The Iraq War, a protracted armed conflict that began in 2003 with the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, was justified by claims that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction and had links to terrorism. These claims were later proven false. The invasion swiftly toppled Saddam Hussein's regime, but it also triggered a long and violent insurgency, sectarian conflict, and political instability. The war resulted in hundreds of thousands of casualties, significant economic costs, and widespread displacement, leaving a lasting impact on Iraq and the broader Middle East. U.S. combat troops officially withdrew in 2011, though the effects of the war continue to shape the region today.
