2009 in Iraq

none September 2020 2009 Events in the year 2009 in Iraq. Incumbents President: Jalal Talabani Prime Minister: Nouri al-Maliki Vice President: Tariq al-Hashimi, Adil Abdul-Mahdi Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government (autonomous region) President: Massoud Barzani Prime Minister: Barham Salih Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government (autonomous region) President: Massoud Barzani Prime Minister: Nechervan Barzani to 31 August Barham Salih Events January 1 January – The United States officially hands over responsibility for security in the Green Zone to Iraqi forceshttps://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/7811088.stm New US embassy opens in Baghdad BBC News 5 January 2009 12 January 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090114103849/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7811088.stm 14 January 2009 live The U.S. opens its embassy in Baghdad. 22 January – The Estonian and Salvadoran missions to Iraq end.No more Estonian troop units in IraqJune 2017 InternetArchiveBot yes Salvadorian Troops in Iraq Return Home 26 January – Four U.S. soldiers died when two helicopters crashed, after they came under enemy fire, in northern Iraq.The Associated Press https://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/casualties/2009-01-03-january-toll_N.htm January 2009 Usatoday.Com 2009-01-31 2013-09-09 31 January – Iraq holds its provincial elections with a minimum of violence. February 1 February – A total of 191 Iraqis were killed in violence during January, the lowest monthly toll since the US-led invasion of March 2003.At least 26 dead as bombs, shootings shatter Iraq lull. Retrieved 11 February 2009 Sixteen U.S. troops died in Iraq in January 2009.U.S. Casualties in Operation Iraqi Freedom January 2009. GlobalSecurity.Org. Retrieved 12 February 2009 9 February – Three U.S. soldiers were killed by a suicide car bomber in Mosul. A fourth U.S. soldier died later of wounds suffered in the attack.https://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/casualties/2009-02-03-february-toll_N.htm February 2009 Usatoday.Com 2009-03-14 2013-09-09 10 February – Nicolas Sarkozy became the first French president to visit Iraq in a surprise stopover during a Persian Gulf tour.Lauter Devorah http://jta.org/news/article/2009/02/11/1002928/sarkozy-makes-surprise-iraq-visit Sarkozy makes surprise Iraq visit Jta.org 2009-02-11 2013-09-09 11 February – Twin car bombings at a Baghdad bus station kill 16 people. 12 February – The United Kingdom suffered its first Iraq War fatality of 2009 when a British soldier was shot and killed in Basra. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-10637526 1 March 2009 BBC News British military deaths in Iraq https://web.archive.org/web/20090311172319/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/3847051.stm 11 March 2009 live 13 February – A female suicide bomber kills 40 Shiite pilgrims south of Baghdad.Female suicide bomber kills 40 https://web.archive.org/web/20090214194326/http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090213/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_iraq 14 February 2009 15 February – a U.S. soldier from 610 ESC, 14th Engineer Battalion, 555 Engineer Brigade was killed by an EFP (Explosively Formed Projectile) in As Salam in Southern Iraq 23 February – A U.S. soldier and an interpreter were shot dead by Iraqi policemen who opened fire on them as they toured Iraqi police positions on a bridge in Mosul during fighting north of Baghdad.Yahoo news- U.S. soldier killed in police attack Three others were wounded. Three U.S. soldiers and an interpreter were killed and a fourth U.S. soldier wounded in a firefight with insurgents in the Diyala Province.https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna29354202 3 U.S. soldiers, interpreter killed in Iraq NBC News 2009-02-23 2013-09-09 27 February – Christopher R. Hill was named to succeed Ryan Crocker as U.S. Ambassador to Iraq.http://english.aljazeera.net/news/americas/2009/02/2009227215553136404.html Hill appointed US Iraq ambassador English.aljazeera.net 2013-09-09 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20090304005856/http://english.aljazeera.net/news/americas/2009/02/2009227215553136404.html 4 March 2009 Barack Obama, President of the United States, announced 31 August 2010 as the deadline for the withdrawal of "combat troops" from Iraq. A "transitional force" of 35,000 to 50,000 support, advisory, and counterterrorism personnel is slated for withdrawal by the end of 2011. Obama declared that this strategy for withdrawal was in line with the American goal of "a full transition to Iraqi responsibility" for the sovereign nation of Iraq. He congratulated the Iraqi people and government for their "proud resilience" in not "giving into the forces of disunion", but cautioned that Iraqis would have to remain vigilant against "those ... who will insist that Iraq's differences cannot be reconciled without more killing" even after the U.S. drawdown in 2010 and withdrawal in 2011.https://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/27/us/politics/27obama-text.html?pagewanted=1 Obama's Speech at Camp Lejeune, N.C. The New York Times The New York Times 27 February 2009 10 January 2011 https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7914061.stm BBC News Obama outlines Iraq pullout plan 27 February 2009 28 February 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090227235146/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7914061.stm 27 February 2009 live The Iraqi death toll for February leapt substantially from January's count to 258, a 35% increase.http://www.almanar.com.lb/NewsSite/NewsDetails.aspx?id=75954&language=en Iraq Death Toll Rises to 258 in February: Ministries Almanar.com.lb 2013-09-09 https://web.archive.org/web/20090304054752/http://www.almanar.com.lb/NewsSite/NewsDetails.aspx?id=75954&language=en 4 March 2009 dead Seventeen U.S. troops died in February 2009 in Iraq. One U.K. serviceman was also killed.Iraq Coalition Casualty Count https://web.archive.org/web/20110321080348/http://icasualties.org/Iraq/index.aspx 21 March 2011 . ICasualities.org. Retrieved 1 March 2009 March Nine US soldiers die in Iraq this month, the lowest since the start of the war. 12 March – The trial of Muntadhir al-Zaidi, on charges of assault for throwing his shoes at George W. Bush, resumes at the Central Criminal Court of Iraq Shoe-Throwing Iraqi Journalist's Trial Postponed Fox News Associated Press 30 December 2008 http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,473948,00.html 30 December 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20121022190415/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,473948,00.html 22 October 2012 live following an adjournment in late December 2008 so the court could determine whether Bush was in Iraq on an official visit, since he had entered the country uninvited by Iraqi officials and had been greeted by the U.S. military.Star Tribune: Iraqi who threw shoes at ex-President George W. Bush says he acted to restore Iraq's pride https://web.archive.org/web/20090220150954/http://www.startribune.com/world/39776187.html?elr=KArks%3ADCiUBcy7hUiD3aPc%3A_Yyc%3AaULPQL7PQLanchO7DiUr 20 February 2009 https://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2009-02-19-shoe-thrower-trial_N.htm?csp=34 USA Today Alan Gomez Iraqi says he plotted, practiced shoe attack 20 February 2009 27 May 2009 Al-Zaidi was sentenced to three years in prison,Hendawi Hamza Iraqi who threw shoes at Bush jailed for 3 years Newsweek Associated Press http://www.newsweek.com/id/159149 12 March 2009 12 March 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090216090958/http://www.newsweek.com/id/159149 16 February 2009 dead although on 7 April 2009 the sentence was reduced to one year from three years.https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/07/AR2009040701515.html Court reduces sentence for Iraqi shoe thrower 7 April 2009 Associated Press via Washingtonpost.com https://web.archive.org/web/20101204185919/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/07/AR2009040701515.html 4 December 2010 live 31 July 2009 Ernesto LondoñO Qais Mizher The maximum sentence facing al-Zaidi was 15 years. April thumb|200px|right|Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki shakes hands with U.S. President Barack Obama in Baghdad, 7 April 2009 thumb|President of Iraq Jalal Talabani with U.S. President Barack Obama, 7 April 2009 7 April – U.S. President Barack Obama makes a surprise visit to troops in Iraq.http://cnnwire.blogs.cnn.com/2009/04/07/obama-makes-surprise-visit-to-iraq-2/ CNN Obama makes surprise visit to Iraq 24 April 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090421083050/http://cnnwire.blogs.cnn.com/2009/04/07/obama-makes-surprise-visit-to-iraq-2/ 21 April 2009 dead 10 April – Suicide bomber in truck kills five US troops in Iraqhttps://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/apr/11/iraq-suicide-bomb-attack London The Guardian Martin Chulov Suicide bomber in truck kills five US troops in Iraq 11 April 2009 24 April 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090413161852/http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/apr/11/iraq-suicide-bomb-attack 13 April 2009 live 23 April – Two suicide bombings kill over eighty people in Baghdad and near Baqubah, the worst violence in 2009http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/04/23/iraq.violence/index.html CNN Bombings kill nearly 90 in Iraq 23 April 2009 24 April 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090424085530/http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/04/23/iraq.violence/index.html 24 April 2009 live May 11 May – Sgt. John Russell opens fire at a clinic at Camp Liberty in Baghdad, killing five fellow soldiers, before being subdued. https://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/14/world/middleeast/14shooter.html?_r=1 The New York Times James Dao Lizette Alvarez Counseling Was Ordered for Soldier in Iraq Shooting 14 May 2009 14 May 2009 15 May – The Royal Air Force commemorates the end of their nineteen years of operations in Iraq.RAF ends Iraq campaign after 19 years https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/raf-ends-iraq-campaign-after-19-years-1685558.html The Independent London https://web.archive.org/web/20090518143529/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/raf-ends-iraq-campaign-after-19-years-1685558.html 18 May 2009 live 31 July 2009 15 May 2009 27 May – The last of the U.K.'s combat troops are withdrawn.Vina Gonzalo https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601085&sid=aslB2LAf_hWs U.K. Finishes Withdrawal of Its Last Combat Troops in Iraq Bloomberg.com 2009-05-26 2013-09-09 June 4 June – Romanian forces officially end their Iraq missionMNF-I Press release, June 10, 2009 http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=26878&Itemid=128 https://web.archive.org/web/20090905170449/http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=26878&Itemid=128 5 September 2009 usurped 31 July 2009 22 June – Sherif Kamal Shahine is appointed Egypt's ambassador to Iraq, replacing Ihab al-Sharif, who was killed in July 2005 by Al Qaeda in Iraq. He was the second Egyptian ambassador to Iraq since the Fall of Saddam Hussein's regime in April 2003. https://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSLG586613 https://web.archive.org/web/20201008011908/https://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSLG586613 dead 8 October 2020 Reuters Egypt names new ambassador to Iraq after 4-year gap 16 June 2009 22 June 2009 24 June – A bomb explodes in a market in Sadr City, Baghdad killing at least 69 and injuring at least 150.https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/8117686.stm 'Dozens dead' in Baghdad bombing 24 June 2009 BBC News 24 June 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090625012111/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/8117686.stm 25 June 2009 live 30 June – US troops formally handed over security duties to Iraqi forces and withdrew from towns and cities in Iraq. US troops continue to be embedded with Iraqi forces. A car bombing kills at least 27 people in Kirkuk.Iraq present U.S. with a paradox John Ibbitson 30 June 2009 1 July 2009 https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/iraq-present-us-with-a-paradox/article1202812/ Globe and Mail Canada https://web.archive.org/web/20090702011732/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/iraq-present-us-with-a-paradox/article1202812/ 2 July 2009 live July 28 July – Australia, the United Kingdom and Romania end their Iraq troop presence, leaving the United States with the only foreign combat troops in the country.http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90777/90853/6708832.html People's Daily Online – "Romania's last contingent in Iraq returns home" English.people.com.cn 2009-07-24 2013-09-09https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8172893.stm UK troops in Iraq moved to Kuwait BBC News 2009-07-28 2013-09-09 August 19 August - Waves of explosions kill over 100 in Baghdad and injure 298 people. September 11 September – Inmates at Iraq's Abu Garrib prison start a fire and clash with guards during two days of unrest 16 September – U.S. Vice President Joe Biden made his second visit to Baghdad in as many months and met with Prime Minister al-Maliki even as insurgents fired mortars and rockets at the Green Zone to protest his presence. Although said to be in "listening mode", Biden addressed issues of security, political reconciliation, and foreign investment in Iraq's oil-rich but weakened economy with various leaders in the capital and Iraq's Kurdish region.https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/16/AR2009091602998.html?hpid=moreheadlines Biden Pushes Iraqi Leaders on Vote Law, Oil-Bid Perks Scott Wilson The Washington Post 17 September 2009 17 September 2009 Biden said, "We will also move ahead on other aspects of our security agreement by removing all US combat brigades from Iraq by the end of August 2010 and all remaining US troops by the end of 2011."http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2009/09/in-baghdad-biden-affirms-us-commitment-to-troop-withdrawal-deadlines.html In Baghdad, Biden Affirms U.S. Commitment to Troop Withdrawal Deadlines Karen Travers Karen Travers ABC News 16 September 2009 17 September 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090925044525/http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2009/09/in-baghdad-biden-affirms-us-commitment-to-troop-withdrawal-deadlines.html 25 September 2009 dead 18 September – At least 7 people have been killed and another 21 injured when a car bomb detonated at a busy market place in the Iraqi town of Mahmudiya, 30 km mi on south of the capital Baghdad. https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8263792.stm Deadly bomb hits Iraqi shoppers BBC News 18 September 2009 23 April 2010 October 11 October – A series of apparently coordinated bombings aimed at a meeting for national reconciliation killed 23 people and wounded 65 others in western Iraq, but they did not injure the officials who were at the gathering. The first bomb exploded about 11 am outside the headquarters of Ramadi's main government building, where the provincial governor and council have offices. About seven minutes after the first bomb, a second car in the parking lot exploded, wounding security force members and others who had responded to the original explosion; this bomb caused most of the casualties. About one hour after the first two bombings, a man driving a car filled with explosives attempted to speed through a security checkpoint near the Ramadi General Hospital; he was shot by a police officer at the checkpoint but managed to explode the car, killing himself and wounding two others.https://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/12/world/middleeast/12iraq.html?_r=1&ref=middleeast Bombings Outside Iraq Reconciliation Meeting Kill 23 The New York Times 11 October 2009 12 October 2009 Timothy Williams 25 October – At least 155 people have been killed and around 721 injured, after two large car bomb explosions detonated in central Baghdad. The explosions are believed to have been detonated in the green zone of central Baghdad, close to several ministry buildings. These are the largest attacks since 19 August when truck bombs exploded near two ministry buildings killing at least 100 people. Iraq has blamed foreign fighters for this attack and has accused Syria of involvement in these bombings. Iraq is demanding a UN investigation over the incident.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8324546.stm BBC News Twin Baghdad blasts kill scores 25 October 2009 25 October 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20091028044625/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/8324546.stm 28 October 2009 liveBombings target government in Baghdad https://web.archive.org/web/20091027141859/http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091026/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_iraq 27 October 2009 December 8 December – At least 127 people are killed and more than 200 injured in a series of car bombings, the deadliest attacks in Iraq since 25 October bombings. The attacks were coordinated and aimed at important government buildings. http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/12/08/iraq.explosions/index.html CNN Scores dead as car bombs rock Baghdad 8 December 2009 8 December 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20091212123440/http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/12/08/iraq.explosions/index.html 12 December 2009 live 18 December – Iranian forces invade and seize East Maysan oilfield 4. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/iran/6840337/Iran-invades-Iraqi-territory-to-seize-oil-field.html London The Daily Telegraph Damien McElroy Iran invades 'Iraqi' territory to seize oil field 18 December 2009 19 December 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20091221204237/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/iran/6840337/Iran-invades-Iraqi-territory-to-seize-oil-field.html 21 December 2009 live 31 December – The US suffers only three troop deaths, and no combat deaths, the lowest monthly figure since the war began.http://icasualties.org/Iraq/Fatalities.aspx Iraq coalition casualty count Icasualties.org 2010-05-28 2013-09-09 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20100326034327/http://www.icasualties.org/Iraq/Fatalities.aspx 26 March 2010 Notable deaths 27 April – Hirmis Aboona, 69, historian.Rabi Hirmis Aboona Passes Away https://ado-world.com/en/rabi-hirmis-aboona-passes-away/ 2026-03-23 Assyrian Democratic Organization en-US 27 May – Ammo Baba, 74, Iraqi footballer and athletic trainer, diabetes.http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=32353 .:Middle East Online:. 4 October 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20110612204051/http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=32353 12 June 2011 dead 7 August – Taha Muhie-eldin Marouf, 80, Iraqi politician, Vice President (1975–2003). https://web.archive.org/web/20090815103751/https://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5irxf9BzMk7BjwpgOk_FT7SJ29uJw 15 August 2009 26 August – Abdul Aziz al-Hakim, 56, Iraqi politician, lung cancer.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8222229.stm BBC News Iraq Shia leader dies of cancer 26 August 2009 4 October 2010 3 September – Alec MacLachlan, 30, British hostage in Iraq (death confirmed on this date).http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/09/03/iraq.uk.hostage/index.html CNN British hostage's body identified in Iraq 3 September 2009 4 October 2010 Notes 30em See also Iraq 2009 Category:Years of the 21st century in Iraq