March 19 in History: Iraq War Invasion

March 19 in History: Iraq War Invasion

On March 19, 2003, the United States and its allies launched the invasion of Iraq, beginning a war that quickly toppled Saddam Hussein’s government and reshaped politics and security across the Middle East. At the time, supporters of the invasion argued it would remove a dangerous regime and reduce long-term threats, while critics warned it could destabilize the region and strain international norms around the use of force. What happened next—ye…