Iraq War (2003 - 2009)
Turmoil Under U.S.-Led Occupation.

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 2008 Campaigns Against Al-Qaeda and Other Insurgent Groups (Jan-Jun):

• Diyala Province is virtually cleared of Al-Qaeda & other Sunni insurgents.
• Salah ad-Din Province is virtually cleared of Al-Qaeda & other Sunni insurgents.
• Arab Jabour (just south of Baghdad) is mostly secured by coalition forces.
• Insurgents fended off Iraqi security and coalition forces in the Nineveh Province, specifically in Mosul.

Aftermath: Al-Qaeda and other Sunni insurgent groups are largely forced out every corner of Iraq except the Nineveh Province to the north, where they regrouped, forming a stronghold which the Iraqi government and US forces have been unable to break up.

(Timeline Continued Below)

 Troubles with Shi'a Militias:

Turmoil in Basra - Prelude to Armed Conflict: After the hand over of Basra to the Iraqi government in 2007, it descended into lawlessness, as Shi'a militias loyal to cleric Al-Sadr rebelled against authorities. The Iraqi security forces are primarily comprised of members of the rival Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council, the majority political party in Iraq, and also Shi'a.

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Battle of Basra (Mar 25-31): Iraqi government forces entered Basra on Mar. 24 to clamp down on the rising militancy. Soon after, they were met with resistance by the Mahdi Army rebels (loyal to Al-Sadr). Gunfire ensued over the course of the next six days. Al-Sadr called off the Mahdi Army on Mar. 31, ending the battle, although firefights continued to flare up with the Mahdi rebels as Iraqi security forces began efforts to root out insurgents. This was the first battle in which the Iraqi security forces took the lead in planning and execution, while the US and British forces played a supporting role, including air support.

Combat in Hilla and Sadr City (April): The fighting from Basra spilled over to the Shi'a cities of Hilla and Sadr City to the north. Iraqi security and US forces became engaged in hostilities with Shi'ite Mahdi Army rebels.

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 Ongoing Effects of the Iraq War:

• A study released in 2008 showed that the Iraqi War continues to cost the US $12 billion per month. As of March '08, the approximate total cost to US tax payers was $600 billion.
• The Red Cross reported that Iraq had become a grave humanitarian crisis, as millions are denied access to clean water and healthcare.
• On March 23, the US reached the 4000 mark in deaths suffered since the commencement of the war.
• Iraqi refugees: 2 million forced out of the country; 2.5 million displaced within Iraq.
• As of March '08, nearly 160,000 US soldiers remain in Iraq.

 Signs of Progress:

Jan 13: Former members of Ba’ath Party are allowed to fill positions in the Iraqi military and government.
Sept 1: The Al Anbar Province, recent stronghold of Al Qaeda in Iraq, was handed over to the Iraqi government. This increased the number of provinces under direct Iraqi rule to 13 out of 18.

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