March 31 2003
The US military launches an investigation after troops kill seven women and children at a checkpoint in southern Iraq.

US marines launch a dawn raid on the southern Iraqi town of Shatra, north of Nassiriya, after a tip-off that General Ali Hassan al-Majid, the Iraqi general known as 'Chemical Ali', may be using it as a base to orchestrate guerrilla attacks.

A wave of bombardments begins on positions south of Baghdad, where Saddam Hussein's elite troops are believed to be guarding the route to the city, and at least one US marine is reported killed in fighting around 70 miles south of Baghdad in clashes in and around the town of Imam Aiyub.
Baghdad ablaze after raids
Hour-by-hour timeline: day 12 of war

March 30 2003
General Richard Myers apologises for the deaths of five British soldiers under 'friendly fire' and says it will be his quest to ensure it does not happen again.

Around 600 commandos launch the largest single British assault of the war to secure a suburb to the south-east of Basra. Iraqi tanks are destroyed and 300 prisoners taken. But a Royal Marine on patrol in the Basra canal is killed in an attack on his landing craft.

Donald Rumsfeld, the US defence secretary, accuses Syria of being engaged in 'hostile acts' by delivering military equipment to Iraq. Damascus accuses Mr Rumsfeld of trying to divert attention from 'the acts committed by US troops against civilians'. Claims of splits in the US between the defence secretary and army chiefs over tactics intensify. General Tommy Franks, head of US Central Command, denies any pause in the drive towards Baghdad.
War tactics split is denied by US
Hour-by-hour timeline: day 11 of war

March 29 2003
Four US servicemen are killed by a suicide bomber at a checkpoint near Najaf - the first such attack but a tactic that Iraqi vice president Taha Yassin Ramadan says will become 'routine military policy'. He also vows to launch suicide attacks in Britain and America and says the bomber was a non commissioned officer in the Iraqi army.

The bodies of the first British servicemen to die in the war arrive at RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire. All 10 died in accidents - eight in a helicopter crash and two RAF pilots shot down by a US patriot missile.

A spokesman for the prime minister says the commander of Iraqi air defence forces in Baghdad has been replaced after Iraqi missiles went astray and hit the capital.
Day the war came home
Hour-by-hour timeline: day ten of war

March 28 2003
Aid ship the Sir Galahad finally docks at the port of Umm Qasr, carrying over 200 tonnes of food, medicine and blankets. The British military claims a group of around 200 civilians fleeing Basra are fired upon by Iraqi mortars. Shelling continues over Baghdad.

The sister of one of the two soldiers whose corpses were shown on Iraqi television accuses the government of lying about how they died. The prime minister's spokesman says it looks as though they were executed but she insists they died in combat because that is what the British army told her.
Iraq militia 'fired on fleeing citizens'
Hour-by-hour timeline: day nine of war

March 27 2003
US forces advancing towards Baghdad are held up by fierce fighting in the city of Samawah against 1,500 Iraqi paramilitaries guarding a bridge across the Euphrates river, which they eventually capture.

Iraq says 350 civilians have died in air raids since the conflict began. British tanks destroy 14 Iraqi tanks outside Basra. The US military airlifts troops and equipment into northern Iraq after about 1,000 paratroopers secure a key airfield.
US forces battle elite troops
Hour-by-hour timeline: day eight of war

March 26 2003
Iraq says that a US missile has struck a busy Baghdad market, killing 'many' civilians. Overnight strikes aimed at Baghdad's national television station fail to take the state channel off the air.

Britain and the US say aid is now on its way to Iraq, as the Sir Galahad supply ship sets sail for the now 'secure' port of Umm Qasr. The MoD reveals that two British tank crew were killed on March 24 in another 'friendly fire' incident, bringing the UK death toll to 20.
Baghdad air raid causes 'many casualties'
Hour-by-hour timeline: day seven of war

March 25 2003
US planes heavily bomb Republican Guard encampments south of Baghdad in a bid to soften up the city's defences, amid fears that Saddam may unleash chemical weapons when troops invade the city. Further south in Najaf, a fierce battle between US and Iraqi forces may have killed as many as 700 enemy soldiers.

Britsh forces bombard the southern city of Basra in an apparent reversal of an earlier decision not to take the city, amid reports of a popular uprising and an increasingly critical humanitarian situation.British marines finally secure the town and harbour of Umm Qasr, fuelling hopes that humanitarian aid supply lines will soon be established.

Two British soldiers - the UK's first combat fatalities of the war - are confirmed to have been killed in action in the south, bringing the British death toll up to 18, with two other soldiers missing since March 23. An opinion poll shows British public support for the war has surged to 54%.
Troops lay siege to Basra
Hour-by-hour timeline: day six of war

March 24 2003
In day five of the war on Iraq, coalition forces staying back to secure the push to Baghdad, in key towns such as Nassiriya and Basra, continue to suffer casualties in the face of stronger than expected resistance from Iraqi soldiers. Two British soldiers are confirmed as missing in southern Iraq while the US confirms one of its Apache helicopters has been shot down. It is revealed that a US missile hit a Syrian passenger bus near the Iraqi border yesterday, killing five people. The Red Cross warns of an humanitarian emergency as water supplies begin to run out in Basra.

As B-52s begin heavy bombardments on Iraqi Republican Guard bunkers encircling Baghdad, US and British forces - some now just 50 miles south of the city - begin to dig in in preparation for a major assault on the capital.
Battle for Baghdad begins
Hour-by-hour timeline: day five of war

March 23 2003
American B-52 bombers continue their heavy raids on Baghdad: Iraq says last night's raids killed 106 civilians. An RAF Tornado is accidentally shot down by a US Patriot missile, killing its two crewmen. Fierce fighting continues in the southern port town of Umm Qasr and five US soldiers are captured by Iraqi forces near Nassiriya. TV images of them, and the bodies of five other US soldiers, are later broadcast by al-Jazeera TV, in what the US brands as a contravention of the Geneva convention. ITN confirms that its reporter Terry Lloyd was killed by 'friendly fire'.
American prisoners paraded by Iraqis
Hour-by-hour timeline: day four of war

March 22 2003
Bombing continues in Baghdad. Two British Sea King helicopters collide in another apparent accident, killing all seven crew. US troops attempting to take the southern city of Nassiriya encounter stiff resistance. A US officer is killed in a grenade attack by one of his own men on an army base in Kuwait. ITN reporter Terry Lloyd and two of his news crew are reported missing en route to Basra. There are conflicting reports over whether Turkish troops have crossed their border into northern Iraq.

More than 200,000 people take to the streets in London as anti-war protests are held in cities around the world.
Special forces in Baghdad as Saddam's armies reel
Hour-by-hour timeline: day three of war

March 21 2003
Parts of the port town of Umm Qasr, south of Basra, are seized by US military. To the west of Basra, British troops help US soldiers to secure oilfields from possible sabotage. Some 15 oilfields are reportedly set on fire by Iraq. Coalition forces suffer their first casualties when eight British and four American servicemen die in a helicopter accident over Kuwait. It is later revealed that a US marine died during the battle for Umm Qasr, where sporadic fighting is continuing. Bombs and missiles begin to strike Baghdad for a third successive night, in a massive scaling-up of air strikes that are designed, say the US military, to 'shock and awe' the Iraqi people into submission.
Ground forces push into Iraq
Hour-by-hour timeline: day two of war

March 20 2003
War begins.

At around 0230 GMT, shortly after the 48-hour deadline for Saddam to quit Iraq expires, America launches its first series of air strikes on Baghdad. George Bush says the US has begun attacks against 'targets of military opportunity'. Saddam Hussein gives a televised address to the Iraqi people at around 0530 GMT, calling the attack a 'shameful crime' and vowing to win the war. China, France and Russia denounce the US-led action.

At around 1805 GMT, US planes begin a heavy bombardment of military targets in central Baghdad. Later on, British marines invade the Faw peninsula in the south of the country.
Iraq launches Scud missiles
Hour-by-hour timeline: day one of war

March 19 2003
Government aide David Kinley confirms he has resigned, bring the total of government casualties over Iraq to nine.
With 170,000 coalition troops massed on the Kuwaiti border, coalition aircraft bomb military targets in Iraq to 'soften up' the country's defences ahead of a US and British invasion.

The foreign ministers of Germany, France and Russia condemn the impending military action in strong terms, saying that the use of force against Iraq has not been approved by any UN resolution.
Bid to assassinate Saddam

March 18 2003
In a televised address at 0100GMT, Mr Bush gives Saddam Hussein 48 hours to leave Iraq or face invasion.

During the course of the day, British government ministers John Denham and Lord Hunt resign in protest, along with four government aides. In the evening parliament holds a debate over military action in Iraq. The government's motion endorsing an attack is passed by 412 to 149, although the number of rebel Labour MPs voting for an anti-war amendment rises to 139, up from 122 three weeks ago.
Bush gives Saddam and his sons 48 hours to leave Iraq

March 17 2003
With China, France and Russia opposed to an attack, the US and UK abandon hope of gaining security council support for a second resolution authorising war on Iraq. They withdraw the resolution, blaming the French veto threat.

The leader of the Commons, Robin Cook, resigns in protest at the government's decision to back a war without 'international authority nor domestic support'.

March 16 2003
Speaking at a hastily-arranged summit in the Azores, Mr Bush and Mr Blair give the United Nations a 24-hour ultimatum to enforce its own demands for immediate Iraqi disarmament, or face an American- and British-led coalition that will go to war within days.
Iraq: the final 24 hours

March 14 2003
The French president, Jacques Chirac, removes any lingering doubts about France's intentions on Iraq, confirming to Mr Blair in a brief phone call that France was willing to seek a compromise on disarming Saddam Hussein but would not accept any UN resolution that set an ultimatum.
Chirac spells it out: no ultimatum

March 11 2003
The US defence secretary, Donald Rumsfeld, causes a poltical storm after suggesting America could attack President Saddam alone. Mr Blair later stresses Britain will fight alongside the US in any attack.
US may go it alone as Blair is caught in diplomatic deadlock

March 10 2003
Britain announces 'six key tests' for Iraq to comply to if it is to avoid war, including President Saddam making a TV address admitting having weapons of mass destruction. The idea galvanises some diplomatic support, but not enough to suggest the US/UK could win a second UN resolution, effectively authorising an attack.
Straw spells out key tests for Saddam

March 9 2003
Following lobbying from undecided UN security council members, the US and Britain agree to set out the precise acts of disarmament that Saddam would have to undertake by March 17 to avoid war. Meanwhile, Clare Short, the international development secretary, threatens to resign if the UN fails to pass a second resolution authorising war. A parliamentary aide to Margaret Beckett, Andy Reed, earlier resigned over the issue.
Britain and US spell out steps to avoid attack

March 7 2003
Hans Blix gives another ambivalent report to the UN security council on Iraqi compliance, which is followed by a tense debate that further deepens the divide within the council. The foreign secretary, Jack Straw, proposes the UN sets an ultimatum that Iraq will be invaded unless the country demonstrates 'full, unconditional, immediate and active cooperation' by March 17. France makes a clear threat that it will veto such a resolution.
Showdown as Britain sets March 17 deadline on Iraq

March 6 2003
In a nationwide television address, the US president, George Bush, indicates that war is very close.
Iraq attack very close, says Bush

March 5 2003
The foreign ministers of France, Russia and Germany release a joint declaration stating that they will 'not allow' a resolution authorising military action to pass the UN security council. The hardening stance from the anti-war bloc increases the pressure on the US and Britain to compromise on their draft UN resolution.
France, Russia and Germany harden stance

March 4 2003
The chancellor, Gordon Brown, makes clear his support for war by saying he is prepared to 'spend what it takes' to disarm Iraq. Mr Brown has already earmarked £1.75bn to fund a war.
Brown signs blank cheque for conflict

March 3 2003
Iraq claims that six civilians were killed and 15 wounded in last night's allied raid on the port city of Basra. Meanwhile, the Russian foreign minister, Ivan Ivanov, hints, on BBC radio, that his country may use its UN veto to block a resolution authorising war.
No-fly zone raids 'opening new war'

March 2 2003
It emerges that Britain and the US have been increasing their air strikes on Iraq in recent days, in an apparent bid to 'soften up' the country's defences ahead of a war. The two countries insist that there has been no change in the policy of no-fly zone bombing.
Allies bomb key Iraqi targets

March 1 2003
In an unpleasant surprise for the Bush administration, the Turkish parliament narrowly rejects a plan to deploy 62,000 US troops in the country, to form a northern front in the event of war.
Shock blow to Bush as Turkey snubs US troops

February 28 2003
Hans Blix's interim report to the UN is published, giving a mixed assessment of Iraqi cooperation with weapons inspectors, but hailing Saddam Hussein's commitment to comply with tomorrow's UN deadline for the destruction of Iraq's illegal Samoud 2 missiles.
Report gives small comfort to the hawks and doves

February 27 2003
Saddam Hussein agrees 'in principle' to destroy his Samoud 2 missiles, discovered by weapons inspectors to break range limits set down by the UN. The US and Britain dismiss the concession as game-playing by the Iraqi leader.
Saddam backs down on missiles

February 26 2003
Britain's biggest parliamentary revolt against a governing party in more than a century sees 121 Labour MPs vote against Tony Blair's war strategy at the end of an impassioned debate on Iraq. In a major blow to the prime minister, 198 MPs vote for an amendment arguing that the case for war is not yet made.
Rebel vote stuns Blair

February 24 2003
Russia, France and Germany put forward a counter-proposal to America and Britain's draft resolution: a step-by-step programme for Iraqi disarmament. The Turkish cabinet strikes a deal with America to allow US troops to be deployed there for in exchange for a billion-dollar aid package, but it still has to be passed by the Turkish parliament. Meanwhile, the first consignment of Nato equipment to defend Turkey from an attack by Iraq in the event of war arrives.
A triple alliance puts case for delay

February 17 2003
Amid growing domestic opposition to war, the Turkish government delays a parliamentary vote on whether to allow US troops into the country, to form a northern front during a war on Iraq.
Turkey stalls vote for US troops

February 16 2003
The Nato deadlock over Turkey is broken after the organisation strikes a deal to send military hardware into the country for its defence in the event of war.
France snubbed as Nato strikes Turkish deal

February 15 2003
Anti-war protesters take to the streets of London and cities around the world. Around one million people march through the British capital to hear speakers, including Jesse Jackson, address the crowds in Hyde Park, in what is the UK's biggest-ever protest. More than 50,000 gather in Glasgow.
One million. And still they came

February 14 2003
Hans Blix gives his latest report on Iraqi compliance with resolution 1441 to the UN security council, surprising the members with a more upbeat assessment of the pace of Iraq's disarmament than had been expected. The report, which lists examples of Iraqi compliance with the inspectors, thus failing to provide any clear casus belli, throws into confusion British and American plans to draft a new resolution mandating military action. It severely embarrasses Colin Powell by questioning the US intelligence on Iraqi munitions that he presented to the council earlier in the month.
A case for war? Yes, say US and Britain. No, say the majority

February 12 2003
The UN weapons inspectors announce they have discovered that Iraq possesses illegal missiles: its Samoud 2 rockets exceed the maximum range of 150km set down in the 1991 Gulf war ceasefire agreement.
UN team finds Iraq has illegal missiles

February 11 2003
Nato's plans to defend Turkey in case of war with Iraq remain deadlocked after France, Germany and Belgium ignore the entreaties of their fellow allies to back down.
Nato deadlocked as France and Germany refuse to back down

February 10 2003
France, Germany and Belgium veto a US request for Nato to make plans to protect Turkey if Saddam Hussein attacks, throwing the Atlantic alliance into one of its worst-ever crises.
Nato crisis over veto on plans to defend Turkey

February 9 2003
The US reacts furiously to a Franco-German peace initiative to triple the number of arms inspectors in Iraq and back them up with surveillance flights. The Bush administration sees it as a thinly-disguised attempt to derail the US timetable for war.
US fury at European peace plan

February 8 2003
Hans Blix and Mohamed El Baradei are given new documents by Iraq, and describe key talks with Iraqi officials in Baghdad as 'very substantial'.
Hope as Iraq gives ground over arms

February 7 2003
Downing Street admits that much of its dossier on Iraq, released a week earlier in an attempt to reinforce the case for war, was lifted from academic sources and compiled by mid-level officials in Alastair Campbell's Downing Street communications department.
Downing St admits blunder on Iraq dossier

February 6 2003
Around 100 aircraft and 7,000 RAF personnel are to be deployed in the build up for a possible war against Iraq, the defence secretary, Geoff Hoon, announces.
100 RAF jets to be deployed to Gulf

February 5 2003
Colin Powell uses satellite photographs, tapes of intercepted conversations and newly opened CIA files to make the United States case against Iraq in a determined attempt to win over international opinion.
Powell raises the banner for war but the world remains divided