![]() ![]() They blocked streets with Jersey barriers and even emplaced them within homes to create strong points behind which they could attack unsuspecting troops entering the building. In some locations they filled the interiors of darkened homes with large numbers of propane bottles, large drums of gasoline, and ordnance, all wired to a remote trigger that could be set off by an insurgent when troops entered the building. ![]() They dug tunnels, trenches, prepared spider holes, and built and hid a wide variety of IEDs. The Iraqi insurgents and foreign mujahadeen present in the city prepared fortified defenses in advance of the anticipated attack. An estimated 2,000 insurgents were from the Army of Mohammed (made up of ex Fedayeen Saddam fighters), Ansar al-Sunna and various smaller Iraqi groups. Three groups, (AQI, IAI and the National Islamic Army (1920 Revolution Brigade)) had their nationwide headquarters in Fallujah. Another estimate put the number of insurgents at 3,000 however, a number of insurgent leaders escaped before the attack.įallujah was occupied by virtually every insurgent group in Iraq: al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI), Islamic Army of Iraq (IAI), Ansar al-Sunna, Army of Mohammed (AOM), the Army of the Mujahedeen and the Secret Islamic Army of Iraq. By November, it was estimated that the numbers had doubled. In April, Fallujah was defended by about 500 "hardcore" and 1,000+ "part time" insurgents. As part of Task Force Black, D Squadron of the British SAS prepared to take part in the operation, but due to British political nervousness about the possible scale of casualties stopped any direct UK involvement in the ground battle. and Iraqi forces with the encirclement of Fallujah. The 850-strong 1st Battalion of the Black Watch was ordered to help U.S. Army artillery battalions and USSOCOM Sniper Elements. About 2,000 Iraqi troops assisted with the assault. Army's 2nd Battalion/2nd Infantry,2nd Battalion/12th Cavalry and 1st battalion 6th field artillery. Regimental Combat Team 7 comprised the 1st Battalion/8th Marines, 1st Battalion/3rd Marines, the U.S. troops were grouped in two Regimental Combat Teams: Regimental Combat Team 1 comprised 3rd Battalion/1st Marines, 3rd Battalion/5th Marines, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 4 and 23 (Seabees) as well as the U.S. had gathered some 6,500 Marines and 1,500 Army soldiers that would take part in the assault with about 2,500 Navy personnel in operational and support roles. U.S., Iraqi and British forces totaled about 13,500. After weeks of withstanding air strikes and artillery bombardment, the militants holed up in the city appeared to be vulnerable to direct attack. American units were augmented by Iraqi interpreters to assist them in the planned fight. In addition, overhead imagery was used to prepare maps of the city for use by the attackers. and Iraqi forces had established checkpoints around the city to prevent anyone from entering the city, and to intercept insurgents attempting to flee. Coalition forcesīefore beginning their attack, U.S. official told ABC News that catching Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, said to be in Fallujah, was now "the highest priority," and estimated his troops at 5,000 men, mostly non-Iraqis. ![]() Insurgent strength and control began to grow to such an extent that by 24 September 2004, a senior U.S. The Fallujah Brigade, composed of local Iraqis under the command of a former Ba'athist officer named Muhammed Latif, took control of the city. On 28 April 2004, Operation Vigilant Resolve ended with an agreement where the local population was ordered to keep the insurgents out of the city. Marine Corps forces launched Operation Vigilant Resolve (4 April 2004) to take back control of the city from insurgent forces. Images of their mutilated bodies were broadcast around the world. Shortly afterward, on 31 March 2004, four American private military contractors from Blackwater USA were ambushed and killed in the city. 82nd Airborne Division to the 1st Marine Division. In February 2004, control of Fallujah and the surrounding area in the Al-Anbar province was transferred from the U.S. ![]()
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