On this date in #USNavy history: In 2003, Operation Iraqi Freedom began after USS Bunker Hill (CG 52) was among the first to launch tomahawk missiles on Iraq, along with other Navy ships in the Red Sea and Arabian Gulf. Today, we’re still providing on-call scalable options to address a changing world's challenges. | U.S. Navy

The U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, known as Operation Iraqi Freedom, began on March 19–20, 2003, with “shock and awe” airstrikes on Baghdad targeting Saddam Hussein and key military leadership. The initial assault, which included Tomahawk cruise missile strikes, preceded a ground invasion aimed at dismantling the regime and eliminating its alleged weapons of mass destruction. | History In Pictures