when did iraq war start

The Iraq War (the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq) began on 20 March 2003.

Key details in one glance

• Start of invasion: 20 March 2003, with U.S.-led airstrikes and ground forces entering Iraq.

• Often called: Iraq War, Second Gulf War, or Second Persian Gulf War.

• Coalition: Primarily the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, and Poland in the initial invasion.

Quick context

The opening phase of the Iraq War was the 2003 invasion of Iraq, launched after an ultimatum by U.S. President George W. Bush to Saddam Hussein expired. It began with missile and air strikes on Baghdad followed by a rapid ground advance aimed at toppling Saddam Hussein’s regime.

Many timelines list 20 March 2003 as the official start because that is when large‑scale combat operations and the ground invasion began, even though political buildup and smaller actions occurred just before that date.

TL;DR: The Iraq War started with the U.S.-led invasion on 20 March 2003.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.