in terms of restoring essential infrastructure and services, and through the establishment of conditions for a stable and law-abiding Iraqi government.

British Forces, along with their US and other allies in the UN-mandated Multi-National Force, continue to work with the new, democratically-elected Iraqi Government to restore normality, maintain security and counter the insurgents determined to bring chaos and undermine the democratic process.

This work culminated in Iraq’s first democratic elections for decades in January 2005. Since then, a draft constitution has been agreed in the Iraqi Transitional National Assembly, which was followed on the 15 October 2005 by a referendum.  This gave the people of Iraq the opportunity to vote on the constitution. On the 25 October 2005 the Iraqi Electoral Commission announced that the constitution had successfully passed.  This will be followed by parliamentary elections in December 2005.

On 21 September 2005 the UK Secretary of State for Defence, Dr. John Reid met the Prime Minister of the Iraqi Transitional Government, Dr. Ibrahim al-Ja’afari in London. They affirmed their joint commitment to lasting security in Iraq, and at a press conference following the meeting, John Reid said:

“Our plan remains exactly the same, and that is to stay in Iraq until such time as the democratically-elected government has developed sufficient forces to counter terrorism and to preserve the security of democracy in Iraq.”

Further information

The Ministry of Defence is not responsible for the content or availability of external websites