Iraqi insurgency (2011–2013): Difference between revisions

 

==Background==

The Iraq War<ref group="nb">The conflict is also known as the ''War in Iraq'', the ''Occupation of Iraq'', the ''Second Gulf War'', ''Gulf War II'', and ''Gulf War 2''. The period of the war lasting from 2003 to 2010 was referred to as '''Operation Iraqi Freedom''' by the United States military.</ref> was a protracted armed conflict that began with the [[2003 invasion of Iraq|U.S.-led invasion of Iraq]] in 2003, which toppled the government of [[Saddam Hussein]]. However, the war continued for much of the next decade as an insurgency emerged to oppose [[Multi-National Force&nbsp;– Iraq|the occupying forces]] and the post-invasion Iraqi government.<ref name=Britannica>{{cite web|title=Iraq War|url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/870845/Iraq-War|work=Britannica|publisher=Encyclopædia Britannica|accessdate=27 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121016074755/http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/870845/Iraq-War|archive-date=16 October 2012|dead-url=no|df=dmy-all}}</ref> The United States officially [[Withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq|withdrew its troops from Iraq]] in 2011, but the insurgency and various dimensions of the civil armed conflict have continued.

 

The [[Presidency of George W. Bush|Bush administration]] based its [[Rationale for the Iraq War|rationale for war]] principally on the assertion that [[Iraq and weapons of mass destruction|Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction]] (WMDs) and that Saddam's government posed an immediate threat to the United States and its coalition allies.<ref>Center for American Progress (29 January 2004) [http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/kfiles/b24970.html "In Their Own Words: Iraq's 'Imminent' Threat"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120625071155/http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/kfiles/b24970.html |date=2012-06-25 }} ''americanprogress.org''</ref><ref name=nelson>Senator [[Bill Nelson (politician)|Bill Nelson]] (28 January 2004) [https://fas.org/irp/congress/2004_cr/s012804b.html "New Information on Iraq's Possession of Weapons of Mass Destruction",] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160420112938/https://fas.org/irp/congress/2004_cr/s012804b.html |date=2016-04-20 }} ''Congressional Record''</ref> Some U.S.&nbsp;officials accused Saddam of harboring and supporting [[al-Qaeda]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/003/033jgqyi.asp|title=The Weekly Standard, Saddam's al Qaeda Connection|access-date=2015-01-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141223072010/http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/003/033jgqyi.asp|archive-date=2014-12-23|dead-url=no|df=}}</ref> while others cited the desire to end a repressive dictatorship and bring democracy to the people of Iraq.<ref>[https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2003/02/20030226-11.html "President Discusses the Future of Iraq"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160801014545/http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2003/02/20030226-11.html |date=2016-08-01 }} The White House, 26 February 2003</ref><ref>[http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/01/09/60minutes/main592330.shtml "Bush Sought ‘Way’ To Invade Iraq?"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131008111954/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/01/09/60minutes/main592330.shtml |date=2013-10-08 }} ''60 Minutes''</ref> After the invasion, however, no substantial evidence was found to verify the initial claims about WMDs. The rationale and misrepresentation of pre-war intelligence faced heavy [[Criticism of the Iraq War|criticism]] within the U.S. and internationally.

 

 

==Timeline==

 

====Sunni protests (2012)====

After a period of calm, renewed political tension within Iraq led to renewed protests, this time mostly centered around the country's Sunni minority. The main cause for upheaval was the ongoing standoff between Vice President [[Tareq al-Hashemi]] and Prime Minister al-Maliki, but strained relationships with the Kurdish autonomous regions added to the scene. On December 23, 2012, several thousand Iraqis marched against al-Maliki, responding to his moves against al-Hashemi and other influential Sunni leaders.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.jpost.com/MiddleEast/Article.aspx?ID=250700 | title = Iraq crisis stirs protests in Sunni strongholds | author = Reuters | date = 23 December 2011 | work = The Jerusalem Post | access-date = 26 January 2013 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120227190948/http://www.jpost.com/MiddleEast/Article.aspx?id=250700 | archive-date = 27 February 2012 | dead-url = no | df = dmy-all }}</ref>

 

===2013===

On 4 January, a car bombing in [[Musayyib]] killed 28 Shi'ite pilgrims and injured 60 others as they were returning from [[Karbala]].<ref>{{cite news |author=Reuters |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/04/world/middleeast/attacks-in-iraq-kill-at-least-32-pilgrims.html?_r=0 |title=Attacks in Iraq Kill at Least 32 Pilgrims |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=2013-01-03 |accessdate=2013-01-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150128071345/http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/04/world/middleeast/attacks-in-iraq-kill-at-least-32-pilgrims.html?_r=0 |archive-date=2015-01-28 |dead-url=no |df= }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Reuters |url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2013/01/201313151824519508.html |title=Deadly car blast shatters Iraqi town |publisher=Al Jazeera |date=2013-01-03 |accessdate=2013-01-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130103191655/http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2013/01/201313151824519508.html |archive-date=2013-01-03 |dead-url=no |df= }}</ref> In mid-January, a suicide bomber killed a prominent Sunni MP and six others in Fallujah, two days after [[Ministry of Finance (Iraq)|Finance Minister]] [[Rafi al-Issawi]] survived an assassination attempt in the same city. The parliamentarian, Ayfan Sadoun al-Essawi, was an important member of the [[Sons of Iraq]] committee in Fallujah and part of the opposition to Prime Minister [[Nouri al-Maliki]].<ref>{{cite web |author=Reuters |url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2013/01/2013115115748381903.html |title=Iraqi MP killed in suicide attack |publisher=Al Jazeera |date=2013-01-15 |accessdate=2013-01-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117173714/http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2013/01/2013115115748381903.html |archive-date=2013-01-17 |dead-url=no |df= }}</ref> A suicide truck-bomber also attacked the headquarters of the [[Kurdistan Democratic Party]] in [[Kirkuk]], killing 26 and leaving 204 injured. A similar attack against another Kurdish office in [[Tuz Khormato]] killed 5 and wounded 40.<ref>{{cite web|author=Reuters |url= http://www.trust.org/alertnet/news/bombers-kill-more-than-35-across-iraq/|archive-url= https://archive.is/20130416024333/http://www.trust.org/alertnet/news/bombers-kill-more-than-35-across-iraq/|dead-url= yes|archive-date= 2013-04-16|title=Bombers kill more than 35 across Iraq |publisher=Trust.org |date=2013-01-15 |accessdate=2013-01-15}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Margaret Griffis |url=http://original.antiwar.com/updates/2013/01/16/iraq-slaughter-55-killed-288-wounded/ |title=Iraq Slaughter: 55 Killed, 288 Wounded |publisher=Antiwar.com |date=2013-01-16 |accessdate=2013-01-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130121023625/http://original.antiwar.com/updates/2013/01/16/iraq-slaughter-55-killed-288-wounded/ |archive-date=2013-01-21 |dead-url=no |df= }}</ref> Later that month, a suicide bomber blew himself up during a funeral for a politician's relative in the city of Tuz Khormato, killing 42 and leaving 75 others wounded.<ref>{{cite web|author=Marwan Ibrahim |url= https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jQy57ea_bmclo1OnOLDPWxnw_3vg?docId=CNG.c8e0480540a829085a3a9eee42c89e47.361|archive-url= https://archive.is/20130216041843/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jQy57ea_bmclo1OnOLDPWxnw_3vg?docId=CNG.c8e0480540a829085a3a9eee42c89e47.361|dead-url= yes|archive-date= 2013-02-16|title=Iraq suicide bomb at Shiite mosque kills 42 |publisher=Google News |date=2013-01-23 |accessdate=2013-01-24}}</ref> In addition, protests by [[Sunni Muslims]] in Iraq against the government of Prime Minister [[Nouri al-Maliki]] turned deadly in Fallujah, as soldiers opened fire on a crowd of rock-throwing demonstrators, killing 7 and injuring more than 70 others. Three soldiers were later shot to death in retaliation for the incident, and clashes erupted in Askari, on the eastern outskirts of Fallujah. Security forces were placed on high alert as a curfew and vehicle ban were brought into effect. In a statement, Maliki urged both sides to show restraint and blamed the incident on unruly protesters. He also warned that it could lead to a "rise in tension that al-Qaida and terrorist groups are trying to take advantage of".<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.tampabay.com/news/9-killed-as-protesters-army-clash-in-iraq/1272380 | work = Tampa Bay Times | title = 9 killed as protesters, army clash in Iraq | date = 25 January 2013 | access-date = 26 January 2013 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130130085954/http://www.tampabay.com/news/9-killed-as-protesters-army-clash-in-iraq/1272380 | archive-date = 30 January 2013 | dead-url = no | df = dmy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://original.antiwar.com/updates/2013/01/25/iraqi-troops-fire-on-protesters-14-killed-72-wounded-across-country/ | title = Iraqi Troops Fire on Protesters; 14 Killed, 72 Wounded Across Country | first = Margaret | last = Griffis | date = 25 January 2013 | publisher = Antiwar.com | access-date = 26 January 2013 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130127033919/http://original.antiwar.com/updates/2013/01/25/iraqi-troops-fire-on-protesters-14-killed-72-wounded-across-country/ | archive-date = 27 January 2013 | dead-url = no | df = dmy-all }}</ref>

 

 

==Casualties==

 

==Humanitarian aid==