First Battle of Fallujah

A major battle fought in Fallujah, Iraq, in April 2004 between U.S.-led forces and insurgents. A ceasefire ended the offensive and led to the withdrawal of U.S. Marines from the city.

Blackwater Baghdad ambush: A March 31, 2004 attack in Fallujah that killed four American contractors employed by Blackwater. The killings prompted the U.S. offensive that began the battle.
2003 invasion of Iraq: The U.S.-led military invasion that began in March 2003 and toppled the government of Saddam Hussein. The occupation established the conditions in which resistance to coalition forces grew.
James Conway: A U.S. Marine Corps general who commanded the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force during the 2004 Iraq campaign. He led the Marine formation conducting the Fallujah offensive.
Second Battle of Fallujah: A major U.S.-led offensive in November and December 2004 to retake Fallujah from insurgent control. The failure to secure the city in April set the stage for a larger assault later that year.
Operation Vigilant Resolve: The U.S. military operation launched in April 2004 to capture those responsible for the contractor killings and suppress insurgents in Fallujah. This was the principal U.S. offensive during the battle.
Iraqi insurgency: An armed campaign against the post-2003 Iraqi government and foreign forces in Iraq. Insurgent networks in and around Fallujah were the battle’s opponents.
Richard Myers: A U.S. Air Force general who served as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 2001 to 2005. He publicly explained the decision to halt the offensive amid political pressure.
Iraqi National Guard: An Iraqi security force established after the 2003 invasion and later incorporated into the Iraqi Army. Its soldiers formed much of the Fallujah Brigade that took over after the ceasefire.
Fallujah Brigade: An Iraqi security force formed in May 2004 to assume responsibility for security in Fallujah after U.S. forces withdrew. Its creation implemented the ceasefire arrangement that ended the offensive.
Fallujah: A city in Iraq’s Al Anbar Governorate, west of Baghdad, that became a center of resistance during the occupation. The city’s geography and political climate framed the battle.

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