The Assault on Fallujah
Assualt on Fallujah
November 8, 2004
In April of 2004, Coalition forces invaded and fought the First Battle of Fallujah in order to capture or kill insurgent elements considered responsible for the deaths of a Blackwater Security team. When coalition forces (mostly U.S. Marines) fought into the center of the city, the Iraqi government requested that the city's control be transferred to an Iraqi-run local security force, which then began stockpiling weapons and building complex defenses across the city through mid-2004. It was agreed that local citizens would keep insurgents out of the town. A U.S. official was accused to saying, "catching Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi, an Iraqi figure, was the utmost priority". Supposedly, Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi resided in Fallujah, Iraq. The Fallujah bridge was setup with Iraqi and U.S. forces to invade and take over Fallujah once again. On November 7th, forces began to prepare to invade Fallujah and a day later (November 8th), the second battle of Fallujah, the bloodiest battle of the entire Iraq War, began lasting three months. Approximately 360,000 of the 50,000 homes in Iraq were destroyed with about 60 schools and 65 shrines. With discrepancy with numbers, it was reported that about 4,000 to 6,000 Iraqi citizens, with 1,350 being insurgents died in the battle of Fallujah.Although Iraq had a much worse outcome pertaining to deaths, the battle did not bid well for the U.S., Britain, and the Iraq coalition forces. In total, about 95 americans ,11 Iraqi coalition members, and 3 british soldiers died. While the invasion killed thousands of and destroyed insurgents and destroyed a deal of al-Qaeda members, the army didn't capture Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi. Soon after the forces left the town, another problem came to the surface when it was documented that white Phosphorus, W.P., was used by US forces to kill insurgents and civilians. Characteristics of W.P. are visible after use because it would make a deceased body to turn into ash with skin peeling off. White Phosphorus was prohibited on personnel and could be used as an illumination device but not an offensive weapon. The United States quickly denied the allegations but admitted to using bombs in the battle.
In the end, the Second invasion of Fallujah is notable as the bloodiest and most horrific battle and the first major engagement of the Iraq War fought solely against insurgents rather than the forces of the former Ba'athist Iraqi government, which was deposed in 2003. Fatalities racked up for both sides of the parties with hundreds of innocent civilians killed along the way. The battle was helpful to the coalition forces by limiting the power of al-Qaeda and US forces (alongside British and Iraqis) killed many insurgents and destroyed the key strongholds of al-Qaeda. The battle is still considered a failure because Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi but is known for the amount of blood shed- which surpassed battles in Vietnam.
November 8, 2004
In April of 2004, Coalition forces invaded and fought the First Battle of Fallujah in order to capture or kill insurgent elements considered responsible for the deaths of a Blackwater Security team. When coalition forces (mostly U.S. Marines) fought into the center of the city, the Iraqi government requested that the city's control be transferred to an Iraqi-run local security force, which then began stockpiling weapons and building complex defenses across the city through mid-2004. It was agreed that local citizens would keep insurgents out of the town. A U.S. official was accused to saying, "catching Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi, an Iraqi figure, was the utmost priority". Supposedly, Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi resided in Fallujah, Iraq. The Fallujah bridge was setup with Iraqi and U.S. forces to invade and take over Fallujah once again. On November 7th, forces began to prepare to invade Fallujah and a day later (November 8th), the second battle of Fallujah, the bloodiest battle of the entire Iraq War, began lasting three months. Approximately 360,000 of the 50,000 homes in Iraq were destroyed with about 60 schools and 65 shrines. With discrepancy with numbers, it was reported that about 4,000 to 6,000 Iraqi citizens, with 1,350 being insurgents died in the battle of Fallujah.Although Iraq had a much worse outcome pertaining to deaths, the battle did not bid well for the U.S., Britain, and the Iraq coalition forces. In total, about 95 americans ,11 Iraqi coalition members, and 3 british soldiers died. While the invasion killed thousands of and destroyed insurgents and destroyed a deal of al-Qaeda members, the army didn't capture Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi. Soon after the forces left the town, another problem came to the surface when it was documented that white Phosphorus, W.P., was used by US forces to kill insurgents and civilians. Characteristics of W.P. are visible after use because it would make a deceased body to turn into ash with skin peeling off. White Phosphorus was prohibited on personnel and could be used as an illumination device but not an offensive weapon. The United States quickly denied the allegations but admitted to using bombs in the battle.
In the end, the Second invasion of Fallujah is notable as the bloodiest and most horrific battle and the first major engagement of the Iraq War fought solely against insurgents rather than the forces of the former Ba'athist Iraqi government, which was deposed in 2003. Fatalities racked up for both sides of the parties with hundreds of innocent civilians killed along the way. The battle was helpful to the coalition forces by limiting the power of al-Qaeda and US forces (alongside British and Iraqis) killed many insurgents and destroyed the key strongholds of al-Qaeda. The battle is still considered a failure because Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi but is known for the amount of blood shed- which surpassed battles in Vietnam.