Two Decades After Fallujah: Reflections on War and Loss

It was twenty years ago, but it feels like only yesterday. The city of Fallujah had become the focal point of intense urban combat during the Iraq War, witnessing two major battles that significantly influenced military strategy and the region’s stability.

Death of the Blackwater Contractors

In March 2004, the brutal killing of four Blackwater contractors in Fallujah, with their bodies desecrated and displayed publicly, shocked the world and prompted a swift military response.

The Americans, Scott Henderson, Jerry Zovko, Wesley Batalona, and Mike Teague, were conducting a food delivery to caterers in Fallujah when their two Mitsubishi SUVs were attacked by Iraqi insurgents. They were killed by machine gun fire and a grenade thrown into one of the vehicles.

They were dead, but that wasn’t enough for the Iraqis. A mob formed and pulled their corpses from the vehicles. Their bodies were beaten, burned, and further mutilated. The charred remains were next dragged through the city streets for all to see. Ultimately, two of the bodies were hung from a bridge over the Euphrates River.

To say that the spectacle infuriated Americans would be an understatement.

The First Battle of Fallujah (April 2004)

As a direct result of the murders, the U.S. launched Operation Vigilant Resolve in April 2004, aiming to eliminate insurgent forces within the city. The primary objectives of Vigilant Resolve were to bring to justice those responsible for the killing of the Blackwater contractors, remove foreign fighters from the city, eliminate heavy weapons from Fallujah, and reopen Highway 10 to military traffic. 

The hastily planned operation (thrown together in only three days) faced unexpected resistance. The 1st Marine Division took over for Army units just days prior to the incident. Marines began their assault at dawn on April 4th, 2004. By sunrise on the 5th, U.S. Marines surrounded the city. The operation saw some of the most intense urban combat since the battle of Hue City in Vietnam. 

Insurgents utilized the dense urban environment to their advantage, employing guerrilla tactics that led to significant civilian casualties and international criticism. Within a week, about a third of Fallujah had been retaken by U.S. forces. The city experienced significant structural damage due to the intense urban combat and the fact the insurgents decided to use mosques as bases of operation. The Iraqi Governing Council grew concerned over the massive destruction and intensity of the fighting, and the U.S. announced a unilateral ceasefire on the 9th of April. 

Many insurgents failed to respect the ceasefire and continued to fire on Marines. On the first of May, we pulled all of our troops from Fallujah and turned the city over to the newly formed Fallujah Brigade, consisting of about 1,100 Iraqi personnel. They failed to maintain control of the city, and the insurgency strengthened. By September of 2004, the Fallujah Brigade had completely fallen apart, and all of the American weapons and equipment we had provided them with were turned over to the now more powerful insurgency.

This failure set the stage for a larger, more decisive battle to come.

Casualties

• 27 U.S. Forces killed
• Approximately 200 insurgents killed
• An estimated 600 Iraqi civilians (including about 300 women and children) were killed in the fighting.

The Second Battle of Fallujah (November–December 2004)

Recognizing the need to address the insurgent stronghold decisively, coalition forces initiated Operation Phantom Fury in November 2004. This time, we brought some help along. The joint effort involved approximately 15,000 U.S., British, and Iraqi troops. The battle started with intense aerial bombardments, followed by ground assaults that engaged in fierce house-to-house fighting. The battle is generally recognized as having some of the most intense urban combat since the Vietnam War. 

The major objectives of Phantom Fury included crushing the Islamic insurgency in Fallujah, preventing the further spread of armed opposition to our occupation of Iraq, and securing the city prior to the upcoming 2005 Iraqi democratic election.

Preparation and Forces

Coalition forces surrounded Fallujah with checkpoints to prevent, to the extent possible, insurgents from arriving or leaving. Over 300,000 residents evacuated the city, fearing the storm that was to come. Several thousand Marines, Army, and British Forces (supported by Iraqi security forces) would be carrying out the ongoing assault.

American special operations forces (including Rangers, SEALs, and Marine Recon) carried out pre-assault reconnaissance operations to gather vital intelligence on insurgent positions, defenses, and fortifications. Their ability to infiltrate hostile territory largely undetected allowed for the mapping of key enemy locations and the identification of high-value targets. The intelligence gathered was crucial in planning the subsequent ground assault.

The operation began on the 7th of November with intense shelling and air strikes. This softened things up a bit for the follow-up ground assault. Fighting was fierce and was carried out from street to street, house to house.

Insurgents had fortified positions with booby traps and sniper nests, making progress perilous and slow. After weeks of relentless combat, coalition forces regained control of Fallujah, marking it as one of the bloodiest engagements of the Iraq War. The battle resulted in significant casualties: nearly 100 U.S. service members were killed, and hundreds were wounded. Insurgent losses were estimated in the thousands. Honestly, at some point, you stop counting and begin estimating. 

Significance

The Second Battle of Fallujah was arguably the bloodiest of the entire War in Iraq. However, it did serve to significantly weaken the insurgent presence in the city of Fallujah. Never again would the insurgents challenge us in open combat on this scale. The downside of that was the fact that small-scale attacks were on the rise following the battle. By the end of 2004, nearly half the city lay in ruins.

Strategic and Tactical Lessons

The battles of Fallujah underscored the complexities of urban warfare. The initial underestimation of insurgent capabilities in the first battle highlighted the necessity for comprehensive intelligence and preparation. The second battle demonstrated the effectiveness of combined arms operations, integrating infantry, armor, artillery, and air support to overcome fortified urban defenses. These engagements have since been studied extensively to inform modern military tactics in similar environments.

Fallujah’s Legacy and Current State

In the years following the battles, Fallujah faced ongoing challenges. The city fell under ISIS control in 2014, leading to further conflicts and destruction. By 2016, Iraqi forces, with international support, liberated Fallujah from ISIS, initiating a period of reconstruction. Today, Fallujah shows signs of recovery, with infrastructure rebuilding and a return to relative normalcy. However, the scars of past conflicts remain evident, and the city continues to grapple with the long-term effects of decades of war.

In recognition of the battle’s significance, the U.S. Navy announced plans in 2023 to name a future America-class landing helicopter assault ship the USS Fallujah to honor the fallen Marines of both battles of the city.

Reflections from Veterans

For many veterans, the memories of Fallujah are indelible. The intense combat, the loss of comrades, and the ethical complexities of urban warfare have left lasting impacts. Some grapple with the moral ambiguities of the conflict, questioning the broader implications of their actions. Others find solace in the camaraderie and the belief that their efforts contributed to a greater cause. 

As we mark two decades since the battles of Fallujah, it is important to reflect on the lessons learned and honor the sacrifices made. The experiences from Fallujah have profoundly influenced military doctrines and continue to influence strategies in contemporary conflicts.