The Second Battle of Fallujah (also called Operation Phantom Fury and Operation al-Fajr) in November 2004 was the largest urban assault by U.S. forces since the Vietnam War.
More than 12,000 U.S. service members from all branches, the British military and Iraqi security forces formed a coalition to rid Fallujah, Iraq, of violent extremists and insurgents who used the city as a safe haven and base of operations, jeopardizing the future of the country.
There was little appetite for this fight. With Iraqi national elections scheduled for January 2005, the overwhelming desire by the coalition forces and the Iraqi government was for political negotiations and a settlement to quell extremist activity. Safe, fair elections that were free from insurgent influence were critical to Iraq’s chances to thrive.
Square kilometers (15.5 square miles) – The area of the city
Fallujah’s estimated population in 2004
Approximate number of mosques in Fallujah, giving it the nickname “City of Mosques”
Fallujah is located about 50 kilometers (31 miles) west of Baghdad and sits on the eastern bank of the Euphrates River. Two bridges cross the river into the city. To the north is the King Faisal Bridge, a green steel trestle bridge in the western section of the city that was the flash point for impending battles. To the south is the bridge that carries Highway 10 over the river and through the center of the city. Coalition forces called the highway Phase Line Fran. More than 2,000 city blocks form a grid of main roads, side streets and alleyways. The train tracks that run across the northern boundary of the city were the breach site of the coalition force main effort at the beginning of the battle.
On March 31, 2004, an extremist mob ambushed and killed four U.S. Blackwater civilian contractors inside Fallujah. They burned the bodies and hung them from the King Faisal Bridge before a large crowd. Images and video from this spread across the world.
U.S. forces mounted a hasty response to the killings, launching the First Battle of Fallujah, also known as Operation Valiant Resolve, on April 3. By April 9, the Iraqi government called off the response, even as the forces made strong progress, taking over a third of the city.
They turned the operation over to an 1,100-person Sunni security force known as the Fallujah Brigade. They didn’t last. Instead of continuing the fight, they laid down their weapons and disbanded. Many joined the insurgency.
Twenty-seven U.S. service members were killed during this operation.
After the dissolution of the Fallujah Brigade, extremists and insurgents dug in, making Fallujah the center of their operations. Hidden among the population and well trained—many of them foreign fighters loyal to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi—they could move around nearly undetected in the city’s dense urban environment.
Estimates put the enemy force at around 3,000 to 4,500 men.
With the Iraqi government’s political attempts to quell the insurgent forces exhausted, an assault on the city became the U.S. forces’ only option.
Airdropped leaflets warned civilians inside the city to get out. The strict rules of engagement U.S. forces were used to were lifted. Anyone who remained would be considered enemy fighters.
On Nov. 8, 2004, coalition forces stormed into Fallujah and Operation Phantom Fury began.
These stories are from veterans who were there.
Although major combat operations in the city only lasted a couple of weeks, the memories have endured for 20 years.
DAV presents these video vignettes as a way to commemorate the actions and bravery of those who participated in the battle and offer them an opportunity to reflect on their involvement.
Their stories highlight the effects of war and the individual journeys veterans embark on—both the highs and the lows—long after they take off the uniform.
Please note: These conversations contain candid, graphic descriptions of combat, loss of life, and the mental and physical toll that war can have on individuals and families. They are presented unfiltered, so viewer discretion is advised.
The views shared within these vignettes do not necessarily reflect the views of DAV.
Veterans Christine Knight, Jonathan Knauth, and Aubrey McDade and embedded civilian photographer Lucian Read share about their experiences in Fallujah and how the battle was a turning point in their lives.
The civilian and military combat photographers, videographers and journalists who documented the Second Battle of Fallujah risked their lives to bring the world images from the fight. This selection of photos highlights what U.S. forces experienced inside the city.
Were you involved in the First or Second Battle of Fallujah? Would you be open to sharing your experience?
We would like to hear from you.
DAV is dedicated to a single purpose: empowering veterans to lead high-quality lives with respect and dignity. We accomplish this by ensuring that veterans and their families can access the full range of benefits available to them; fighting for the interests of America’s injured heroes on Capitol Hill; and educating the public about the great sacrifices and needs of veterans transitioning back to civilian life.
If you have any questions about veterans benefits or need to find resources for help, please visit benefitsquestions.org so we can connect you with a benefits advocate local to you.
