Today in History: March 19, Bush Announces Iraq Invasion

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On March 19, 2003, President George W. Bush announced in a televised address that coalition forces had begun an invasion of Iraq, marking the start of the Iraq War. While Bush declared victory just over five weeks later in his 'Mission Accomplished' speech, the main U.S. troop withdrawal would not be completed until 2011.

Why it matters

The Iraq War was a highly controversial and consequential military conflict that had major geopolitical and humanitarian impacts, including the deaths of thousands of U.S. and Iraqi troops, the destabilization of the region, and the rise of extremist groups like ISIS. The decision to invade Iraq based on faulty intelligence about weapons of mass destruction has been widely criticized.

The details

In his televised address, Bush announced that 'coalition forces have begun striking selected targets of military importance to undermine Saddam Hussein's ability to wage war.' The invasion, codenamed 'Operation Iraqi Freedom,' involved a massive deployment of U.S. and allied forces that quickly toppled Saddam Hussein's regime. However, the war dragged on for years as the U.S. struggled to stabilize the country and combat a growing insurgency.

• On March 19, 2003, President George W. Bush announced the start of the Iraq War in a televised address.
• On May 1, 2003, Bush declared 'Mission Accomplished' aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, though major combat operations would continue for years.
• The main U.S. troop withdrawal from Iraq was not completed until 2011.

What they’re saying

What’s next

The Iraq War would continue for years, with the U.S. struggling to stabilize the country and combat a growing insurgency. The main U.S. troop withdrawal was not completed until 2011.