1990

6 Aug Following invasion of Kuwait, UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 661 imposes sanctions on Iraq, subsequently extended by further resolutions

29 Nov UNSCR 678 authorises a coalition to use “all necessary means” to end the Iraqi occupation of Kuwait

1991

16 Jan-28 Feb Iraqi forces ejected from Kuwait by coalition forces in first Gulf conflict

6 Apr Iraq accepts the cease-fire conditions in UNSCR 687, including a requirement to end all prohibited weapons programmes and to allow monitoring by the UN Special Commission inspection team (UNSCOM)

15 May First on-site inspections begin

1992

10 Aug UN “safe haven” is established in Northern Iraq for the protection of the Kurdish population

26 Aug A no-fly zone is established over southern Iraq for the protection of the Shia Muslim population

14 Apr Creation of Oil for Food Programme by UNSCR 986, allowing revenue from oil sales supervised by the UN to be used for the purchase of humanitarian goods

1998

16 Dec UNSCOM inspectors leave Iraq due to concern for safety of personnel and lack of Iraqi co-operation

16-19 Dec Operation Desert Fox: airstrikes against Iraqi weapons facilities

17 Dec UNMOVIC created as successor to UNSCOM. Iraq continues to prevent access by inspectors

12 Sep President Bush addresses the UN General Assembly, saying Saddam Hussein has systematically and continually violated 16 UNSCRs over the past decade, and calls upon the UN to disarm Iraq of its weapons of mass destruction

24 Sep British Government publishes comprehensive dossier on Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction. Prime Minister opens Parliamentary debate and acknowledges planning needs to take place

8 Nov UN Security Council unanimously adopts UNSCR 1441, declaring Iraq to be in material breach of past UNSCRs, creating a tougher UN weapons inspection regime and offering Baghdad a last chance to comply fully, immediately and unconditionally with its disarmament obligations, with “serious consequences” to follow if it did not do so

13 Nov Iraq indicates willingness to accept the return of weapons inspectors to the country under the terms of UNSCR 1441

18 Nov US approaches a number of countries, seeking support in the event that military action proves necessary

25 Nov House of Commons debate UNSCR 1441. Secretary of State for Defence announces that contingency planning is taking place for possible operations in Iraq

27 Nov Inspections resume in Iraq

7 Dec Iraq submits a 12,000 page declaration of its WMD programme to UN

18 Dec Secretary of State for Defence announces further contingency preparations, including approaching the shipping market to charter vessels

19 Dec Hans Blix’s initial UNMOVIC report to the UN states that the Iraqi declaration falls some way short of what is required and may constitute a material breach. He subsequently says that the report contained no new information on the weapons programmes revealed by UNSCOM

2003

7 Jan Secretary of State for Defence announces the making of a call-out Order and intent to call out 1500 reservists. Augmentation of the Naval Task Group 2003 with 3 Commando Brigade is announced

16 Jan UNMOVIC discovers chemical weapon warheads in a relatively new bunker in Iraq

20 Jan Composition of the land package announced

27 Jan Drs Blix and El Baradei present a report on progress to UN Security Council, making clear the serious shortcomings in Iraq’s cooperation with weapons inspections

30 Jan Secretary of State for Defence announces further call out of reservists to overall total of up to 6000

Feb 2003

6 Feb Secretary of State for Defence announces the composition of the air package to be sent to the Gulf. Colin Powell briefs the UN Security Council on Iraq’s failure to comply with UNSCR 1441

14 Feb Drs Blix and El Baradei present a further report on progress to UN Security Council

27 Feb UK, US and Spain table a draft resolution at UN Security Council making clear that Iraq had failed under its obligations of UNSCR1441

Mar 2003

7 Mar Further inspectors report to UN

14 Mar France declares its intent to veto the draft resolution

17 Mar Following the Azores Summit, the Foreign Secretary announces the abandonment of the UN process

18 Mar President Bush issues an ultimatum for Saddam Hussein and sons to leave Iraq within 48 hours or be removed by force. House of Commons debate to authorise military action against Iraq: motion is passed by 412 votes to 149.  Formal decision to commit UK forces following debate. UNMOVIC/IAEA inspectors leave Iraq

Operations in Iraq

20 Mar Limited air strikes are launched on targets associated with the regime in Iraq. Ground campaign begins in the late evening with coalition forces including 40 and 42 Commando RM taking control of the Al Faw peninsula and US forces securing the Rumaylah oilfields

21 Mar Major air campaign begins at 1800

22 Mar US forces reach An Nasiriyah and secure several bridges over the Euphrates

23 Mar Royal Navy vessels begin sweeping the Khawr Abd Allah waterway for mines, to enable the port of Umm Qasr to be opened to shipping

24 Mar Basrah International airport under UK control

25 Mar 40 Cdo engage Iraqi armoured brigade on Al Faw and destroy many Iraqi armoured vehicles

26 Mar Coalition forces target and destroy Ba’ath Party HQ in Basrah

27 Mar UK forces engage and destroy armoured vehicle convoy leaving Basrah

28 Mar RFA Sir GALAHAD arrives in Umm Qasr with humanitarian aid

30 Mar UK forces engage with enemy south of Basrah taking some high ranking POWs

31 Mar A school reopens in Rumaylah, and markets and hospitals open in Az Zubayr

1 Apr UK forces begin patrolling in Az Zubayr in berets

2 Apr US forces begin land engagement with Republican Guards around Baghdad

4 Apr Baghdad International airport seized by US forces

5 Apr US forces enter central Baghdad for the first time

6 Apr UK troops enter and remain in Basrah encountering little opposition

7 Apr Targeted bombing raid on building containing senior Iraqi leaders in Baghdad

9 Apr Iraqi civilians tear down statue of Saddam Hussein in central Baghdad with the aid of US marines

10 Apr Kirkuk falls to Kurdish forces

11 Apr Commanders in Mosul sign a cease fire

13 Apr Joint UK/Iraqi patrols begin in Basrah

14 Apr US forces enter Tikrit

15 Apr First conference on future of Iraq held in An Nasiriyah

22 Apr UK area of operations declared “permissive” by UN for humanitarian operations to commence