What happened in Iraq most immediately after Saddam Hussein was removed from power?

Most immediately after Saddam Hussein was removed from power in Iraq in 2003, the country experienced a power vacuum and significant instability. This period was marked by the following key events and developments:

1. Coalition Provisional Authority: The United States, as the leading force of the coalition that invaded Iraq, established the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) to act as a temporary governing body. The CPA, led by U.S. diplomat L. Paul Bremer, was responsible for overseeing Iraq's reconstruction and political transition.

2. Disbandment of the Iraqi Army: In May 2003, the CPA disbanded the Iraqi Army, which not only left hundreds of thousands of Iraqis unemployed but also removed a key institution that could have contributed to stabilizing the country.

3. De-Baathification: The CPA also implemented a de-Baathification policy, which removed members of Saddam Hussein's Baath Party from positions of power and banned them from future employment in the public sector. This policy alienated many skilled individuals who were necessary for running the country's infrastructure and services.

4. Rise in Sectarian Violence: The removal of Hussein's predominantly Sunni government intensified long-standing sectarian tensions, particularly between Iraq’s Shia majority and Sunni minority. This led to widespread sectarian violence.

5. Insurgency and Civil Conflict: Discontent within the Sunni minority, including former Iraqi military officers and Baath Party members, contributed to the rise of an insurgency against the occupying forces and the new Iraqi government. Eventually, this contributed to a broader civil conflict, including terrorist activities by groups like Al-Qaida in Iraq.

6. Establishment of an Interim Government: In July 2003, the Iraqi Governing Council, an interim government composed of various Iraqi ethnic, religious, and political leaders, was established by the CPA to provide the semblance of Iraqi sovereignty.

These immediate post-Saddam events set the stage for a tumultuous period in Iraq that involved prolonged conflict, political instability, and efforts to build a new governmental structure in the face of violent opposition and insurgency.