Final answer:
The March to Baghdad was part of the U.S.-led Operation Iraqi Freedom, beginning on March 27, 2003, and leading to the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime.
Step-by-step explanation:
During the March to Baghdad, which occurred from March 27 to April 14, 2003, U.S.-led coalition forces marched towards the Iraqi capital as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
The military campaign was initially perceived as smooth, with notable moments such as U.S. soldiers being televised as they and Iraqi civilians toppled statues of Saddam Hussein. Despite President George Bush's declaration of victory on May 1, 2003, under a banner that read "Mission Accomplished," the conflict was far from over.
The invasion led to thousands of Iraqi deaths, sowed seeds of internal strife and resentment against the United States, and set the stage for a long and tumultuous occupation marked by law and order challenges, violent sectarian conflicts, and an overarching insurgency.
The invasion, which was driven by the belief that Iraq possessed Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs) and had links with al-Qaeda - both of which proved to be unfounded - caused significant civilian casualties and financial strain.
Events like the ambush in Fallujah in 2004 by Iraqi insurgents highlighted the growing insurgency and the sectarian conflict between Shia Muslims and Sunni minorities.
The conflict also diverted resources from operations in other regions, like Afghanistan. Although the coalition forces could claim some successes, such as the Iraq elections in 2005 and Saddam Hussein's conviction, the overall perception of the United States' ability to project positive change was greatly diminished.
The complexity of the Iraqi conflict was further exemplified by the rise of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in 2014, which captured significant territories in Iraq and Syria, declaring a caliphate and intensifying the violence in the region.