Troops poised to attack Iraq
US-led forces move into position for an assault on Iraq as its leadership vows defiance.

Blair wins war backing
Tony Blair wins support for UK military action against Iraq despite a big rebellion by Labour MPs.

US names 'coalition of the willing'
The US government names 30 countries it says are supporting action against Iraq - but leaves out all Arab nations.

Baghdad braces for war
The BBC's Paul Wood reports on the final preparations Baghdad residents are making for the impending war.

Reporters' Log: Waiting for war
The BBC's unrivalled team of correspondents in the Gulf and beyond log their experiences and impressions.

Day at-a-glance
BBC News Online charts hour-by-hour developments in the Iraq crisis as diplomacy approaches a new deadline.

War on Iraq begins
President Bush announces the start of war, with the Iraqi leader thought to be the target of an initial attack.

War draws condemnation
The US-led attack on Iraq draws condemnation from several countries and sparks protests around the world.

Bush address to the nation
Text of speech by US President George W Bush announcing the start of war against Iraq.

Main attack still to come
The BBC's Jonathan Marcus analyses the significance of the opening volleys in the US war against Iraq.

Reporters' Log: At war
The BBC's unrivalled team of correspondents in the Gulf and beyond log their experiences and impressions.

Day at-a-glance
BBC News Online charts latest developments in the Iraq crisis.

Massive air raids rock Iraq
Baghdad and other Iraqi cities come under aerial attack in what US officials say is a major escalation.

Troops die in air 'accident'
The eight British and four US troops killed in a helicopter crash in Kuwait did not die from "enemy action" says the UK defence minister.

Mass arrests at US peace demo
Police in San Francisco arrest more than 1,000 protesters, as demonstrations against war in Iraq spread across the world.

Eyewitness: Waiting for bombs
Subhy Haddad, a BBC World Service reporter and Baghdad resident, describes the feeling of waiting for air raids.

Reporters' Log: Attacks
The BBC's unrivalled team of correspondents in the Gulf and beyond log their experiences and impressions.

Day at-a-glance
BBC News Online charts latest developments in the Iraq crisis.

Coalition pushes on
US-led forces seize key areas of southern Iraq as they push on to Baghdad, which comes under heavy bombardment.

Anti-war protests span the globe
Tens of thousands of people take to the streets in New York and across the world in anti-war demonstrations.

Applause as Marines enter Basra
US and UK forces get a warm welcome from some young men as they sweep into Iraq's second city, David Willis reports.

Navy helicopters collide in Gulf
The Duke of York leads the tributes to the seven crew killed when two helicopters collided in the Gulf.

Reporters' Log: Pushing on
The BBC's unrivalled team of correspondents in the Gulf and beyond log their experiences and impressions.

Day at-a-glance
BBC News Online charts latest developments in the Iraq crisis.

US forces' 'toughest day'
Five captured US soldiers are paraded on Iraqi television as coalition forces meet determined resistance.

Tornado downed by US missile
An RAF Tornado and its crew are missing after being downed by a US Patriot missile near the Iraq border.

UK reporter 'believed dead'
Tributes are made to veteran ITN reporter Terry Lloyd who has been killed in Iraq by 'friendly fire' from Allied forces

Analysis: Rapid northern advance
The Tigris and Euphrates river valleys, in ancient times one of the cradles of civilization, are now the cockpit for a massive sweep by armoured columns.

Reporters' Log: Battles
The BBC's unrivalled team of correspondents in the Gulf and beyond log their experiences and impressions.

Day at-a-glance
BBC News Online charts latest developments in the Iraq crisis.

US claims 'rapid progress'
Coalition forces bomb units of Saddam's elite Republican Guard on the outskirts of Baghdad.

Blair warns of 'difficult days'
The US-led coalition faces tough times but the Iraq conflict is going according to plan, Tony Blair tells MPs.

Analysis: Saddam on television
Saddam Hussein's appearance on television appears to show that he is alive and well.

Iraqis in Syria watch war
Kim Ghattas reports from Sayyedah Zaynab in Syria on the mood of Iraqis watching the war in their homeland.

Reporters' Log: PoWs
The BBC's unrivalled team of correspondents in the Gulf and beyond log their experiences and impressions.

Day at-a-glance
BBC News Online charts latest developments in the Iraq crisis.

Sandstorms slow advance
Adverse weather disrupts the US-led advance towards Baghdad, but heavy bombing of Republican Guards goes on.

Uprising reported in Basra
UK forces fire on the southern city of Basra in support of what they say is a civilian uprising.

Blair promises to back Iraqis
Tony Blair promises the US-led coalition will not let down the Iraqi people at his monthly news conference.

Basra: Why they are not cheering
The expected welcome from the people for American and British forces has not happened.

Reporters' Log: Storms
The BBC's unrivalled team of correspondents in the Gulf and beyond log their experiences and impressions.

Day at-a-glance
BBC News Online charts latest developments in the Iraq crisis.

Baghdad shops attack kills 14
At least 14 people are dead following a coalition air strike on a shopping area in the Iraqi capital, the authorities say.

'POWs and dead' shown on TV
Pictures said to show two dead British soldiers, two POWs and a drone are broadcast on al-Jazeera TV.

Najaf fighting 'heaviest so far'
US commanders say several hundred Iraqis have been killed at Najaf in one of the biggest battles so far.

Securing Umm Qasr
Securing Umm Qasr is vital to the US-led forces attacking Iraq, and not only because it will allow them to land humanitarian aid.

Reporters' Log: Victims
The BBC's unrivalled team of correspondents in the Gulf and beyond log their experiences and impressions.

Day at-a-glance
BBC News Online charts latest developments in the Iraq crisis.

US 'breaking Saddam's grip'
President Bush says the US-led forces will press on for "however long it takes" to topple the Iraqi leader.

British destroy Iraqi column
British tanks engage an Iraqi column near Basra destroying 14 tanks in a major battle, say UK commanders.

Military plan raises questions
The Pentagon says Baghdad remains the priority in the war, but tough Iraqi resistance puts the US strategy under close scrutiny.

Convoy hijacked in aid 'disaster'
Long-awaited aid deliveries destined for Iraq have run into trouble on the ground, BBC News Online's Ryan Dilley reports.

Reporters' Log: Frustrations
The BBC's unrivalled team of correspondents in the Gulf and beyond log their experiences and impressions.

Day at-a-glance
BBC News Online charts latest developments in the Iraq crisis.

UN to resume Iraq 'lifeline'
The UN votes to revive Iraq's vital oil-for-food programme, and also launches an appeal for more help for Iraq.

UK aid ship docks at Iraqi port
The first British supply ship carrying aid to Iraq arrives at the southern port of Umm Qasr.

The unpredictable war
With no popular uprisings or mass surrender, the war with Iraq is not going quite as anticipated, reports the BBC's Barnaby Mason.

Conflict sapping forces' morale
The nature of the Iraq war is confounding troops' expectations, says Andrew North.

Reporters' Log: Explosions
The BBC's unrivalled team of correspondents in the Gulf and beyond log their experiences and impressions.

Day at-a-glance
BBC News Online charts latest developments in the Iraq crisis.

Iraq warns of suicide attacks
An Iraqi army officer kills four US soldiers in a suicide attack, a tactic Baghdad says it will start using regularly.

Market horror takes its toll
The BBC's Rageh Omaar reports from the devastated market where at least 50 people are believed to have died in an explosion.

Inside Nasiriya's battle zone
BBC correspondent Andrew North reports on the US marines' operation inside Nasiriya.

Analysis: US ponders strategy
Criticism that America's war plan for the invasion of Iraq is flawed and includes too few troops shows no sign of abating.

Reporters' Log: Fallout
The BBC's unrivalled team of correspondents in the Gulf and beyond log their experiences and impressions.

Day at-a-glance
BBC News Online charts latest developments in the Iraq crisis.

Iraq war 'on track'
A US commander rejects criticism of the campaign in Iraq, saying "remarkable progress" has been made.

UK marines in 'hardest battle yet'
UK forces have fought a day-long battle against hundreds of Iraqi troops, supported by tanks, outside the city of Basra.

Suicide bombers 'arrive in Iraq'
The Palestinian group Islamic Jihad says the first wave of volunteer 'martyrs' have arrived in Iraq.

Analysis: US military deny pause
The BBC's Jonathan Marcus considers the hold-up in the US advance on Baghdad.

Reporters' Log: Raids
The BBC's unrivalled team of correspondents in the Gulf and beyond log their experiences and impressions.

Day at-a-glance
BBC News Online charts latest developments in the Iraq crisis.

Relentless strikes hit Baghdad
Jets pound presidential sites in Baghdad and Republican Guard units near the city as US troops edge closer.

UK marines push on Basra
Royal Marines close in on the southern city of Basra after securing a "stronghold" nearby amid intense fighting.

Baghdad loyalty fails to waver
As the civilian suffering increases, so will Iraqi defiance in any battle for Baghdad, says the BBC's Paul Wood from the capital.

US warns Syria and Iran
The United States is laying down the law to Iran and Syria, reports BBC News Online's Paul Reynolds.

Reporters' Log: Advance
The BBC's unrivalled team of correspondents in the Gulf and beyond log their experiences and impressions.

Day at-a-glance
BBC News Online charts latest developments in the Iraq crisis.

Iraqi civilian casualties mount
At least 11 members of the same family are reported killed in an air strike as US-led forces advance on Baghdad.

Moving up to Baghdad
The US-led campaign is developing with air attacks and some movement forward on the ground, Paul Reynolds writes.

UK troops shell Iraqi defences
British troops around Basra launch a "heavy artillery barrage" after coming under fire from Iraqi defences on Wednesday.

Patriot missile unit stays on target
The Patriot's image has been badly tarnished by a "friendly fire" attack but the interception of Iraqi rockets has undoubtedly saved lives.

Reporters' Log: Regret
The BBC's unrivalled team of correspondents in the Gulf and beyond log their experiences and impressions.

Day at-a-glance
BBC News Online charts latest developments in the Iraq crisis.

'Dagger pointed' at Baghdad
US ground forces claim they have routed Iraqi divisions and are within 20 miles of Baghdad.

Rescued POW flown to Germany
Private Jessica Lynch arrives in Germany after being freed from captivity in Iraq by US special forces.

At the gates of Baghdad
As US troops advance to just south of Baghdad, the BBC's Paul Reynolds looks at their next possible course of action.

Republican Guard under assault
Waves of bombers attack Republican Guard units near Karbala, possibly in readiness for a push on Baghdad.

Reporters' Log: Rescue
The BBC's unrivalled team of correspondents in the Gulf and beyond log their experiences and impressions.

Day at-a-glance
BBC News Online charts latest developments in the Iraq crisis.

US poised for Baghdad battle
US troops say they have pushed close to Saddam International Airport - a claim dismissed by Iraq.

US promises Iraq role for UN
The US secretary of state says there will be a role for the UN in post-war Iraq - but the coalition will take the leading role.

Eyewitness: Road to Baghdad
As US forces take up positions outside Baghdad, the BBC's Gavin Hewitt reports from his position on the front line with the US Third Infantry Division.

Saddam's last stand?
Failing victory, Saddam Hussein may plan an epic defeat, says the BBC's Roger Hardy.

Reporters' Log: Bombs
The BBC's unrivalled team of correspondents in the Gulf and beyond log their experiences and impressions.

Day at-a-glance
BBC News Online charts latest developments in the Iraq crisis.

US 'secures' Baghdad airport
US troops say they now control the airport as Saddam Hussein calls on Iraqis to defend the city.

Analysis: The battle for Baghdad
American military planners are devising a strategy to seize control of the whole of Baghdad, Paul Adams says.

Kuwaitis speak out
Supporting the US-led war on Iraq has seen Kuwaitis isolated in the Middle East. But they are in no mood to be called poodles.

Blair pledge on post-war Iraq
Tony Blair tells the BBC that the Iraqi people will be given control of the country as soon as possible after the war.

Reporters' Log: Airport
The BBC's unrivalled team of correspondents in the Gulf and beyond log their experiences and impressions.

Day at-a-glance
BBC News Online charts latest developments in the Iraq crisis.

US forces raid Baghdad
Troops sweep through southern Baghdad to show Saddam Hussein he is not in charge, US officials say.

Shooting a path to the capital
Dramatic television pictures show a US armoured column's advance on the city of Baghdad.

Analysis: US thrust into Baghdad
A US armoured column's sweep through southern Baghdad was dramatic but not a drive to take the city, the BBC's Jonathan Marcus reports.

British find 'makeshift morgue'
Hundreds of skulls and bundles of bone in strips of uniform are found by British soldiers at an abandoned Iraqi base.

Reporters' Log: Pressure
The BBC's unrivalled team of correspondents in the Gulf and beyond log their experiences and impressions.

Day at-a-glance
BBC News Online charts latest developments in the Iraq crisis.

UK troops storm Basra
British troops bombard the local HQ of Iraq's ruling party as commanders promise the "liberation of Basra".

US tightens grip around Baghdad
American troops move to encircle the Iraqi capital as they reopen the city's airport to a military supply flight.

'Friendly fire' hits Kurdish convoy
At least 10 people are killed as a US warplane bombs a Kurdish convoy which included members of US special forces.

'This is just a scene from hell'
BBC world affairs editor John Simpson has been injured in Northern Iraq in an apparent mistaken attack on a US special forces convoy by one of their own planes.

Reporters' Log: Tragedy
The BBC's unrivalled team of correspondents in the Gulf and beyond log their experiences and impressions.

Day at-a-glance
BBC News Online charts latest developments in the Iraq crisis.

US troops storm Baghdad
American forces attack Saddam Hussein's main palace in what the US calls a 'show of force'.

'Chemical Ali' reported dead
British officials say they believe the notorious Iraqi commander Ali Hassan al-Majid has died in an air strike in the southern city.

'Mood of fear in Baghdad'
The BBC's Paul Wood goes on an official tour of Baghdad after US tanks enter the city and tells us what he sees.

Chaos on Basra's streets
The people of Basra welcome British troops into Iraq's second city of Basra as fires still burn from shelling and looting begins.

Reporters' Log: Baghdad
The BBC's unrivalled team of correspondents in the Gulf and beyond log their experiences and impressions.

Day at-a-glance
BBC News Online charts latest developments in the Iraq crisis.

US intensifies Baghdad push
US tanks and aircraft pound positions in Baghdad as troops meet some fierce resistance from Iraqi fighters.

Iraqis 'turning towards' coalition
Coalition forces are winning support from the Iraqis as Saddam Hussein's grip on power weakens, say Tony Blair and George Bush.

Three stages to a new Iraq
George Bush and Tony Blair appear to have agreed on a role for the UN in post-war Iraq.

In the palace with the marines
BBC correspondent Clive Myrie reports from a presidential palace in Basra which is now home to Royal Marines

Reporters' Log: Looting
The BBC's unrivalled team of correspondents in the Gulf and beyond log their experiences and impressions.

Day at-a-glance
BBC News Online charts latest developments in the Iraq crisis.

Baghdad falls to US forces
Saddam Hussein loses control of the Iraqi capital, as looting breaks out amid scenes of jubilation at the US takeover.

Doubts over Saddam survival
US and British intelligence sources are divided about the outcome of an air attack that targeted the Iraqi president.

'Rolling victory' after rolling war
There has not been one moment of victory - or defeat - in Iraq but a new type of rolling victory, says News Online correspondent Paul Reynolds.

Little joy in Middle East
As scenes of jubilation at the US advance are beamed out of Baghdad, BBC correspondents gauge reaction in the region.

Reporters' Log: Toppled
The BBC's unrivalled team of correspondents in the Gulf and beyond log their experiences and impressions.

Day at-a-glance
BBC News Online charts latest developments in the Iraq crisis.

Kurds occupy Kirkuk
US-backed Kurdish fighters take the key northern city of Kirkuk - alarming Turkey which sends in military observers.

Coalition leaders address Iraq
The US president and UK prime minister tell Iraqis in a television address that the Saddam Hussein regime is over.

The 'democratic domino' theory
Some in Washington hope for a "democratic domino" effect in the Middle East after the war in Iraq, writes Paul Reynolds.

Iraqis resist Kurdish advance
With US support, Kurdish fighters make swift progress south towards Baghdad, but meet strong Iraqi resistance.

Reporters' Log: Northern front
The BBC's unrivalled team of correspondents in the Gulf and beyond log their experiences and impressions.

Day at-a-glance
BBC News Online charts latest developments in the Iraq crisis.

Chaos as Mosul falls to Kurds
Widespread looting breaks out in Mosul, after the Iraqi army abandons it to US-backed Kurdish fighters.

Anti-war leaders discuss Iraq
Russia's leader asks why no weapons of mass destruction have been found in Iraq at a summit with French and German leaders.

Erasing Saddam's legacy
Erasing the legacy of the toppled Iraqi leader will not be so easy, writes Gerald Butt.

Law and disorder in Iraq
Many Iraqi towns invaded by US-led forces have witnessed an orgy of looting in the wake of the fighting. How quickly can law and order be restored?

Reporters' Log: Disorder
The BBC's unrivalled team of correspondents in the Gulf and beyond log their experiences and impressions.

Day at-a-glance
BBC News Online charts latest developments in the Iraq crisis.

Saddam aide surrenders
Saddam Hussein's senior scientific adviser turns himself in to US troops, as fighting flares in Baghdad.

US marines take strategic town
Despite fears they would face tough resistance, US troops open up a new supply route to Baghdad.

Eyewitness: Medics carry guns
BBC correspondent Caroline Hawley reports from Iraq's capital city - a place in a state of near anarchy.

Reporters' Log: Patrols
The BBC's unrivalled team of correspondents in the Gulf and beyond log their experiences and impressions.

Day at-a-glance
BBC News Online charts latest developments in the Iraq crisis.

US forces enter Tikrit
US marines enter Saddam Hussein's hometown and are reported to be meeting some resistance.

Calm after the storms
BBC correspondents report a semblance of normal life returning to three Iraqi cities plagued by violence since they fell to coalition forces.

'Free force' heads to Baghdad
An Iraqi opposition leader tells the BBC he will send fighters to help to restore order in the capital.

US rescues soldiers held by Iraq
Seven American soldiers held in Iraq have been rescued by US forces pushing north from Baghdad.

Reporters' Log: Tikrit
The BBC's unrivalled team of correspondents in the Gulf and beyond log their experiences and impressions.

Day at-a-glance
BBC News Online charts latest developments in the Iraq crisis.

War end 'close' after Tikrit seized
US marines take control of Saddam Hussein's birthplace, as the Pentagon begins to withdraw forces from the Gulf.

US attention turns to Syria
The United States has turned its attention, though not its guns, to Syria following the collapse of Saddam Hussein's rule in Iraq.

Freed US POWs describe ordeal
Seven rescued US prisoners of war speak about their harrowing experience in Iraqi captivity.

Caring for the victims of war
BBC News Online's Ryan Dilley reports from Basra on the state of medical services in the city.

Reporters' Log: The future
The BBC's unrivalled team of correspondents in the Gulf and beyond log their experiences and impressions.

Day at-a-glance
BBC News Online charts latest developments in the Iraq crisis.

US begins shaping Iraq's future
Washington declares that it is not interested in ruling Iraq at the first meeting to set up a new civil authority.

Gulf states warn US over Syria
Six pro-Western Gulf Arab states call on the US to stop threatening Syria in the wake of the war in Iraq.

Where are the weapons?
BBC News Online's Paul Reynolds assesses the hunt for Iraqi weapons of destruction - and how valid the claims are.

Basra's looters repent
Ryan Dilley reports from Basra where many of the items looted in the city are being returned, following a proclamation by a local preacher.

Reporters' log: Talks
The BBC's unrivalled team of correspondents in the Gulf and beyond log their experiences and impressions.

Day at-a-glance
BBC News Online charts latest developments in the Iraq crisis.