April 9, it will be 10 years since the day of the capture of Baghdad by American troops. Even on the eve of the decisive offensive, the military command of the USA supposed that the coalition forces can expect fierce resistance.However, the capital of Iraq surrendered without a fight. And the symbol of the capture was the overthrow of a bronze statue of Saddam Hussein in the Firdaus Square, which was broadcasted live by all the world's leading television companies.
However, the US military and their allies failed to end the Iraqi campaign with ease. The war lasted until the end of 2011. The Americansdid not manage to find weapons of mass destruction, which were the reason for the invasion.
During the war, the United States has lost about 4.5 thousand servicemenin Iraq. According to various estimates, the number of victims among the local population varies from several hundred thousand to a million and a half people.
Voice of Russia, Vesti
The humanitarian catastrophe born by the conflict will demand considerable efforts to change the refugee situation to the better. Almost 2.7 million Iraqis fled their homes, reports say, half of them leaving for neighboring countries, while others remaining in the country. In 2011 over 20,000 Iraqis have applied to other countries for asylum.
There is still no peace in Iraq. Reports of violence continue to come from the region. The most recent one claimed 20 people were killed after a suicide bomber blew himself up last Saturday at a lunch hosted by a Sunni candidate in Iraq's upcoming regional elections.
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