The Photograph

Our “Pic of Day” features a US Marine from 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines clearing a house in Fallujah, Iraq. The date is November 23rd, 2004.

He seems to have “acquired” a Soviet-made PPsh-41 SMG from an insurgent who no longer needed it.

The photo was taken during Operation Phantom Fury, sometimes referred to as the Second Battle of Fallujah. It was a joint British, US, and Iraqi offensive in November and December of 2004 to clear insurgents, anti-coalition forces, and any other bad guys from the city.

Fallujah
SOFREP’s interpretation of Fallujah, Iraq in November 2004.

The Pivotal Battle of Fallujah: A New Perspective

In late 2004, the city of Fallujah became the center stage for an intense and protracted battle. Codenamed Operation Phantom Fury, this offensive symbolized the pinnacle of the Iraq War’s conflict against an insurgent uprising. A collaboration between the United States, the interim Iraqi administration, and the British forces, this campaign showcased the grit of both the U.S. Marine Corps and the U.S. Army, drawing parallels to the intense urban combat witnessed during Vietnam’s Battle of Huế City in 1968.