The most recent conflict in Iraq dates back to the first Gulf War in 1991. As a result of the 1991 conflict, the UN passed a resolution that demanded Iraq use oil money to pay war reparations and dismantle weapons of mass destruction (WMDs). In the subsequent years, the Iraqi government increasingly interfered with the UN inspections of potential WMD sites. This resulted in another UN resolution that called upon the Iraqi government to comply with inspections immediately. Despite Iraqi compliance and the return of inspectors, the US began to put pressure on the UN to authorise military action against Iraq for non-compliance. When it became clear that the UN would not pass such a resolution, the US assembled a ‘coalition of the willing’, with the UK as a principal partner, and launched a military offensive in March 2003. Although the official conflict ended on April 9th 2003, there are continuing problems in Iraq. The country is currently engaged in a civil conflict between different ethnic groups, principally the Sunni and Shia religious/ethnic groups. The country is also subject to violence emanating from foreign fighters (in partnership with local militias) who have entered Iraq to expel American forces. The Iraqi central government is weak and continues to rely on an American and British military presence to combat militia groups.