Beginning of International Operation
In 2002 the UN Security Council obligated Iraq to cooperate unconditionally with the UN Disarmament Board however Iraq temporized over admission of the Board. After accusing Iraq of not obeying the decisions of the United Nations Resolution and long diplomatic negotiations on 19 March 2003 the coalition forces commenced operation "Iraqi freedom". Troops from 19 countries participated in the operation and about 50 countries declared political support for the operation.
22 April 2003 the United Nations approved of humanitarian operations in the Great Britain's area of operation. 4 military medics and 10 logistics specialists from Lithuania were deployed to the operation in April 2003. Military medics consulted local population in Umm Quasr town hospital and treated prisoners of war in the field camp.
29 May 2003 the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania passed resolution on sending up to 130 Lithuanian troops to participate in USA-led international stabilization operation.
In June 2003 the first Lithuanian platoon from Motorized Infantry Brigade "Iron Wolf" Lithuanian Grand Duke Algirdas Mechanized Infantry Battalion was deployed to the operation. The platoon operated in the composition of Danish battalion.
In August 2003 the second platoon from Motorized Infantry Brigade "Iron Wolf" Lithuanian Grand Duchess Birutė Motorized Infantry Battalion was deployed and it operated in Poland's area of responsibility. The main tasks of Lithuanian servicemen in Iraq were assistance in maintaining public order, patrolling, guarding objects and performing duty in control posts.
Contribution of Lithuanian servicemen to operation in Iraq
In April 2003 Lithuania sent the first troops to Iraq. Up to 920 servicemen from Lithuania have been deployed to Iraq since that year. Lithuania was represented in different regions of Iraq together with the USA, the Great Britain, Denmark, Poland etc. The servicemen carried out the functions of staff, logistics, public information officers, medical, communications officers, units conducted different operations ranging from patrolling, guarding objectives, blocking and search operations together with coalition partners, participated in duties of reaction forces and base guarding.
At the moment Lithuania has 2 representatives in NATO training mission in Iraq (NTM-I)
Task of NATO Training Mission in Iraq is to support Iraq government and assist in creating effective and lasting security sector.
History of Iraq
The present territory of Iraq was inhabited by the ancient civilizations such as Sumer, Akkad, Assyrian and Babylonian. Islam emerged in Mesopotamia when the present Iraq territory was harassed by the Arabs. These lands inhabited mostly by the Arabs soon became the centre of Islamic civilization and Bagdad became the most important capital of Caliphate. This period is called Islamic "Golden Age".
IRAQ UNDER BRITISH CONTROL
In 1920 after San Remo conference the territory of Iraq came under the control of Great Britain.
In 1932 the independence of Iraq was declared although Iraq became completely independent from London only after World War II.
IRAQ REPUBLIC
In 1958 the monarchy was overturned and Iraq was declared to be a republic.
In 1968 the power was taken by Al-Baas party, the party leader General Al-Bakr became the president of Iraq and Saddam Hussein became the second person in the country.
In 1979 Saddam Hussein became the dictator of Iraq.
WAR WITH IRAN
In September 1980 Iraq attacked Iran by using the chemical weapon.
In August 1990 the Iraq army started invasion and occupied the whole territory of Kuwait.
In January 1991 the operation "Iraqi Freedom" began. The coalition members drove Iraq army out from Kuwait however they did not take Iraq and did not remove Saddam Hussein.
