Editing 2003 (section)

=== International conflicts ===
Only two inter-state conflicts took place in 2003: the [[Iraq War]] and the [[Kashmir conflict]]. The Kashmir conflict saw progress toward resolution in 2003 as negotiations began and a ceasefire took effect on November 23.<ref name=":3" />{{Rp|page=95}} A coalition of countries led by the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia led an [[2003 invasion of Iraq|invasion of Iraq]] beginning on March 20, warning that Iraq had been [[Iraq and weapons of mass destruction|operating a program]] to develop [[weapons of mass destruction]]. The subsequent Iraq War became the most publicized conflict in 2003.<ref name=":4" />{{Rp|pages=627–628}} The coalition quickly defeated the [[Iraqi Armed Forces]], and American president [[George W. Bush]] gave [[Mission Accomplished speech|a speech on May 1]] declaring victory in the war.<ref name=":162">{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/annualregisterof0000unse_s9x7/ |title=The Annual Register 2003 |publisher=Keesing's Worldwide |year=2003 |isbn=1-886994-47-1 |editor-last=Lewis |editor-first=D. S. |volume=245}}</ref>{{Rp|page=2}} The subsequent [[Iraqi insurgency (2003–2011)|Iraqi insurgency]] proved more deadly than the invasion by the end of the year. By this time, doubts were raised about whether Iraq had been developing the weapons of which it was accused.<ref name=":162" />{{Rp|page=3}}

[[Al-Qaeda]] remained active, launching suicide bombings in Afghanistan, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey. On September 10, its leaders [[Osama bin Laden]] and [[Ayman al-Zawahiri]] released their first video statement since 2001, celebrating the [[September 11 attacks]]. Al-Qaeda figures [[Khalid Sheikh Mohammed]] and [[Riduan Isamuddin]] were captured in March and August, respectively.<ref name=":15" />{{Rp|page=74}}

The [[Second Intifada]] continued into 2003 as conflict between Israel and Palestine killed 400 people in suicide bombings by Palestinians and military strikes by the [[Israel Defense Forces]].<ref name=":3" />{{Rp|page=104}} Israel constructed the [[West Bank barrier]], which it described as a measure to prevent suicide bombings and Palestine described as a measure to impose segregation.<ref name=":15">{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/timeannual200400newy/ |title=Time Annual 2004 |publisher=Time Books |year=2004 |isbn=1-931933-89-8 |editor-last=Knauer |editor-first=Kelly |issn=1097-5721}}</ref>{{Rp|page=76}}