Key dates in modern Iraq:
- 1920, Britain forms modern Iraq by putting together three provinces of the former Ottoman Empire; Kurdish dominated Mosul; Sunni Muslim Baghdad; Shiite Muslim Basra.
- 1932, Iraq becomes independent.
- 1958, monarchy overthrown in military coup.
- 1968, Baath party-led coup paves the way to power for Saddam Hussein.
- July 16, 1979, Saddam Hussein becomes president.
- 1980-1988, the USA support Iraq in its war with Iran.
- August 2, 1990, Iraq invades Kuwait.
- January 17, 1981, US-led coalition attacks Iraq; cease fire agreed on February 28.
- March 20, 2003, US-led coalition invades Iraq.
- May 1, 2003, President Bush "declares" that major operations are over.
- December 13, 2003, Saddam Hussein is captured.

Here is a summary of the main events in Iraq since March 20, 2003 and April 28, 2005:
- April 9, 2003 - US forces sweep into Baghdad as Saddam Hussein's 24-year rule crumbles into chaos and looting.
- May 12 - Paul Bremer becomes head of US-led Coalition Provisional Authority ruling Iraq.
- July 13, 2003, US-named 25 members National Governing Council of "Prominent" (that is pro-American, better if ex-exile in the US) takes offices. They only represent themselves and the USA.
- August 19 - Truck bomb at UN headquarters in Baghdad kills 22, including UN envoy Sergio Vieira de Mello.
- December 13 - US troops capture Saddam near Tikrit.
- March 8, 2004 - Iraqi Governing Council signs interim constitution.
- April 4/5 - US Marines begin assault on Falluja after four US security guards are killed there. Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr's militia begins uprising in Baghdad and southern Iraq.
- April 14 - Kidnappers kill Italian, Fabrizio Quattrocchi. More than 150 foreigners have been kidnapped in Iraq since then. About a third of them have been killed, some beheaded.
- May 17 - A suicide car bomb kills head of Iraqi Governing Council, a Shiite known as Izzedin Salim.
- May 28, 2004, Ayad Allawi is nominated interim Prime Minister by the Governing Council.
- June 1 - Governing Council is dissolved to make way for interim government led by Iyad Allawi. Ghazi al-Yawar is appointed president.
- June 28 - The United States formally returns sovereignty to Allawi's interim government two days earlier than expected. The Coalition Provisional Authority is dissolved. Bremer leaves.
- July 1 - Iraqi tribunal informs Saddam and 11 senior associates they will be charged with crimes against humanity.
- August 18 - Conference of Iraqi political and religious leaders selects 100-member interim national assembly to oversee the government and prepare for elections in January 2005.
- August 26 - Top Shiite cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani strikes deal with Sadr to end uprising by Sadr's militiamen in Najaf.
- November 8 - US troops launch full-scale offensive on Falluja. A week later the US military says it controls the entire city after killing 1,600 insurgents and capturing 1,052.
- November 20 - Iraq's main creditors at Paris Club of wealthy nations agree to cancel 80 percent of Baghdad's debt to them.
- December 6 - Main Shiite political parties set up United Iraqi Alliance to fight elections.
- January 30, 2005 - Elections to choose a 275-member National Assembly charged with drafting permanent constitution.
- February 13 - The United Iraqi Alliance wins polls, taking more than 47 percent of the vote. It is allocated 140 seats.
- February 28 - A suicide car bomber kills 125 in Hilla, south of Baghdad. Al Qaida's wing in Iraq claims responsibility.
- March 16 - Iraq's National Assembly holds its first meeting.
- April 5 - Iraq says guerrillas and criminal gangs have killed 6,000 Iraqi civilians over the past two years and wounded 16,000. Around 5,000 Iraqis have also been kidnapped.
- April 6 - Parliament elects Kurdish leader Jalal Talabani as Iraq's president, paving the way for a new government.
- April 20 - Caretaker Prime Minister Allawi escapes an assassination bid claimed by al Qaida's wing in Iraq.
- April 28 - Iraq's parliament approves a new government headed by Ibrahim al-Jaafari, a Shia.