What was the main goal of Operation Iraqi Freedom?

The primary goal of Operation Iraqi Freedom was to topple Saddam Hussein’s regime. Launched in March 2003, the operation was predicated on the belief that Hussein had weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) and posed a threat not only to Iraq's neighbors but also to global security. The U.S. and coalition forces aimed to dismantle the Iraqi government to prevent any potential use of these WMDs and to promote democracy in Iraq.

While establishing a military presence in Iraq may have been a consequential outcome of the operation, it was not the main goal. The focus of Operation Iraqi Freedom was squarely on regime change, intending to remove Hussein from power to create a new political order that would ideally lead to a stable and democratic Iraq.

Defeating al-Qaeda in Afghanistan and training Afghan security forces pertain to separate military efforts targeting different regions and are not objectives linked to Operation Iraqi Freedom, which was centered on Iraq specifically.