Battle of Baghdad (2003)

Part of the 2003 invasion of Iraq

Statue of Saddam Hussein being toppled in Firdos Square

Date

April 3–12, 2003

Location

Baghdad, Iraq

Result

Decisive American victory;

Fall of Ba'ath Party and Saddam Hussein

Belligerents

Iraq

United States

United Kingdom
(Air Support)

Commanders and leaders

Unknown

Strength

45,000

30,000

Casualties and losses

1,700–2,120 killed (Independent estimate)
2,320 killed (U.S. military estimate)

34 killed
1 A-10 Thunderbolt II shot down, 2 Abrams tanks destroyed and 17 other vehicles destroyed

Decisive American victory;

United States

The Battle of Baghdad, also known as the Fall of Baghdad, was a military invasion of Baghdad that took place in early April 2003, as part of the invasion of Iraq.

Three weeks into the invasion of Iraq, Coalition Forces Land Component Command elements, led by the U.S. Army 3rd Infantry Division moved into Baghdad. The United States declared victory on April 14, and President George W. Bush gave his Mission Accomplished Speech on May 1.

Baghdad suffered serious damage to its civilian infrastructure, economy, and cultural inheritance from the fighting, as well as looting and arson. During the invasion, the Al-Yarmouk Hospital in south Baghdad saw a steady rate of about 100 new patients an hour.

Several thousand Iraqi soldiers as well as a small number of coalition forces were killed in the battle. After the fall of Baghdad, Coalition forces entered the city of Kirkuk on April 10 and Tikrit on April 15, 2003.

Limited bombing began on March 19, 2003 as United States forces unsuccessfully attempted to kill Saddam Hussein. Attacks continued against a small number of targets until March 21, 2003, when, at 1700 UTC, the main bombing campaign of the US and their allies began. Its forces launched approximately 1700 air sorties (504 using cruise missiles). The invasion of the city commenced three days after Allied forces led by Major General Buford Blount and the 3rd Infantry Division had secured the Baghdad airport.

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Wikipedia