Almanac: The Second Battle of Fallujah Begins (November 7-8, 2004)

The Second Battle of Fallujah in November 2004 was a major military operation conducted by the United States military and its allies during the Iraq War. Fallujah, a city located in the Al Anbar Province of Iraq, had become a stronghold for insurgent groups, including Al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI), which posed a significant threat to the stability of the country.

The operation, code-named Operation Phantom Fury (also known as al-Fajr or "New Dawn"), aimed to regain control of Fallujah and eliminate the insurgent presence in the city. It involved a joint effort by the U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps, and Iraqi Security Forces, supported by air and artillery strikes.

The battle began on November 7, 2004, with a massive assault on Fallujah. U.S. and Iraqi forces faced stiff resistance from well-entrenched insurgent fighters who had fortified the city with booby traps, tunnels, and other defensive measures. The fighting was intense and urban, with house-to-house and street-to-street combat, making it a challenging and deadly battle.

During the battle, U.S. and Iraqi forces employed a variety of tactics, including airstrikes, artillery barrages, and ground assaults, to root out the insurgents. After several weeks of intense fighting, American forces gradually gained control of the city. Many insurgents were killed or captured, while others fled. The battle officially ended on December 23, 2004, with the U.S. and Iraqi forces declaring victory.

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST SERIES: Battlefield Fallujah