Editing First Battle of Fallujah

{{Short description|Operation of the Iraq War}}
{{Other uses|Battle of Fallujah (disambiguation)}}
{{use dmy dates|date=April 2023}}  
{{Infobox military conflict
| conflict          = First Battle of Fallujah
| partof            = the [[Iraq War]] and the [[war on terror]]
| image             = [[File:Npi040604a4b.jpg|300px]]
| caption           = A U.S. Marine from the [[1st Marine Division (United States)|1st Marine Division]] mans an [[M240 machine gun|M240G machine gun]] outside the [[Fallujah]] city limits in April <!--5--> 2004.
| date              = 4 April – 1 May 2004<br />({{Age in months, weeks and days|year1=2004|month1=04|day1=04|year2=2004|month2=05|day2=01}})
| place             = [[Fallujah]], [[Coalition Provisional Authority|Iraq]]
| map_type          = Iraq
| map_size          = 290
| result            = Insurgent victory
| combatant1        = {{flag|United States}}
| combatant2        = {{flagicon image|Flag of JTJ.svg}} [[Jama'at al-Tawhid wal-Jihad]] <br>[[File: Flag of Islamic Army In Iraq.svg|25px]] [[Islamic Army in Iraq]] <br> [[File:Flag of the Ba'ath Party.svg|22px|border]] [[Ba'ath Party]] [[Iraqi insurgency (2003–11)|loyalists]]
| commander1        = {{flagicon|United States}} [[James T. Conway]]<br />{{flagicon|United States}} [[James Mattis]]<br /> {{flagicon|United States}} [[John A. Toolan]]
| commander2        = {{flagicon image|Flag of JTJ.svg}} [[Abu Musab al-Zarqawi]]<br />{{flagicon image|Flag of JTJ.svg}} [[Abu Ayyub al-Masri]]
| units1            = [[I Marine Expeditionary Force]]<br />[[82nd Airborne Division]]<br />[[101st Airborne Division (United States)|101st Airborne Division]]<br />[[3d Armored Cavalry Regiment (United States)|3rd Cavalry Regiment]]<br />[[10th Mountain Division (United States)|10th Mountain Division]]<br />[[1st Infantry Division (United States)|1st Infantry Division]]<br />[[5th Special Forces Group (Airborne)|5th Special Forces Group]]<br />[[1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta|Delta Force]]<br />[[Blackwater USA]]
| units2            = [[Islamic Army in Iraq]]<br /> [[Jama'at al-Tawhid wal-Jihad]] 
| strength1         = 10,000+<ref name="autogenerated5" />
| strength2         = 3,600<ref name=autogenerated5/>
| casualties1       = 27+ killed<ref name="britannica">{{cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/event/First-Battle-of-Fallujah|title=First Battle of Fallujah &#124; Iraq War &#124; Britannica|website=www.britannica.com|access-date=4 April 2023}}</ref><ref name="icasualties" />
| casualties2       = 184–228 killed <small>(''[[Iraq Body Count project|Iraq Body Count]]'')<ref name="IBC1">{{cite web|url=http://www.iraqbodycount.net/resources/falluja/ |title=IBC Fallujah April 2004 News Digest |publisher=Iraq Body Count |access-date=19 May 2011}}</ref><ref name="IBC2">{{cite web|url=http://www.iraqbodycount.org/analysis/reference/press-releases/9/ |title=No Longer Unknowable: Falluja's April Civilian Toll is 600 |publisher=Iraq Body Count |date=26 October 2004 |access-date=19 May 2011}}</ref><ref name="britannica" /></small>
| casualties3       = 572–616 civilians killed <small>(''Iraq Body Count'')<ref name="IBC1"/><ref name="IBC2"/></small>
| campaignbox       = {{Campaignbox Iraq War}}
{{Campaignbox Al Anbar campaign}}
}}
The '''First Battle of Fallujah''', code-named '''Operation Vigilant Resolve''', was an American-led operation of the [[Iraq War]] 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 [[31 March 2004 Fallujah ambush|killing and mutilation]] of four [[Blackwater USA]] [[private military contractor]]s,<ref name="GlobalSecurity">Operation Vigilant Resolve, GlobalSecurity.org.</ref> and the killings of five American soldiers in [[Habbaniyah]] a few days earlier.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cpp.usmc.mil/press/kit/OIFII.asp?http://www.cpp.usmc.mil/press/kit/OIFII.asp |title=Official Website for Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton – The Scout Newspaper |publisher=Cpp.usmc.mil |access-date=19 May 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080120004930/http://www.cpp.usmc.mil/press/kit/OIFII.asp?http://www.cpp.usmc.mil/press/kit/OIFII.asp |archive-date=20 January 2008}}</ref>

The battle, and especially the images of Iraqi civilians killed or injured in the fighting, caused many Iraqis to become resentful of the US presence. Western journalists found that even some Iraqis who previously supported the US invasion, and welcomed American state-building efforts, became increasingly alienated and skeptical of such promises.<ref>[[Christian Science Monitor]], [http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0415/p01s02-woiq.htm Siege of Fallujah polarizing Iraqis], 15 April 2004</ref>

==Background==
{{Main|Fallujah killings of April 2003}}
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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hrw.org/reports/2003/iraqfalluja/Iraqfalluja-02.htm#P105_11568 |title=Violent Response |publisher=Human Rights Watch |access-date=19 May 2011}}</ref> The city was one of the most religious and culturally traditional areas in Iraq.<ref>{{cite web |author=The Nation / By Christian Parenti |url=http://www.alternet.org/story/17986/?page=2 |title=Scenes From a Nasty, Brutish, Long War |publisher=AlterNet |access-date=19 May 2011 |archive-date=14 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120214094408/http://www.alternet.org/story/17986/?page=2 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Following the collapse of the [[Ba'ath]] infrastructure in early 2003, local residents had elected a town council led by [[Taha Bidaywi Hamed]], who kept the city from falling into the control of [[looting|looters]] and common criminals. The town council and Hamed were both considered to be nominally pro-American, and their election originally meant that the United States had decided that the city was unlikely to become a hotbed of activity, and didn't require any immediate troop presence. This led to the United States committing few troops to Fallujah from the start.<ref name=autogenerated7>{{cite news| url=http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/04/29/sprj.irq.falluja/index.html |publisher=CNN | title=Iraqis in deadly clash with U.S. troops | date=29 April 2003 | access-date=2 May 2010}}</ref>

Although Fallujah had seen sporadic [[air support|air strikes]] by American forces, public opposition was not galvanized until 700 members of the [[82nd Airborne Division (United States)|82nd Airborne Division]] first entered the city on 23 April 2003, and approximately 150 members of Charlie Company occupied ''al-Qa'id'' primary. On 28 April, a crowd of approximately 200 people gathered outside the school past [[curfew]], demanding that the Americans vacate the building and allow it to re-open as a school. The protesters became increasingly heated, and the deployment of [[tear gas|smoke gas canisters]] failed to disperse the crowd.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hrw.org/reports/2003/iraqfalluja/Iraqfalluja-04.htm#P273_41771 |title=Violent Response |publisher=Human Rights Watch |access-date=19 May 2011}}</ref> The protest escalated as gunmen reportedly fired upon U.S. forces from the protesting crowd and [[United States Army|U.S. Army]] soldiers from the 1st Battalion of the [[325th Airborne Infantry Regiment]] of the [[82nd Airborne Division (United States)|82nd Airborne Division]] returned fire, killing 17 people and wounding more than 70 of the protesters. There were no U.S. Army or coalition casualties in the incident. U.S. forces said that the shooting took place over 30–60&nbsp;seconds, however other sources claim the shooting continued for half an hour.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hrw.org/reports/2003/iraqfalluja/ |title=Violent Response |publisher=Human Rights Watch |date=28 April 2003 |access-date=19 May 2011}}</ref>

Two days later, a protest at the former Ba'ath party headquarters decrying the American shootings was also fired upon by U.S. forces, this time the [[3d Armored Cavalry Regiment (United States)|U.S. 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment]], which resulted in three more deaths.<ref name=autogenerated7/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hrw.org/reports/2003/iraqfalluja/Iraqfalluja-08.htm#P388_58785 |title=Violent Response |publisher=Human Rights Watch |access-date=19 May 2011}}</ref> Following both incidents, coalition forces asserted that they had not fired upon the protesters until they were fired upon first.

The 82nd Airborne soldiers were replaced by soldiers from the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment and 2/502nd Regiment, [[101st Airborne Division (United States)|101st Airborne Division]]. On 4 June, members of B&nbsp;Company ("Renegades"), 2/502nd, came under attack after a presence patrol on foot. An RPG round struck the lead vehicle as these soldiers mounted vehicles to return to base; PFC Brandon Oberleitner was killed and six were injured. Oberleitner's death was the only loss of life for B.&nbsp;Co. during the deployment. Soon after this attack, the 3rd Armored Cavalry requested an additional 1,500 troops, to counter growing resistance in Fallujah and nearby [[Habbaniyah]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hrw.org/reports/2003/iraqfalluja/Iraqfalluja-10.htm#P441_66825 |title=Violent Response |publisher=Human Rights Watch |date=28 May 2003 |access-date=19 May 2011}}</ref>

In June, American forces began confiscating motorcycles from local residents, claiming that they were being used in [[Hit-and-run tactics|hit-and-run]] attacks on coalition forces.<ref>{{cite news
|date=29 June 2003
|url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3030494.stm
|title =  US strikes at Iraqi resistance
|work=BBC News
|access-date =15 May 2006
}}
</ref>

On 30 June, a large explosion occurred in a mosque in which the [[imam]], Sheikh Laith Khalil and eight other people were killed. While the local population claimed that Americans had fired a missile at the mosque, U.S. forces claimed that it was an accidental detonation by insurgents constructing bombs.<ref>{{cite news
|date=1 July 2003
|url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3034254.stm
|title = Bush firm despite Iraq attacks
|work=BBC News
|access-date =15 May 2006
}}</ref>

On 12 February 2004, insurgents attacked a convoy carrying General [[John Abizaid]], commander of U.S. forces in the Middle East, and the [[82nd Airborne Division (United States)|82nd Airborne]]'s Major General [[Charles Swannack]], firing on the vehicles from nearby rooftops with [[Rocket-propelled grenade|RPGs]], after seemingly infiltrating the Iraqi security forces.<ref name=autogenerated3>{{cite web|url=http://www.wsws.org/articles/2004/feb2004/fall-f23.shtml |title=Attack on Fallujah police highlights lack of US control in Iraq |publisher=Wsws.org |date=23 February 2004 |access-date=19 May 2011}}</ref>

Eleven days later, insurgents diverted Iraqi police to a false emergency on the outskirts of the city, before simultaneously attacking three police stations, the mayor's office and a civil defence base. At least 17 police officers were killed,<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2004-02-14-fallujah_x.htm | work=USA Today | title=Insurgents attack five sites, kill 17 Iraqi policemen | first1=Robert | last1=Hodierne | first2=Rob | last2=Curtis | first3=Army | last3=Times | date=15 February 2004 | access-date=2 May 2010}}</ref> and as many as 87 prisoners released.<ref name=autogenerated3/>

During this time, the [[82nd Airborne Division|82nd Airborne]] was conducting regular "lightning raids" inside the city, where [[Humvee]] convoys would destroy road barriers and curbs that could hide [[Improvised explosive device|IEDs]], and oversee searches of homes and schools, which frequently saw property damage, and led to shoot-outs with local residents.<ref>{{cite web |author=The Nation / By Christian Parenti |url=http://www.alternet.org/story/17986/?page=3 |title=Scenes From a Nasty, Brutish, Long War |publisher=AlterNet |access-date=19 May 2011 |archive-date=4 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604161632/http://www.alternet.org/story/17986/?page=3 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In March 2004, Swannack transferred authority of the [[Al Anbar|Al-Anbar province]] to the [[I Marine Expeditionary Force]] commanded by [[James T. Conway|Lt. General Conway]].

By early March 2004, the city began to fall under the increasing influence of guerrilla factions. The rising violence against the American presence resulted in the complete withdrawal of troops from the city, with only occasional incursions trying to gain and reinforce a "foothold in the city" being attempted.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2004/03/18/military/iraq/3_17_0422_45_56.txt |title=Marines settling into new home in Fallujah North County Times - North San Diego and Southwest Riverside County News |publisher=NCTimes.com |date=18 March 2004 |access-date=19 May 2011}}</ref> This was coupled with one or two patrols around the outer limits of [[Dreamland (Fallujah, Iraq)|FOB Volturno]], the former site of [[Qusay Hussein|Qusay]] and [[Uday Hussein]]'s palace.<ref>Mortenson, Darrin. [[North Carolina Times]], 2 April 2004.  ''Marines make a home near Fallujah''</ref>

On 27 March, a [[Joint Special Operations Command|JSOC]] surveillance team was compromised in the town and had to shoot its way out of trouble.<ref>Urban, Mark, ''Task Force Black: The Explosive True Story of the Secret Special Forces War in Iraq '', St. Martin's Griffin, 2012 {{ISBN|1250006961}} {{ISBN|978-1250006967}},p.28,</ref>

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. While en route from Habbaniyah to Fallujah, they were hit with the largest roadside bomb used at that point in the war, resulting in the deaths of 5 Bravo Company soldiers.<ref>{{cite web |title=U.S. Casualties March 2004 |url=https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/ops/iraq_casualties_mar04.htm |website=globalsecurity.org}}</ref>

== Blackwater deaths ==
{{Further|31 March 2004 Fallujah ambush}}

On 31 March 2004, Iraqi insurgents in [[Fallujah]] ambushed a convoy containing four American [[private military contractor]]s from [[Blackwater USA]] who were conducting delivery for food caterers [[Eurest Support Services|ESS]].<ref name = Frontline>{{cite web|url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/warriors/contractors/highrisk.html |title=frontline: private warriors: contractors: the high-risk contracting business |publisher=PBS |access-date=19 May 2011}}</ref>

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 then set their bodies ablaze, and their corpses were dragged through the streets before being hung over a bridge crossing the [[Euphrates]].<ref name=autogenerated5>{{cite news| url=http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/04/05/iraq.main/index.html |publisher=CNN | title=Marines, Iraqis join forces to shut down Fallujah | date=6 April 2004 | access-date=2 May 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/03/31/iraq.main/ |publisher=CNN | title=U.S. expects more attacks in Iraq | date=6 May 2004 | access-date=2 May 2010}}</ref> The insurgents provided images to [[news agency|news agencies]] for broadcast worldwide, causing a great deal of indignation and moral outrage in the United States.<ref name = Frontline /> An announcement of an upcoming "pacification" of the city promptly followed.

The intended [[United States Marine Corps|Marine Corps]] strategy of [[patrol|foot patrols]], less aggressive raids, [[humanitarian aid]], and close cooperation with local leaders was suspended on orders to mount a military operation to clear guerrillas from Fallujah.

[[Abu Musab al-Zarqawi]] was originally suspected as the organizer of the ambush<ref name = RobinsonBook /> as he was known to be planning attacks and believed to be in the area.<ref name = CNNrecovery>{{cite news|title = Coalition recovers 4 mutilated bodies|date = 14 April 2004|access-date = 7 December 2016|publisher = [[CNN]]|url = http://edition.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/04/13/iraq.main/|first1 = Caroline|last1 = Faraj|first2 = Jaime|last2 = FlorCruz|first3 = Octavia|last3 = Nasr|first4 = Jamie|last4 = McIntyre|first5 = Claudia|last5 = Otto|first6 = Elise|last6 = Labott|first7 = Barbara|last7 = Starr}}</ref> The intelligence community was doubtful, however, because the exhibitionism of broadcasting images of the desecration of the victim's bodies was uncharacteristic of al-Zarqawi, whose typical style was to leak to [[Al Jazeera Arabic|Al Jazeera]] that he had planned an attack some weeks after it occurred.<ref name = RobinsonBook /> Intelligence reports ultimately concluded that [[Ahmad Hashim Abd al-Isawi]] was the mastermind behind the attack.<ref name = RobinsonBook /><ref>{{cite news|title = Navy SEALS tragedy in Afghanistan chronicled in new film, "Lone Survivors"|first = Tom|last = Deignan|date = 22 December 2013|access-date = 28 November 2016|url = http://www.irishcentral.com/opinion/others/navy-seals-tragedy-in-afghanistan-chronicled-in-new-film-lone-survivors-236927721-238264231|newspaper = IrishCentral}}</ref> By September 2004, al-Zarqawi was the "highest priority" target in Fallujah for the United States military;<ref>{{cite web |author=Brian Ross |url=http://www.abcnews.go.com/WNT/Investigation/story?id=131414 |title=Tracking Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi |publisher=ABC News |date=24 September 2004 |access-date=19 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180805112247/https://abcnews.go.com/WNT/Investigation/story?id=131414 |archive-date=5 August 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref> he died in a [[targeted killing]] in June 2006 when a [[United States Air Force]] jet dropped two 500-pound (230&nbsp;kg) guided bombs on the safehouse in which he was attending a meeting.<ref>{{cite news|title = At Site of Attack on Zarqawi, All That's Left Are Questions|first1 = Dexter|last1 = Filkins|first2 = John F.|last2 = Burns|access-date = 7 December 2016|date = 11 June 2006|newspaper = [[The New York Times]]|url = https://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/11/world/middleeast/11scene.html}}</ref>

al-Isawi was also an important target, whose attacks continued until a 2009 SEAL special operation raid captured him without a shot being fired.<ref name = RobinsonBook>{{cite book|title = Honor and Betrayal: The Untold Story of the Navy Seals Who Captured the "Butcher of Fallujah"—and the Shameful Ordeal They Later Endured|isbn = 9780306823091|year = 2013|last = Robinson|first = Patrick|author-link = Patrick Robinson (author)|publisher = [[Perseus Book Group]]|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=NUQPAAAAQBAJ}}</ref> He made accusations of mistreatment while in custody, and testified in April 2010 at the ensuing [[court-martial|courts-martial]] against three Navy SEALs (all of whom were acquitted).<ref>{{cite news|title = Navy SEAL not guilty of charges in Iraq|publisher=CNN|date = 22 April 2010|access-date = 28 November 2016|url = https://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/meast/04/22/navy.seal.verdict/}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title = Navy SEAL Found Not Guilty of Assaulting a Suspected Terrorist|publisher = [[Fox News Channel]]|date = 6 May 2010|url = https://www.foxnews.com/us/navy-seal-found-not-guilty-of-assaulting-a-suspected-terrorist/|access-date = 28 November 2016|first = Steve|last = Centanni}}</ref> Subsequently, he was handed over to Iraqi authorities, who tried and executed him by [[hanging]] at some point before November 2013.<ref>{{cite news|title = Persecuting Our Heroes|first = Ray V.|last = Hartwell|newspaper = [[The American Spectator]]|date = 26 November 2013|access-date = 7 December 2016|url = https://spectator.org/56777_persecuting-our-heroes/}}</ref>

==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.

==Legacy==
[[File:2 1 in Fallujah.jpg|thumb|During the First Battle of Fallujah, U.S. Marines from the [[1st Marine Regiment (United States)|1st Marine Regiment]] take cover as an [[M1A1 Abrams]] from the [[1st Tank Battalion]] fires at a building where insurgent snipers are positioned.]]

The largest combat mission since the declaration of the end of "major hostilities",<ref>{{cite web|author=Alice Hills |url=http://afs.sagepub.com/cgi/reprint/32/4/623.pdf |title=Armed Forces & Society – Sign in Page |doi=10.1177/0095327X05281460 |publisher=Afs.sagepub.com |s2cid=144554561 |access-date=19 May 2011}}</ref> the First Battle of Fallujah marked a turning point in public perception of the ongoing conflict. This was because [[Iraqi insurgency (2003–11)|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 regional [[militia]]s, such as the failed Fallujah Brigade, could prove disastrous.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cpp.usmc.mil/press/kit/OIFII.asp |title=Official Website for Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton – The Scout Newspaper |publisher=Cpp.usmc.mil |access-date=19 May 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604092252/http://www.cpp.usmc.mil/press/kit/OIFII.asp |archive-date=4 June 2011}}</ref> Colonel John Spencer, a military analyst, exposed the lack of appropriate intelligence preparation and adequate gathering of forces and armoured assets to carry out an assault on a densely populated area. Spencer also pointed out the hasty political decision to conduct a show of force motivated by retaliatory intent, without taking into consideration the unfavorable environment. He wrote that "The First Battle of Fallujah was a loss for the US forces not because of fighting capability, but due to insufficient planning, force ratios, information operations, and ultimately political support for the operation."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Spencer |first=John |last2=Geroux |first2=Gerson |date=28 October 2022 |title=Fallujah I |url=https://mwi.westpoint.edu/urban-warfare-case-study-6-first-battle-of-fallujah/ |website=Modern Warfare Institute}}</ref>

The battle also pushed Abu Musab al-Zarqawi into the public spotlight as the best-known commander of anti-Coalition forces in Iraq, and brought public attention to the concept of a [[Sunni Triangle]].

27 U.S. servicemen were killed during the battle in Fallujah.<ref name="icasualties">{{Cite web|url=http://icasualties.org/Iraq/Fatalities.aspx|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100326034327/http://icasualties.org/Iraq/Fatalities.aspx|url-status=dead|title=Iraq Coalition Casualties: Military Fatalities|archive-date=26 March 2010|access-date=4 April 2023}}</ref> Iraq Body Count estimated that around 800 Iraqis died in the battle as well, of which 572–616 were civilians and 184–228 insurgents.<ref name="IBC1"/><ref name="IBC2"/> Many of the Iraqis killed were buried inside the city's former football stadium, which became known as the [[Martyrs' Cemetery]].

== Participating units ==
{{Unreferenced section|date=May 2024}}
* [[1st Marine Division (United States)|1st Marine Division]]
** [[1st Battalion 5th Marines]]
** [[2nd Battalion 1st Marines]]
** [[2nd Battalion 2nd Marines]]
** [[2nd Battalion 7th Marines]]
** [[3rd Battalion 7th Marines]]
** [[3rd Battalion 4th Marines]]
** [[3rd Battalion 24th Marines]]
** [[1st Tank Battalion]]
** [[1st Battalion 11th Marines]] (Alpha Battery)
** [[Marine Wing Support Squadron 374]]
** [[1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion]] (Alpha Company)
** [[1st Reconnaissance Battalion]]
** [[1st Force Reconnaissance Company]]
** [[MCSOCOM Detachment One]]
** [[2nd Battalion 11th Marines]] (Echo Battery)
** [[1st Combat Engineer Battalion]]
** [[2nd Combat Engineer Battalion]]
** Naval Mobile Construction Battalion-74
** [[3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion]]
** A co. 112 Military Police Battalion 89th BDE. - made up by PA & RI National Guard  (Operationally Controlled Under the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force)
** 21st Military Police Company (Airborne)|21st Military Police Company (Operationally Controlled Under the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force)
** [[1st Intelligence Battalion (United States)|1st Intelligence Battalion]]
** [[1st Force Service Support Group]]
** [[6th Engineer Support Battalion|Combat Service Support Company 113]]
** Combat Service Support Company 111
* [[1st Infantry Division (United States)|1st Infantry Division]]
** [[16th Infantry Regiment (United States)|1st Battalion, 16th Infantry]]
* [[5th Special Forces Group (Airborne)|5th Special Forces Group]]
* [[1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta]]
* [[Department Of Defense Security Forces, Tactical Response Team]]
* [[101st Airborne Division]]
* [[82nd Airborne Division]]
* [[10th Mountain Division (United States)|10th Mountain Division]]
* [[HMM-161]]
* [[HMLA-775]]
* [[HMLA-167]]
* [[VFA-131]]
* [[HMM-764]]
* [[Combat Logistics Battalion 1|Combat Service Support Battalion 1]]
* [[505th Iraqi Civil Defense Corps (ICDC)]]
* [[36th Iraqi Commando Battalion, Iraqi Special Operations Brigade]]
* [[Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Forces Battalion]]
* [[1st Battalion 11th Marines]] (Alpha Battery)
*Headquarters 10th Marines Counter Battery Radar/ Target Acquisition Platoon
* [[555th Fighter Squadron|555th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron]]
* [[492nd Fighter Squadron|492nd Expeditionary Fighter Squadron]]

== See also ==
* [[Second Battle of Fallujah]]
* [[United States occupation of Fallujah]]
* [[2004 in Iraq]]
* [[Iraqi insurgency (2003–11)|History of Iraqi insurgency]]
* [[Iraqi insurgency (Iraq War)|Iraqi insurgency]]
{{clear}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}
* [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/ops/oif-vigilant-resolve.htm Operation Vigilant Resolve at GlobalSecurity]
* [https://www.theguardian.com/flash/0,5860,1193510,00.html Iraq: The Siege of Falluja], ''Guardian Unlimited''. Detailed interactive on the Fallujah battles.

== Further reading ==
* {{cite book |last1=Kelly |first1=David E. |title=First Fights in Fallujah: Marines During Operation Vigilant Resolve, in Iraq, April 2004 |date=2023 |publisher=Casemate |location=Philadelphia |isbn=9781636243184}}
* ''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}})
* ''Once a Marine: An Iraq War Tank Commander's Inspirational Memoir of Combat, Courage, and Recovery'', by [[Nick Popaditch|Nicholas Popaditch]], with [[Mike Steere]] (2008) ({{ISBN|978-1-932714-47-0}})
* "Fallujah Forensics" a documentary film by [[Tara Sutton]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://edge.channel4.com/news/2005/other/22_inside_fallujah.wmv |title=Fallujah Forensics |access-date=19 May 2011}}</ref>
* ''Beyond the Green Zone: Dispatches from an Unembedded Journalist in Occupied Iraq'', by [[Dahr Jamail]] (2007) ({{ISBN|978-1931859-61-5}}) Haymarket Books.

== External resources ==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070928065241/http://www.katc.com/Global/story.asp?S=1761282&nav=EyAzM2hB "U.S. Launches 'Vigilant Resolve'"], [[Associated Press]], 5 April 2004. News article published at the start of the operation.
* [https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna4685506 ''Hardball with Chris Matthews''], 7 April 2004. [[MSNBC]] transcript of a television report providing information on Operation Vigilant Resolve and the rest of the spring uprisings.
* [https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/warriors/view/ "Private Warriors"], PBS Frontline.

{{Iraq War}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Fallujah, 1}}
[[Category:Battles of the Anbar campaign (2003–2011)]]
[[Category:Battles of the Iraq War in 2004]]
[[Category:Battles of the Iraq War involving Iraq]]
[[Category:Battles of the Iraq War involving the United States]]
[[Category:Operations involving American special forces]]
[[Category:Urban warfare]]
[[Category:Iraqi insurgency (2003–2011)]]
[[Category:United States Marine Corps in the Iraq War]]
[[Category:Fallujah in the Iraq War]]
[[Category:April 2004 in Iraq]]
[[Category:May 2004 in Iraq]]
[[Category:Violations of medical neutrality during the Iraq War]]
[[Category:Iraq War crimes by the United States]]
[[Category:Sieges of the Iraq War]]
[[Category:Friendly fire incidents of the Iraq War]]
[[Category:Battles of the Iraq War involving Sunni insurgent groups]]