Editing Second Battle of Fallujah (section)

===Main attack===
[[File:Second Battle of Fallujah, mosque firefight and house searches.ogv|left|thumb|Marines from [[3rd Battalion 1st Marines]] and [[3rd Battalion 5th Marines]] during the Second Battle of Fallujah.]]
After [[Seabees|Navy Seabees]] from I MEF Engineer Group (MEG) and Army Civil Affairs soldiers interrupted and disabled electrical power at two substations located just northeast and northwest of the city, two Marine Regimental Combat Teams, [[1st Marine Regiment (United States)|Regimental Combat Team 1]] (RCT-1) and [[7th Marine Regiment (United States)|Regimental Combat Team 7]] (RCT-7) launched an attack along the northern edge of the city. They were joined by two U.S. Army heavy battalion mechanized units, the 2nd Battalion, [[7th Cavalry Regiment (United States)|7th Cavalry Regiment]], and Task Force 2nd Battalion, [[2nd Infantry Regiment (United States)|2nd Infantry Regiment (Mechanized)]], followed by four Marine infantry battalions tasked with clearing buildings. The Army's mechanized [[2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division (United States)|Second Brigade]], [[1st Cavalry Division (United States)|First Cavalry Division]], Marines' [[2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion]] and A. Co 1st Battalion, [[5th Infantry Regiment (United States)|5th Infantry Regiment]], was tasked with infiltrating the city and destroying any fleeing enemy forces.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.strykernews.com/archives/2004/11/18/stryker_troops_rejoin_comrades_in_mosul.html|title=Stryker troops rejoin comrades in Mosul|first=Michael|last=Gilbert|publisher=Stryker Brigade News|date=18 November 2004|access-date=22 December 2008|archive-date=16 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716155632/http://www.strykernews.com/archives/2004/11/18/stryker_troops_rejoin_comrades_in_mosul.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> The British Army's 1st Battalion, The Black Watch, patrolled the main highways to the east. The RCTs were augmented by three 7-man SEAL Sniper Teams from Naval Special Warfare Task Group-Central and one platoon from 1st Recon, who provided advance reconnaissance in the city, Joint Terminal Aircraft Control (JTAC) and unilateral overwatch throughout the operation. The [[United States Air Force]] provided close air support for the ground offensive, employing F-15 Strike Eagles, F-16 Fighting Falcons, A-10 Thunderbolt IIs, B-52 Stratofortresses, and AC-130 gunships to carry out close-quarter precision airstrikes against enemy strongholds within the city. The Air Force also employed MQ-1 Predator unmanned aerial vehicles for reconnaissance and precision strikes, and the U-2 Dragon Lady high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft for intelligence collection, surveillance and reconnaissance before, during, and after the battle.

[[File:Fallujah 2004 M1A1 Abrams.jpg|thumb|right|An [[M1A1 Abrams]] fires its main gun into a building to provide suppressive counterfire against insurgents.]]
The six battalions of U.S. and Iraqi forces, aided by Marine Corps Scout and Target Acquisition, SEAL Sniper, and JTAC elements pre-fire operations, moved into the city under the cover of darkness; and once aligned with the reconnaissance elements, began the assault in the early hours of 8 November 2004, preceded by an intense artillery barrage firing some 2500 155mm projectiles and air attack. This was followed by an attack on the main train station, which was then used as a staging point for follow-on forces. By that afternoon, under the protection of intense air cover, Marines entered the Hay Naib al-Dubat and al-Naziza districts. The Marines were followed by the Navy Seabees of NMCB 4 and NMCB 23 who bulldozed the streets clear of debris from the bombardment that morning. The Seabees used [[armored bulldozer]]s to plow the streets while remaining safe and protected from enemy fire. Shortly after nightfall on 9 November 2004, Marines had reportedly reached Phase Line Fran at [[Highway 10 (Iraq)|Highway 10]] in the center of the city.

[[File:US Navy 041108-M-8205V-006 An air strike is called in on a suspected insurgent hideout at the edge of Fallujah, Iraq by U.S. Marines assigned K Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, during the openin.jpg|thumb|left|An air strike is called in on a suspected insurgent hideout in Fallujah.]]
While most of the fighting subsided by 13 November 2004, U.S. Marines and Special Operations Forces continued to face determined isolated resistance from insurgents hidden throughout the city. By 16 November 2004, after nine days of fighting, the Marine command described the action as mopping up pockets of resistance. Sporadic fighting continued until 23 December 2004.

By late January 2005, news reports indicated U.S. combat units were leaving the area, and were assisting the local population in returning to the now heavily damaged city.