Editing Baghdad (section)

=== 21st century (2001–present) ===
The Gulf War and subsequent sanctions on Iraq led to the decline of Baghdad.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Imperialism |first=Anthony ArnoveTopics |date=1 December 2000 |title=Monthly Review {{!}} Iraq Under Siege |url=https://monthlyreview.org/2000/12/01/iraq-under-siege/ |access-date=12 March 2025 |website=Monthly Review |language=en-US}}</ref> By the end of the 1990s, the government made improvements in Iraq's economy and infrastructure.<ref name="CNN-2001">{{Cite web |title=CNN.com - A decade after Gulf War, Iraq endures - January 17, 2001 |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/meast/01/17/gulf.war/ |access-date=12 March 2025 |website=CNN}}</ref> In 2000, a broad initiative came to restore Baghdad's cultural heritage.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Whitaker |first=Brian |date=3 January 2001 |title=The great survivor |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2001/jan/03/iraq.brianwhitaker |access-date=12 March 2025 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> Older mosques, churches, ''mandis'' and synagogues were restored and other historical structures were rebuilt.<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 June 2001 |title=ICRC activities on behalf of Iraqi civilians 2000-2001 - Iraq {{!}} ReliefWeb |url=https://reliefweb.int/report/iraq/icrc-activities-behalf-iraqi-civilians-2000-2001 |access-date=12 March 2025 |website=reliefweb.int |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=CNN.com - A sorry state of affairs - Sep. 27, 2002 |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/meast/09/27/sproject.irq.sanctions/index.html |access-date=12 March 2025 |website=CNN}}</ref> Saddam Hussein continued his architectural vision, which boosted further after the war.<ref name="Al-Jazeera">{{Cite news |date=12 December 2001 |title=Baghdad Municipality is preparing to restore al-Rashid Street to its historical status |url=https://www.aljazeera.net/culture/2001/12/12/%d8%a3%d9%85%d8%a7%d9%86%d8%a9-%d8%a8%d8%ba%d8%af%d8%a7%d8%af-%d8%aa%d8%b3%d8%aa%d8%b9%d8%af-%d9%84%d8%a5%d8%b9%d8%a7%d8%af%d8%a9-%d8%b4%d8%a7%d8%b1%d8%b9-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%b1%d8%b4%d9%8a%d8%af |work=Al-Jazeera |language=ar}}</ref><ref name="CNN-2001" /> A large number of presidential palaces, and government symbolic structures were built.<ref name="Al-Jazeera"/> These structures further beautified Baghdad.<ref name="Al-Jazeera"/> As a part of Saddam's [[Faith Campaign]], numerous mosques such as [[Umm al-Qura Mosque]] were built.<ref name="Al-Jazeera"/> However, these efforts were interrupted by the war which began in 2003.<ref name="Al-Jazeera"/>
[[File:SaddamStatue.jpg|left|thumb|The statue of Saddam Hussein being toppled in [[Firdos Square]] after the U.S invasion of Iraq, 2003]]
In 2003, the United States-led coalition invaded Iraq.<ref name="Tunzelmann-2021">{{Cite news |last=Tunzelmann |first=Alex von |date=8 July 2021 |title=The toppling of Saddam's statue: how the US military made a myth |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jul/08/toppling-saddam-hussein-statue-iraq-us-victory-myth |access-date=27 July 2024 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> [[Multi-National Force – Iraq|Coalition forces]] launched massive aerial assaults.<ref name="Tunzelmann-2021" /> The resistance of the Iraqi Army of the city's airport delayed coalition's entry into Baghdad.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Limited |first=Elaph Publishing |date=2009-06-03 |title=المقاومة العراقية : أسرار لم تنشر عن سقوط بغداد |url=https://elaph.com/Web/NewsPapers/2009/6/447481.htm |access-date=2025-05-20 |website=Elaph - إيلاف |language=ar}}</ref> Following the [[Battle of Baghdad (2003)|fall of Baghdad]] on 9 April 2003, the government lost its power.<ref name="Tunzelmann-2021" /> A [[Saddam Hussein statue destruction|statue of Saddam was toppled]] in [[Firdos Square|Firdous Square]], symbolizing the end of his rule.<ref name="Tunzelmann-2021" /> Many of the former government officials were either killed or captured, while others managed to escape and flee.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Wilson |first=Scott |date=20 May 2003 |title=Iraqis Killing Former Baath Party Members |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/2003/05/20/iraqis-killing-former-baath-party-members/23a5fd36-e6eb-4cc6-bec4-87fca79bc571/ |access-date=3 April 2025 |work=The Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}}</ref> After the overthrow the government, the [[Coalition Provisional Authority]] (CPA) was formed.<ref name="Karon-2005">{{Cite web |last=Karon |first=Tony |date=29 March 2005 |title=A Power Vacuum in Iraq? |url=https://time.com/archive/6938882/a-power-vacuum-in-iraq/ |access-date=3 April 2025 |website=TIME |language=en}}</ref> [[De-Ba'athification|CPA's decisions]] caused a [[power vacuum]].<ref name="Karon-2005" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Rubin |first=Alissa J. |date=3 November 2015 |title=Ahmad Chalabi and the Legacy of De-Baathification in Iraq |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/04/world/middleeast/ahmad-chalabi-and-the-legacy-of-de-baathification-in-iraq.html |access-date=3 April 2025 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Also two minor riots took place in 2003, on 21 July and 2 October, causing some disturbance in the population.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Staff |date=12 April 2003 |title=Chaos in Baghdad |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2003/apr/12/iraq6 |access-date=2 October 2024 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref name="Vick-2023">{{Cite news |date=24 February 2024 |title=Riots Erupt as Iraqis Await Payment |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/2003/10/05/riots-erupt-as-iraqis-await-payment/6e577fcd-6250-469a-abee-a9ef478d950e/ |access-date=2 October 2024 |newspaper=The Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}}</ref> Shortly after the invasion and the fall of the regime, an insurgancy began against the U.S-led rule of Iraq, consisting of former government officers and Islamist groups.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Iraq's persistent insurgency |url=https://www.rusi.org/publication/iraq%E2%80%99s-persistent-insurgency |access-date=3 April 2025 |website=www.rusi.orghttps |language=en}}</ref>
[[File:Flickr - The U.S. Army - Helicopter over Baghdad.jpg|thumb|A [[United States Military]] helicopter flying over [[Al-Rahman Mosque, Baghdad|Al-Rahman Mosque]]]]
Bombings took place at [[Jordanian embassy bombing in Baghdad|Jordanian Embassy]] and [[Canal Hotel bombing|Canal Hotel]].<ref name="ISW-2025">{{Cite web |title=Institute for the Study of War |url=https://www.understandingwar.org/region/baghdad-city-%D9%85%D8%AF%D9%8A%D9%86%D8%A9-%D8%A8%D8%BA%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%AF |access-date=6 February 2025 |website=Institute for the Study of War |language=en}}</ref> Religious and ethnic minorities,— Christians, Mandaeans, and Jews, began leaving the city out of fear of being targeted in attacks, as they were subjected to kidnappings, death threats, and violence.<ref name="ISW-2025"/> The Iraqi Film Archives site was bombed, priceless collection of artifacts in the [[National Museum of Iraq|National Museum]] was looted by people, thousands of ancient manuscripts in the [[Iraq National Library and Archive|National Library]] were destroyed.<ref name="ISW-2025"/><ref>{{Cite news |title=Out of sight: Iraq's TV archive lost to the war |url=https://www.newarab.com/analysis/out-sight-iraqs-tv-archive-lost-war}}</ref> The [[Haifa Street helicopter incident]] on 12 September was controversial.<ref name="ISW-2025"/> On the eve of [[Ashura]] on 2 March 2004, one of the deadliest bombing took place in Baghdad, that killed at least 80–100 were killed and injured 200 [[Shi'a]] [[Muslims]].<ref name="ISW-2025"/> In 2005, over 965 people were killed in [[Al-Aimmah Bridge]] near [[Al-Kadhimiya Mosque]].<ref name="Sunni rescuer hailed as Iraq hero">{{cite news |date=5 September 2005 |title=Sunni rescuer hailed as Iraq hero |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4214926.stm |access-date=9 November 2013 |publisher=[[BBC News]]}}</ref> Attempts were made to rescue people, specially from the Sunni district of [[Adhamiyah]], which is today seen as a symbol of unity.<ref name="Sunni rescuer hailed as Iraq hero"/>

Coinciding the [[execution of Saddam Hussein]] in 2006, violence increased during the [[Iraqi civil war (2006–2008)|civil war]] between Shi'ite militias and Sunni insurgents.<ref name="ISW-2025"/> Shi'ite militias were [[Muqtada al-Sadr|Muqtada as-Sadr]]'s [[Mahdi Army|Jaysh al-Mahdi (JAM)]] and the [[Axis of Resistance|Iranian-backed Special Groups]] and among Sunni insurgents, the largest was [[Al-Qaeda in Iraq|Al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI)]].<ref name="ISW-2025" /> Sunni insurgents established their bases Mansour, [[Adhamiyah]] and [[Dora, Baghdad|Doura]].<ref name="ISW-2025" /> [[Mansour district]] borders the Shi'ite populated Kadhimiyah and [[Al-Rashid, Baghdad|East Rasheed]].<ref name="ISW-2025" /> Before 2003, it was home to wealthy Sunnis and Ba'athist officials.<ref name="ISW-2025" /> Hence, when the regime fell, it quickly became a stronghold for the Sunni insurgency.<ref name="ISW-2025" /> While Shia militias were based in [[Sadr City]], [[Kadhimiya]]h, and West Rasheed, with [[Bab Al-Sharqi]] becoming stronghold for the Mahdi Army.<ref name="ISW-2025" /> Later, they also expanded into the surrounding districts of eastern Baghdad. 9 Nissan, Karadah, and Rusafa were dominated by Shias.<ref name="ISW-2025" />

Under [[Operation Imposing Law]] (''Operation Fardh al-Qanoon''), the coalition forces and post-2003 Iraqi Army successfully defeated Al-Qaeda and targeted Shia militias.<ref name="ISW-2025" /> By 2009, the level of violence decreased.<ref name="ISW-2025" /> However, violence continued.<ref name="ISW-2025" /> The period surrounding Provincial Elections was remarkably peaceful.<ref name="ISW-2025" /> But Baghdad witnessed an uptick in attacks in early April 2009, when a series of suicide bomb and vehicle-borne improvised explosive device attacks were perpetrated across the capital. <ref name="ISW-2025" /> The war and subsequent occupation ended in 2011, that caused [[Damage to Baghdad during the Iraq War|huge damage]] to Baghdad's transportation, power, and sanitary infrastructure.<ref name="Tunzelmann-2021" /> It resulted in massive civilian casualties, whose number is disputed.<ref name="ISW-2025" />

Though the war ended, but an [[Islamist]] [[Iraqi insurgency (2011–2013)|insurgency]] lasted until 2013.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The March to Baghdad: A Timeline of the 2003 Invasion of Iraq |url=https://teamrwb.org/blog/the-march-to-baghdad-a-timeline-of-the-2003-invasion-of-iraq |access-date=3 October 2024 |website=Team Red, White & Blue |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Institute for the Study of War |url=https://www.understandingwar.org/will-isis-take-baghdad-0 |access-date=3 October 2024 |website=Institute for the Study of War |language=en}}</ref> Baghdad experienced anti-government protests by Sunnis during the Arab Spring. It was followed by [[War in Iraq (2013–2017)|another war]] from 2013 to 2017 and a [[low-intensity conflict|low-level]] insurgency from 2017, which included [[suicide bombing]]s in [[2018 Baghdad bombings|January 2018]] and [[2021 Baghdad bombings|January 2021]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=21 January 2021 |title=At least 32 killed as first suicide bombing in nearly 2 years rocks Baghdad |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2021/01/21/middleeast/iraq-baghdad-explosion-intl/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122065840/https://edition.cnn.com/2021/01/21/middleeast/iraq-baghdad-explosion-intl/index.html |archive-date=22 January 2021 |access-date=21 January 2021}}</ref> It has been site of clashes between the citizens and the government. The city attracted global media attention on 3 January 2020, when Iranian general [[Qasem Soleimani]] was [[Assassination of Qasem Soleimani|assassinated in a U.S. drone strike]] near Baghdad Airport.<ref>{{Cite news |date=9 July 2020 |title=Qasem Soleimani: US strike on Iran general was unlawful, UN expert says |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-53345885 |access-date=2 October 2024 |language=en-GB}}</ref>  In December 2015, Baghdad was selected by [[UNESCO]] as the first Arab city of the center of literary creativity.<ref>{{Cite web |title=UNESCO chooses Baghdad as the first Arab city for literary creativity – Union of News Agencies of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation |url=https://una-oic.org/en/culture-and-arts/2015/12/13/7e63d4ee-4ff2-4611-aa32-b4a3ea257972/ |access-date=18 February 2024 |language=en}}</ref>