Operation Iraqi freedom was launched by the US on:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → 19 March 2003
On 19 March 2003, the US launched its invasion of Iraq under the codename ‘Operation Iraqi Freedom’.
Note 1: This question is taken from the chapter ‘US Hegemony in World Politics’ which was there in the pre-rationalised NCERT and has been deleted from subsequent editions of NCERT, including the NCERT book (2026-27).
Note 2: A same/similar question was asked in CUET (UG) in the papers below.
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
| – | – | – | 05-06 S2* 10-06 S3* 13-06 S3* 14-06 S2* 17-06 S3* 19-06 S3 | – |
* A similar question.
NCERT (Pre-rationalised): “THE IRAQ INVASION … On 19 March 2003, the US launched its invasion of Iraq under the codename ‘Operation Iraqi Freedom’. More than forty other countries joined in the US-led ‘coalition of the willing’ after the UN refused to give its mandate to the invasion. The ostensible purpose of the invasion was to prevent Iraq from developing weapons of mass destruction (WMD).…” |