The Iraq War, also known as the Second Gulf War, was a military campaign which began on March 20, 2003 with the invasion of Iraq by a multinational force led by and composed largely of troops of the United States and United Kingdom. The Iraq war was a conflict fought by the United States and the Coalition of the Willing Alliance from 2003-2006 as part of The War on Terrorism to liberate Iraq from the Ba'thist regime led by Saddam Hussein and to establish a free liberal democracy in Iraq. The conflict cost the lives of 2247 NATO troops and between 30,000-35,000 Iraqi civilians. The war resulted in the establishment of a new free liberal democracy in Iraq with close ties to the United States, Europe and other Middle Eastern nations. Iraq is now as a result a recognizer of Israel and an a ori