Timeline of events

Timeline of events

¶Before 2001 2 August 1990 Saddam Hussein invades Kuwait

¶29 November 1990 Security Council adopts resolution 678

¶3 April 1991 Security Council adopts resolution 687

¶December 1998 Operation Desert Fox

¶2 June 1999 Ministerial Committee on Defence and Overseas Policy approves a policy of continuing containment

¶17 December 1999 Security Council adopts resolution 1284

¶2001 23 February Mr Blair and President Bush agree on the need for a policy on

¶Iraq which would be more widely supported in the Middle East 11 September Al Qaida attacks the World Trade Center and the Pentagon 26 November President Bush calls for weapons inspectors to return to Iraq 2002 29 January President Bush makes his "axis of evil" speech 7 March Cabinet discusses Iraq strategy 5‑7 April Mr Blair and President Bush meet in Crawford; Mr Blair makes his College Station speech 23 July Mr Blair holds a meeting on Iraq policy 28 July Mr Blair sends a Note to President Bush beginning "I will be with you, whatever" 6/7 September Mr Blair and President Bush meet at Camp David 12 September President Bush says he would put Iraqi non‑compliance to the

¶UN, paving the way for resolution 1441 24 September Parliament recalled; dossier published 10/11 October US Congress authorises use of force in Iraq 31 October Decision to offer "Package 3" for planning purposes 8 November Security Council adopts resolution 1441 13 November Iraq announces it will comply with resolution 1441 2003 14 January Lord Goldsmith gives his draft legal advice to Mr Blair 17 January Decision in principle to deploy UK forces in southern Iraq 27 January Dr Blix and Dr ElBaradei report to the Security Council 31 January Mr Blair and President Bush meet in Washington 5 February Secretary Powell's presentation to the Security Council 14 February Dr Blix and Dr ElBaradei report to the Security Council

¶15 February Stop the War protests held 24 February UK/US/Spain table draft second resolution 7 March Lord Goldsmith's advice on the legality of military action in Iraq;

¶Dr Blix and Dr ElBaradei report to the Security Council 12 March Recognition that the second resolution would not secure the support of a majority of the Security Council 13 March Lord Goldsmith reaches his "better view" that invasion is legal 16 March Azores Summit 17 March Last Cabinet meeting before the invasion agrees Parliament

should be asked to endorse the use of military action against Iraq

¶18 March Parliamentary debate and vote on Iraq Night of 19/20 March: invasion of Iraq begins 7 April UK troops enter Basra 16 April General Franks issues his "Freedom Message to the Iraqi

¶People" 1 May President Bush declares "Mission Accomplished" 16 May Coalition Provisional Authority Order No.1 (de‑Ba'athification of

¶Iraqi Society) 22 May Security Council adopts resolution 1483 23 May Coalition Provisional Authority Order No.2 dissolves some Iraqi military and security structures 13 July Inauguration of the Governing Council 19 August Bomb attack on UN HQ at the Canal Hotel in Baghdad 23/24 October Madrid Donors Conference 15 November Timetable for creation of a transitional Iraqi administration announced 13 December Capture of Saddam Hussein by US forces

¶2004 1 March Transitional Administrative Law agreed 31 March Ambush of four US security contractors sparks unrest in Fallujah Late April Photos of prisoner abuse at Abu Ghraib published 8 June Security Council adopts resolution 1546 28 June End of Occupation: inauguration of Iraqi Interim Government

¶(Prime Minister Allawi) 29 June Mr Blair announces HQ ARRC will deploy to Afghanistan 2005 30 January Elections to the Transitional National Assembly 3 May Iraqi Transitional Government takes power (Prime Minister

¶Ja'afari) 21 July Decision to deploy Provincial Reconstruction Team and military support to Helmand province, Afghanistan 15 October Referendum on the Iraqi Constitution 19 October US announces new "Clear‑Hold‑Build" strategy for Iraq 15 December Parliamentary elections in Iraq 2006 26 January Cabinet approves deployment to Helmand province April to June Formation of Maliki government 1 May UK forces become responsible for Helmand 28 September Op SINBAD begins in Basra End October Majority of UK civilian staff withdrawn from the Basra Palace site 2007 10 January President Bush announces the US "surge" 27 June Mr Blair leaves office; Mr Brown becomes Prime Minister 13 August Start of reduction of Jaysh al-Mahdi violence against UK forces

¶2/3 September UK forces leave the Basra Palace site 16 December Basra transitions to Provincial Iraqi Control 2008 25 March Start of Prime Minister Maliki's Charge of the Knights 18 December Mr Brown announces plans to withdraw the majority of

¶UK troops 2009 onwards 30 April 2009 Completion of the main UK military mission in Iraq 15 October 2009 UK/Iraq Training and Maritime Support Agreement ratified 22 May 2011 Departure of the last UK naval training team from Iraq