Fallujah was occupied by virtually every insurgent group in Iraq: al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI), Islamic Army of Iraq (IAI), Ansar al-Sunna, Army of Mohammed (AOM), the Army of the Mujahedeen and the Secret Islamic Army of Iraq. Three groups, (AQI, IAI and the National Islamic Army (1920 Revolution Brigade)) had their nationwide headquarters in Fallujah.
Did the Marines take Fallujah?
Background. In February 2004, control of Fallujah and the surrounding area in the Al Anbar Governorate was transferred from the U.S. 82nd Airborne Division to the 1st Marine Division.
Why did the U.S. invade Fallujah?
Military commanders said their goal in the siege was to capture those responsible for the numerous deaths of US and Iraqi security personnel. As the siege continued, insurgents conducted hit-and-run attacks on US Marine positions.
How did the battle of Fallujah end?
This second battle, known variously as the Second Battle of Fallujah, Operation Phantom Fury, and Operation al- Fajr, began in November 2004 and ended with the city cleared and under Coalition control by the end of De- cember of that year.
Did the Marines fight in Fallujah?
The Iraq War's Battle of Fallujah in November 2004 was the fiercest urban fighting for U.S. Marines and soldiers since Vietnam's Battle of Hue. Fighting a fanatical, dug-in enemy in the maze-like infrastructure of his own city has often proved disastrous to armies throughout the history of warfare.
Did the army take Fallujah?
The First Battle of Fallujah, code-named Operation Vigilant Resolve, was an operation against militants in Fallujah as well as an attempt to apprehend or kill the perpetrators of the killing of four U.S. contractors in March 2004....First Battle of Fallujah.Date4 April – 1 May 2004 (3 weeks and 6 days)ResultInsurgent victory1 more row
When did Isis take Fallujah?
30 December 2013Fall of FallujahDate30 December 2013 – 4 January 2014 (5 days)LocationFallujah, Iraq33.3667°N 43.7667°EResultMajor ISIL victory, beginning of the War in Iraq (2013–2017)Territorial changesISIL takes control of Fallujah.
What did U.S. do in Fallujah?
First Battle of Fallujah, (April 4–May 1, 2004), also called “Operation Valiant Resolve,” U.S. military campaign during the Iraq War to pacify the Iraq city of Fallujah, rid it of extremists and insurgents, and find those responsible for the March 31 ambush and killing of four American military contractors.
How many Marines fought in Fallujah?
Jurassic World: Dominion Dominates Fandom Wikis - The LoopSecond Battle of Fallujah (Operation Phantom Fury)Richard F. Natonski James Mattis James CowanAbdullah al-Janabi Omar Hussein HadidStrength10,500 troops 2,000 troops 850 troops Total: 13,350 troops~3,700–4,000 insurgentsCasualties and losses9 more rows
What actually happened in Fallujah?
The insurgents in Fallujah were largely destroyed, and the resistance never again challenged the coalition in open combat, but small-scale attacks across Iraq multiplied. Some 110 coalition forces were killed and some 600 wounded in the battle; some 3,000 insurgents were killed or captured.
Who led the Fallujah Brigade?
Several days later, when it became clear that Saleh had been involved in military actions against Shi'ites under Saddam Hussein, U.S. forces announced that Muhammed Latif would instead lead the brigade. Nevertheless, the group dissolved and had turned over all the supplied weapons to the insurgency by September. The Brigade soldiers declared loyalty to the insurgents and joined various jihadist and nationalist groups that vied for authority in the town.
What was the first battle of Fallujah?
The First Battle of Fallujah, code-named Operation Vigilant Resolve , was an operation against militants in Fallujah as well as an attempt to apprehend or kill the perpetrators of the killing of four U.S. contractors in March 2004.
Why was the Battle of Fallujah important?
This was because insurgents, rather than Saddam loyalists, were seen as the chief opponents of U.S. forces.
How did Al-Zarqawi die?
By September 2004, al-Zarqawi was the "highest priority" target in Fallujah for the United States military; he died in a targeted killing in June 2006 when a United States Air Force jet dropped two 500-pound (230 kg) guided bombs on the safehouse in which he was attending a meeting.
What happened in the second Battle of Fallujah?
The loss of the Fallu jah Brigade prompted the Second Battle of Fallujah in November that year. After intense fighting, the Americans successfully occupied the city. During the interim period between the two battles, U.S. forces maintained a presence at Camp Baharia, a few miles outside the city limits.
What happened on March 27th?
On 27 March, a JSOC surveillance team was compromised in the town and had to shoot its way out of trouble. On the morning of 31 March, a combat engineer team from the 1st Engineer Battalion/1st Infantry Division was sent out on a route clearance mission in support of the 82nd Airborne and Blackwater movements.
What was the 82nd Airborne doing?
During this time, the 82nd Airborne was conducting regular "lightning raids" inside the city, where Humvee convoys would destroy road barriers and curbs that could hide IEDs, and oversee searches of homes and schools, which frequently saw property damage, and led to shoot-outs with local residents.
Who took control of Fallujah?
ISIL takes control of Fallujah. The Fall of Fallujah was a battle in the city of Fallujah in western Iraq that took place from late 2013 to early 2014, in which ISIL and other Sunni insurgents captured the city of Fallujah.
What was the name of the city that ISIL captured?
ISIL war crimes. Mosul executions. Chemical weapons. The Fall of Fallujah was a battle in the city of Fallujah in western Iraq that took place from late 2013 to early 2014, in which ISIL and other Sunni insurgents captured the city of Fallujah.
When did Al-Qaeda take control of Ramadi?
Gunmen proceeded to attack deployed army patrols on the highway. On 2 January 2014, Al-Qaeda seized control of parts of the town, as well as nearby Ramadi. After the army withdrew from the area ISIS fighters and its allies entered both cities.
When was Fallujah captured?
In January 2014, the city was captured by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS; sometimes called ISIL) and suffered major population loss. On 23 May 2016, Iraqi forces announced the beginning of their attempt to retake Fallujah from ISIS. On 26 June 2016 the city was declared fully liberated by the Iraqi army.
Who controls Fallujah?
In January 2014, a variety of sources reported that the city was controlled by al-Qaeda and/or the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS; sometimes called ISIL). On a broadcast of National Public Radio 's All Things Considered, Middle East analyst Kirk Sowell stated that while ISIS was occupying parts of the city, most of the ground lost was to the tribal militias who are opposed to both the Iraqi government and al-Qaeda. More than 100 people were killed as Iraqi police and tribesmen battled militants who took over parts of two cities on Anbar province. On the same day, the Iraqi Army shelled the city of Fallujah with mortars to try to wrest back control from Sunni Muslim militants and tribesmen, killing at least eight people, tribal leaders and officials said. Medical sources in Fallujah said another 30 people were wounded in shelling by the army.
Why is Fallujah important?
Under Saddam Hussein, who ruled Iraq from 1979 to 2003, Fallujah came to be an important area of support for the regime, along with the rest of the region labeled by the US military as the " Sunni Triangle ".
How many people died in the Fallujah attack?
Between 50 and 150 civilians died and many more were injured. In the second incident, Coalition forces attacked Fallujah's bridge over the Euphrates with four laser-guided bombs. At least one struck the bridge while one or two bombs fell short in the river.
How many civilians died in the Gulf War?
The first bombing occurred on 14 February 1991, when a British jet intending to bomb the bridge dropped two laser-guided bombs on the city's main market. Between 50 and 150 civilians died and many more were injured. In the second incident, Coalition forces attacked Fallujah's bridge over the Euphrates with four laser-guided bombs. At least one struck the bridge while one or two bombs fell short in the river. The fourth bomb hit another market elsewhere in the city, reportedly due to failure of its laser guidance system.
Where is Fallujah located?
Fallujah ( Arabic: ٱلْفَلُّوجَة , al-Fallūjah Iraqi pronunciation: [el.fɐl.ˈluː.dʒɐ]) is a city in the Iraqi province of Al Anbar, located roughly 69 kilometers (43 mi) west of Baghdad on the Euphrates. Fallujah dates from Babylonian times and was host to important Jewish academies for many centuries.
What is the western boundary of Fallujah?
Fallujah's western boundary is the Euphrates River. The Euphrates flows from the west (Ramadi), past Fallujah, and into the Baghdad area. When the river reaches the western edge of Fallujah, it turns north, then quickly south, forming what is commonly referred to as the 'peninsula' area.
Who was behind the Fallujah attack?
On March 31, 2004 - Iraqi insurgents from the Brigades of Martyr Ahmed Yassin in Fallujah ambushed a convoy containing four American private military contractors employed by Blackwater USA, who were at the time guarding a convoy carrying kitchen supplies to a military base, for the catering company Eurest Support Services Intelligence reports concluded that Ahmad Hashim Abd al-Isawi was the mastermind behind the attack.
Who made Fallujah?
Falluja, April 2004, a documentary film by Toshikuni Doi. " Inside the Resistance " a documentary film by Tara Sutton. " Fallujah Forensics " a documentary film by Tara Sutton.
What squadron was in Fallujah?
The 3rd Cavalry again assumed control of Fallujah with only one squadron. Attached to that Squadron was the 115th MP Company from the Rhode Island Army National Guard. The 115th MPs made routine patrols and frequent house raids searching for insurgents and weapons caches.
What was the invasion of Iraq in 2003?
Although the majority of the residents were Sunni and had supported Saddam Hussein 's rule, Fallujah lacked military presence just after his fall. There was little looting and the new mayor of the city— Taha Bidaywi Hamed, was selected by local tribal leaders—was pro- United States.
How many homes were destroyed in Fallujah?
Residents were allowed to return to the city in mid-December after undergoing biometric identification, provided they carry their ID cards all the time. US officials report that "more than half of Fallujah's 39,000 homes were damaged, and about 10,000 of those were destroyed." Compensation amounts to 20 percent of the value of damaged houses, with an estimated 32,000 homeowners eligible, according to Marine Lt. Col. William Brown. According to the NBC, 9,000 homes were destroyed, thousands more were damaged and of the 32,000 compensation claims only 2,500 had been paid as of April 14, 2005. According to Mike Marqusee of Iraq Occupation Focus writing in The Guardian, "Falluja's compensation commissioner has reported that 36,000 of the city's 50,000 homes were destroyed, along with 60 schools and 65 mosques and shrines ". Reconstruction is only progressing slowly and mainly consists of clearing rubble from heavily damaged areas and reestablishing basic utility services. This is also due to the fact that only 10% of the pre-offensive inhabitants had returned as of mid-January, and only 30% as of the end of March 2005.
How many people were killed in Fallujah?
In a later incident, US soldiers fired on protesters again; Fallujah's mayor, Taha Bedaiwi al-Alwani, said that two people were killed and 14 wounded. Iraqi insurgents were able to claim the city a year later, before they were ousted by a siege and two assaults by US forces.
How many US Marines died in the Iraqi siege?
The US Marines suffered 40 deaths in the siege. Estimates of the number of Iraqi deaths (both fighters and civilians) in the attack range from 271 (according to Iraqi Ministry of Health officials) to 731 (according to Rafie al-Issawi, the head of the local hospital ).
What happened in Fallujah?
Led by Muhammed Latif, a former Baathist general, this unit ultimately collapsed, leaving the city in the hands of the insurgents. This, along with the belief that insurgent leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi was operating in Fallujah, led to the planning of Operation Al-Fajr (Dawn)/Phantom Fury with the goal of retaking the city. It was believed that between 4,000–5,000 insurgents were in Fallujah.
When did Fallujah get turned over to the Iraqi government?
By 2006, they controlled much of Al-Anbar province, necessitating another sweep through Fallujah in September, which lasted until January 2007. In the fall of 2007, the city was turned over to the Iraqi Provincial Authority. Cite this Article.
What percentage of Fallujah was controlled by coalition forces?
Despite heavy fighting, Coalition forces controlled approximately 70 percent of Fallujah by the end of November 10. Pressing across Highway 10, RCT-1 moved through the Resala, Nazal, and Jebail neighborhoods, while the RCT-7 assaulted an industrial area in the southeast.
What was the name of the unit that attacked Fallujah?
On November 6, Regimental Combat Team 1, consisting of the 3rd Battalion/1st Marines, 3rd Battalion/5th Marines, and the U.S. Army's 2nd Battalion/7th Cavalry, moved into position to assault the western half of Fallujah from the north.
Where is Fallujah located?
Located approximately 40 miles west of Baghdad, Fallujah was effectively surrounded by U.S. forces by October 14. Establishing checkpoints, they sought to ensure that no insurgents were able to escape the city.
When did the Battle of Fallujah begin?
The Battle Begins. With Fallujah sealed, operations began at 7:00 p.m. on November 7 , when Task Force Wolfpack moved to take objectives on the west bank of the Euphrates River opposite Fallujah.
When was the second Battle of Fallujah?
He has appeared on The History Channel as a featured expert. The Second Battle of Fallujah was fought November 7 to 16, 2004, during the Iraq War (2003-2011).
What was the second battle of Fallujah?
Iraq War. ... (Show more) Second Battle of Fallujah, (November 7–December 23, 2004), also called Operation Al-Fajr (“Dawn”) and Operation Phantom Fury, joint American, Iraqi, and British military campaign during the Iraq War that crushed the Islamic insurgents in Fallujah, Iraq, in the Sunni Muslim province of Al-Anbar.
What was the Iraq War?
Iraq War. Iraq War, (2003–11), conflict in Iraq that consisted of two phases. The first of these was a brief, conventionally fought war in March–April 2003, in which a combined force of troops from the United States and Great Britain (with smaller contingents from several other…. Sunni.
Who is John Swift?
John Swift is a Senior Lecturer in History at the University of Cumbria. His publications include The Palgrave Concise Historical Atlas of the Cold War (2003) and Labour in Crisis:...
Overview
The First Battle of Fallujah, code-named Operation Vigilant Resolve, was an operation against militants in Fallujah as well as an attempt to apprehend or kill the perpetrators of the killing of four U.S. contractors in March 2004.
The chief catalyst for the operation was the highly publicized killing and mutilation of four Blackwater USA private military contractors, and the killings …
Background
Fallujah had generally benefited economically under Saddam Hussein, and many residents were employed as military and intelligence officers by his administration. However, there was little sympathy for him following the collapse of his government, which many residents considered oppressive. The city was one of the most religious and culturally traditional areas in Iraq.
Following the collapse of the Ba'ath infrastructure in early 2003, local residents had elected a tow…
Blackwater deaths
On 31 March 2004, Iraqi insurgents in Fallujah ambushed a convoy containing four American private military contractors from Blackwater USA who were conducting delivery for food caterers ESS.
The four armed contractors, Scott Helvenston, Jerko Zovko, Wesley Batalona and Michael Teague, were killed by machine gun fire and a grenade thrown through a window of their SUVs. A mob th…
The campaign
On 1 April, Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt, deputy director of U.S. military operations in Iraq, promised an "overwhelming" response to the Blackwater USA deaths, stating "We will pacify that city."
On 3 April 2004, the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force received a written command from the Joint Task Force, ordering offensive operations against Fallujah. This …
Legacy
The largest combat mission since the declaration of the end of "major hostilities", the First Battle of Fallujah marked a turning point in public perception of the ongoing conflict. This was because insurgents, rather than Saddam loyalists, were seen as the chief opponents of U.S. forces. It was also judged by both military and civilian agencies, that reliance upon U.S.-funded re…
Participating units
• 1st Marine Division
• 1st Infantry Division
• 5th Special Forces Group
• 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta
In popular culture
• No True Glory: A Frontline Account of the Battle for Fallujah, by Bing West (2005) (ISBN 978-0-553-80402-7)
• Blood Stripes: The Grunt's View of the War in Iraq, by David J. Danelo (2007) (ISBN 978-0-8117-3393-9)
• Boredom By Day, Death By Night: An Iraq War Journal, by Marine Sgt Seth Connor (2007) (ISBN 978-0-9795389-0-2)
See also
• Second Battle of Fallujah
• United States occupation of Fallujah
• 2004 in Iraq
• History of Iraqi insurgency