The invasion of Iraq: 20 facts about the conflict

1. Britain is one of 26 countries that make up the multi-national force in Iraq. After the US, it has the second largest representation.
2. At its height, during the early stages of the invasion, the number of British troops in Iraq numbered some 46,000. After the initial invasion, the number dropped to 8,600.
3. At present there are around 4,000 British troops in Iraq. There is a commitment for this to fall to around 2,500.
4. The overwhelming majority of UK personnel are based in Basra in south east Iraq, with a small number in Baghdad.
5. The total number of British military fatalities in Iraq since hostilities began stands at 175.
6. The biggest loss of British life in a single incident occurred on January 30, 2005. Nine personnel from the Royal Air Force and one from the Army died when an RAF Hercules crashed 30 kilometres north west of Baghdad.
7. According to Iraq Body Count, an organisation that cross-checks data from media reports, hospital and morgue records, the civilian death toll stands between 82,109 and 89,605. Studies by medical journal The Lancet have suggested the true figure is far higher. Its latest report in October 2006 stated the death toll was 654,965.
8. 210 journalists and media assistants have been killed since March 2003, with two missing and 15 others kidnapped, according to figures from Reporters Without Borders.
9. The UK has pledged a total commitment of £744 million towards reconstruction in Iraq.
10. The cost of the war to the UK stood at £956 million for 2006/07. This is down from the £1,311 million recorded in 2003/04.
11. Since the start of the war, Britain has had three defence secretaries: Geoff Hoon, John Reid and Des Browne.
12. A new Iraqi constitution defining the country as democratic and pluralist was adopted in October 2005.
13. Democratic elections held in December 2005 saw 12 million Iraqis – 76% of the electorate – turn out to vote.
14. 400,000 members of the Iraqi Security Forces have now been trained and equipped by coalition forces.
15. Nine out of Iraq’s 18 provinces are now under Iraqi control.
16. On 15 February 2003, the Stop the War Coalition staged the UK’s biggest ever demonstration. Organisers claim that up to 2 million people attended the London protest.
17. An estimated six to 10 million people participated in protests across the globe on 15 February 2003, making it the largest mass protest in history.
18. A recent poll commissioned by War on Want found that more people think Britain went into Iraq to gain control of the country’s oil than for any other reason.
19. A poll of 2,000 Iraqis in 2007 found that 43% said life was better than before the invasion, 36% said it was worse and 22% thought it was roughly the same.
20. The same survey, commissioned by the BBC and other western media, found that 22% of Iraqis supported the presence of coalition forces, with 78% opposing occupying troops.

The invasion of Iraq: 5th anniversary special report