1. September 24, 2002: British government publishes September Dossier making a series of allegations about Iraq’s possession of weapons of mass destruction, chemical weapons and biological weapons — including the claim they could deploy WMDs within 45 minutes of an order giving the go-ahead. All the allegations subsequently proved to be false.
  2. March 18, 2003: Members of Parliament authorise UK military involvement in US-led invasion of Iraq by 412 votes to 149 despite widespread public opposition.
  3. March 20, 2003: Coalition troops — including about 28,000 from the UK — invade Iraq.
  4. April 10 2003: Baghdad falls, symbolically ending Iraqi President Saddam Hussein’s 24-year reign.
  5. June 28, 2004: Coalition Provisional Authority transfers sovereignty of Iraqi territory to interim government.
  6. May 28, 2009: Last of the UK’s combat troops are withdrawn from Iraq.
  7. June 15, 2009: Then Prime Minister Gordon Brown announces public inquiry into the UK’s role in the Iraq War. Proceedings were initially due to take place in private, but that was changed following criticism in Parliament and the media.
  8. November 24, 2009: Open sessions of the inquiry, chaired by senior civil servant Sir John Chilcot, begin.
  9. January 29, 2010: Former Prime Minister Tony Blair appears before the inquiry panel for the first time.
  10. January 21, 2011: Blair heckled by members of the public during second appearance for questioning by the panel.
  11. February 2, 2011: Open sessions of the inquiry conclude, with former foreign secretary Jack Straw the final witness to give evidence.
  12. July 31, 2012: Government vetoes the release of the minutes of cabinet meetings held in the days leading up to the invasion of Iraq. Meanwhile, the Foreign Office successfully appeals against a judge’s order to disclose details of a conversation between Blair and US President George W. Bush moments before the invasion, as it would present a ‘significant danger’ to UK-US relations.
  13. May 9, 2016: After many lengthy delays, Chilcot announces the report will finally be published on July 6.