First Battle of Fallujah

The First Battle of Fallujah, code-named Operation Vigilant Resolve, was an operation against militants in Fallujah as well as an attempt to apprehend or kill the perpetrators of the killing of four U.S. contractors in March 2004.

First Battle of Fallujah
Part of the Iraq War

A U.S. Marine from the 1st Marine Division mans an M240G machine gun outside the Fallujah city limits in April 2004.
Date4 April – 1 May 2004
(3 weeks and 6 days)
Location
Fallujah, Iraq
Result Insurgent victory
Belligerents
 United States
 United Kingdom
Al-Qaeda in Iraq
Islamic Army in Iraq
Ba'ath Party loyalists
Other Sunni insurgents
Commanders and leaders
James T. Conway
James Mattis
John A. Toolan
Abu Musab al-Zarqawi
Units involved
I Marine Expeditionary Force
82nd Airborne Division
101st Airborne Division
3rd Cavalry Regiment
10th Mountain Division
1st Infantry Division
5th Special Forces Group
Delta Force
Blackwater USA
Islamic Army in Iraq
Jama'at al-Tawhid wal-Jihad
Strength
10,000+ 3,600
Casualties and losses
27 killed 184–228 killed (Iraq Body Count)
572–616 civilians killed (Iraq Body Count)
Location within Iraq

The chief catalyst for the operation was the highly publicized killing and mutilation of four Blackwater USA private military contractors, and the killings of five American soldiers in Habbaniyah a few days earlier.

The battle polarized public opinion within Iraq.

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