Editing First Battle of Fallujah (section)

==Campaign==
[[File:1-5 Marines in Fallujah 07 April 204.jpg|thumb|left|U.S. Marines from [[1st Battalion, 5th Marines]] fire at insurgent positions during the First Battle of Fallujah.]]

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."<ref name=autogenerated1>{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/international/story/0,,1202143,00.html | work=The Guardian | location=London | title=Uneasy truce in the city of ghosts | first=Rory | last=McCarthy | date=24 April 2004 | access-date=2 May 2010}}</ref>

On 3 April 2004, the [[I Marine Expeditionary Force|1st Marine Expeditionary Force]] received a written command from the [[Joint Task Force]], ordering offensive operations against Fallujah. This order went against the wishes of the Marine Commanders on the ground who wanted to conduct surgical strikes and raids against those suspected of involvement in the Blackwater deaths.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A16309-2004Sep12.html | newspaper=The Washington Post | title=Key General Criticizes April Attack in Fallujah | first=Rajiv | last=Chandrasekaran | date=13 September 2004 | access-date=2 May 2010}}</ref>

On the night of 4 April 2004, American forces launched a major assault in an attempt to "re-establish security in Fallujah" by encircling it with around 2000 troops.<ref name=autogenerated5/><ref name=autogenerated1/> At least four homes were hit in [[close air support|aerial strikes]], and there was sporadic gunfire throughout the night.

By the morning of 5 April 2004, headed by the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, American units had surrounded the city with an aim towards retaking it. American troops blockaded roads leading into the city with [[Humvee]]s and [[concertina wire]]. They also took over a local radio station and handed out leaflets urging residents to remain inside their homes and help American forces identify insurgents and any Fallujans who were involved in the Blackwater deaths.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-fallouja5apr05,1,1073065.story?coll=la-headlines-world | work=Los Angeles Times| title=Marines Roll into Fallouja | first1=Tony | last1=Perry | first2=Edmund | last2=Sanders | date=5 April 2004 | access-date=2 May 2010 }}{{dead link|date=August 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

It was estimated that there were 12–24 separate "hardcore" groups of insurgents, armed with [[rocket-propelled grenade|RPGs]], machine guns, [[Mortar (weapon)|mortars]] and anti-aircraft weapons, some of it supplied by the [[Iraqi Police]].<ref name=autogenerated2>{{cite web|url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/ops/oif-vigilant-resolve.htm |title=Operation Vigilant Resolve |access-date=19 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041027025331/http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/ops/oif-vigilant-resolve.htm |archive-date=27 October 2004}}</ref> By 6 April 2004, U.S. military sources said that "Marines may not attempt to control the center of the town".<ref name=autogenerated5/>

[[File:FallujahApril2004.JPG|thumb|right|During the First Battle of Fallujah, U.S. Marines from [[2nd Battalion, 1st Marines]] block off Fallujah's Highway 1.]]

In the opening days, it was reported that up to a third of the civilian population had fled the city.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/flash/0,5860,1193510,00.html | work=The Guardian | location=London | title=16&nbsp;April&nbsp;2004 Interactive. The siege of Falluja | access-date=2 May 2010}}</ref>

The siege forced the closing of Fallujah's two main hospitals, Fallujah General Hospital and the Jordanian Hospital, which were re-opened during the [[ceasefire]] on 9 April 2004.<ref>{{cite web|author=John Pike |url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/iraq/fallujah.htm |title=Fallujah |publisher=Globalsecurity.org |access-date=19 May 2011}}</ref> Also on that date, the port visit to [[Jebel Ali]] by the aircraft carrier {{USS|George Washington|CVN-73}} was cancelled, and the ''George Washington'' carrier strike group and its embarked [[Carrier Air Wing Seven]] were ordered to remain on station in the Persian Gulf as fighting intensified between Coalition Forces and Iraqi insurgents around Fallujah.<ref>{{cite web|first=Garry R. |last=White |title=USS ''George Washington'' (CVN-73) Command History [for the Calendar Year] 2004 |url=http://www.history.navy.mil/shiphist/g/cvn-73/2004.pdf |publisher=[[Naval History & Heritage Command]] |location=Washington Navy Yard |pages=9–10, 17|year=2005 |access-date=2012-01-03 |url-status=dead |archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20121006185528/http%3A//www%2Ehistory%2Enavy%2Emil/shiphist/g/cvn%2D73/2004%2Epdf |archive-date= 6 October 2012 }}</ref>

The resulting engagements set off widespread fighting throughout Central Iraq and along the Lower Euphrates, with various elements of the [[Iraqi insurgency (Iraq War)|Iraqi insurgency]] taking advantage of the situation and commencing simultaneous operations against the Coalition forces. This period marked the emergence of the [[Mahdi Army]], the militia of Shiite cleric [[Muqtada al-Sadr]], as a major armed faction which, at that time, actively participated in anti-Coalition operations. The happenings were also punctuated by a surge of a [[Sunni]] rebellion in the city of [[Ramadi]]. During this period, a number of foreigners{{Specify|date=August 2009}} were captured by insurgent groups. Some were killed outright, whilst others were held as hostages in an attempt to barter for political or military concessions. Some elements of the Iraqi police and [[Iraqi Civil Defense Corps]] also turned on the Coalition forces or simply abandoned their posts.

The rebels in Fallujah held on, as the Americans attempted to tighten their hold on the city. [[Close air support|Air bombardments]] rained on insurgent positions throughout the city, [[Lockheed AC-130]] [[gunship]]s attacked targets with their [[GAU-12 Equalizer|Gatling guns]] and [[M102 howitzer|howitzers]] a number of times. [[Scout Sniper]]s became a core element of the Marines' strategy, with reports claiming that some had killed up to 31 insurgents. Tactical Psychological Operations Detachment 910<ref>{{cite journal |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200407/kaplan |first=Robert D. |last=Kaplan |title=Five Days in Fallujah |journal=[[The Atlantic]] |date=July–August 2004}}</ref> conducted psychological warfare in support of Marine units during the battle, reportedly blaring [[Metallica]] over their loud speakers to weaken insurgents' morale.<ref name=autogenerated2/>

Due to the fact that American attacks were taking a toll on civilians as well as Iraqi insurgents, coalition forces faced growing criticism from within the [[Iraqi Governing Council]], where [[Adnan Pachachi]] said, "these operations by the Americans are unacceptable and illegal."<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.boston.com/news/world/articles/2004/04/11/anger_over_fallujah_reaches_ears_of_the_faithful/ | work=The Boston Globe | title=Anger over Fallujah reaches ears of the faithful | first=Anne | last=Barnard | date=11 April 2004}}</ref>

[[Al Jazeera Arabic|Al-Jazeera]] reporter Ahmed Mansur, and cameraman Laith Mushtaq, the only two [[Embedded journalist|non-embedded journalists]] covering the conflict since 3 April 2004, reported that an unknown source stated that United States insisted that the reporters be withdrawn from the city, as a pre-condition to the ceasefire.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=06/02/22/1434210 |title=Al Jazeera Reporters Give Bloody First Hand Account of April '04 U.S. Siege of Fallujah |publisher=Democracy Now! |access-date=19 May 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071114171956/http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=06%2F02%2F22%2F1434210 |archive-date=14 November 2007}}</ref>

At noon on 9 April 2004, under pressure from the Governing Council, [[Paul Bremer]] announced that the U.S. forces would be unilaterally holding a [[ceasefire]], stating that they wanted to facilitate negotiations between the [[Iraqi Governing Council]], insurgents, and city spokespersons, and to allow government supplies to be delivered to residents.<ref name=autogenerated5/>

As a consequence, much-needed humanitarian relief which had been held up by the fighting and blockade finally managed to enter the city, notably a major convoy organized by private citizens, businessmen and clerics from Baghdad as a joint Shi'a-Sunni effort.{{Citation needed|date=March 2007}} Some U.S. forces used this time to occupy and scavenge abandoned houses and convert them into ''de facto'' bunkers,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2004/04/15/military/iraq/22_57_534_14_04.txt |title=Troops take over houses of fleeing Fallujah residents North County Times - North San Diego and Southwest Riverside County News |publisher=NCTimes.com |date=15 April 2004 |access-date=19 May 2011}}</ref> while a number of insurgents did the same.<ref name=autogenerated4>{{cite web|url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/iraq/fallujah.htm |title=Fallujah |access-date=19 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041031002157/http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/iraq/fallujah.htm |archive-date=31 October 2004}}</ref>

At this point, it was estimated that 600 Iraqis had been killed, at least half of whom were non-combatants.<ref name=autogenerated4/>
Although hundreds of insurgents had been killed in the assault, the city remained firmly under their control. American forces had by then only managed to gain a foothold in the industrial district to the south of the city. The end of major operations for the time being led to negotiations between various Iraqi elements and the Coalition forces, punctuated by occasional firefights.

On 12 April 2004, two U.S. Marines (Robert Zurheide and Brad Shuder) along with an ally interpreter were killed in a friendly fire mortar mission at a schoolhouse in Fallujah.<ref>{{Cite web |first1=Tom|last1=Bowman |first2=Graham|last2=Smith |date=2023-04-07 |title=A fatal mistake: The truth behind a Marine Corps lie and broken promises |url=https://www.wvtf.org/2023-04-07/a-fatal-mistake-the-truth-behind-a-marine-corps-lie-and-broken-promises |access-date=2023-06-20 |website=WVTF |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=NPR: Taking Cover |website=[[NPR]] |url=https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510368/taking-cover}}</ref>

On 13 April 2004, U.S. Marines fell under attack from insurgents located within a mosque. An airstrike destroyed the mosque, prompting a public outcry.<ref name="autogenerated5" />

On 15 April 2004, an American [[F-16 Fighting Falcon]] dropped a {{convert|2000|lb|kg|adj=on}} [[Joint Direct Attack Munition|JDAM]] [[Precision-guided munition#Satellite-guided weapons|GPS guided bomb]] over the northern district of Fallujah.<ref name=autogenerated5/>

On 19 April 2004, the ceasefire seemed to be consolidated with a plan to reintroduce joint US/Iraqi patrols in the city. Over time this arrangement broke down and the city remained a major center of opposition to the U.S.-appointed Iraqi Interim Government. Additionally, the composition of the armed groups in Fallujah changed during the following months, shifting from domination by secular, nationalist and ex-Ba'athist groups towards a marked influence of warlords with ties to organized crime and groups following a radical [[Wahhabi]] stance.{{Citation needed|date=August 2007}}

On 27 April 2004, insurgents attacked U.S. defensive positions, causing the Americans to call in [[air support]].<ref name=autogenerated4/> In response, on 28 April 2004, the aircraft carrier {{USS|George Washington|CVN-73|2}} launched squadrons [[VFA-136]], [[VFA-131]], [[VFA-11]], and [[VFA-143]] to fly combat air sorties against insurgents in Fallujah. During this operation, aircraft from [[Carrier Air Wing Seven]] dropped 13 [[GBU-12|GBU-12 Paveway II laser-guided bombs]] on insurgent positions and also provided combat air support to the [[1st Marine Expeditionary Force]].<ref>{{cite web | title= Carrier Air Wing 7 Continues Air Support of Combat in Iraq | url= http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=13023 | work= NNS040429-02 | publisher= Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/U.S. Commander, U.S. 5th Fleet Public Affairs | date= 29 April 2004 | access-date= 2012-01-06 | archive-date= 13 September 2007 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070913213524/https://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=13023 | url-status= dead }}</ref>

===US withdrawal===

On 1 May 2004, the United States withdrew from Fallujah, as Lieutenant General [[James T. Conway|James Conway]] announced that he had unilaterally decided to turn over any remaining operations to the newly formed Fallujah Brigade - a Sunni security force formed by the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]],<ref name="Urban, Mark p.63">Urban, Mark, ''Task Force Black: The Explosive True Story of the Secret Special Forces War in Iraq '', St. Martin's Griffin, 2012 {{ISBN|1-250-00696-1}} {{ISBN|978-1-250-00696-7}},p.63</ref> which would be armed with U.S. weapons and equipment under the command of former [[Ba'athist]] Army General [[Jasim Mohammed Saleh]]. 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.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/05/AR2007080501299_pf.html | newspaper=The Washington Post | title=Weapons Given to Iraq Are Missing | first=Glenn | last=Kessler | access-date=2 May 2010}}</ref> The Brigade soldiers declared loyalty to the insurgents and joined various jihadist and nationalist groups that vied for authority in the town.<ref name="Urban, Mark p.63"/>

The loss of the Fallujah Brigade prompted the [[Second Battle of Fallujah]] in November that year. After intense fighting, the Americans successfully occupied the city by the end of December.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Camp |first=Dick |date=4 December 2009 |title=Operation Phantom Fury: The Assault and Capture of Fallujah, Iraq |url=https://www.amazon.com/Operation-Phantom-Fury-Assault-Fallujah/dp/B00AK39ZZI |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250124225904/https://www.amazon.com/Operation-Phantom-Fury-Assault-Fallujah/dp/B00AK39ZZI |archive-date=2025-01-24 |access-date=2025-04-02 |website=www.amazon.com |language=en-us}}</ref>

During the interim period between the two battles, U.S. forces maintained a presence at [[Dreamland (Fallujah, Iraq)|Camp Baharia]], a few miles outside the city limits.