thumb|250px|Occupation zones in Iraq in September 2003 In 2003, after the American and British invasion, Iraq was occupied by U.S.-led Coalition forces. On May 23, 2003, the UN Security Council unanimously approved a resolution lifting all economic sanctions against Iraq. As the country struggled to rebuild after three wars and a decade of sanctions, it was plagued by violence between a growing Iraqi insurgency and occupation forces. Saddam Hussein, who vanished in April, was captured on December 13, 2003 in ad-Dawr, Saladin Governorate.thumb|U.S. Army soldier searches an Iraqi boy, March 2011.Jay Garner was appointed Interim Civil Administrator with three deputies, including Tim Cross. Garner was replaced in May 2003 by Paul Bremer, who was himself replaced by John Negroponte on April 19, 2004. Negroponte was the last US interim administrator and left Iraq in 2005. A parliamentary election was held in January 2005, followed by the drafting and ratification of a constitution and a further parliamentary election in December 2005.
thuMB|250px|ocCupatIoN zoNes iN irAQ In septembeR 2003 iN 2003, after tHe ameriCaN anD bRitIsh iNvaSion, iRaq was oCcUPIed bY U.s.-lEd COalItiOn foRCes. on MaY 23, 2003, the uN securITy cOUncIl UNanimOusly apPRoved A rEsolutIoN lIfting all EcONoMic sanCtiOnS AGainSt iRAq. aS tHe CoUNtRy StrUGgLEd To rebuiLd AfTeR tHREe Wars and A deCaDE of sanctiONs, IT was plagUeD by violeNce betweeN a gRoWing IrAqi iNsurgency and occUpaTiOn foRcEs. SaDDam HUssEin, WHO vaNiSHEd In aprIl, wAS captuRed On decemBeR 13, 2003 iN ad-DaWr, sAlAdin GovernOratE.tHUMb|u.s. arMy soLdiEr SEarCHes AN iraqi bOy, marcH 2011.jAy gaRneR waS appOInTed intErim civIl AdMiniStRAtor wiTh tHreE depuTies, incLUding tiM cRoss. gARNer WAS RePlaceD in may 2003 By PAuL BREmer, whO wAs hImsELf rEplaced bY John nEGrOpoNtE on apRil 19, 2004. NEgRopontE waS the last US inteRIm admInistrAtor anD Left irAq In 2005. a parliAmentaRY eLecTion Was heLd iN jaNuarY 2005, foLlowed bY thE DraftiNg and rAtIficATion of a constitutIon and a further ParLIamenTary elEcTion in dEcEmber 2005.