Background First Battle of Fallujah

fallujah had benefited economically under saddam hussein, , many residents employed military , intelligence officers administration. however, there little sympathy him following collapse of government, many residents considered oppressive. city 1 of religious , culturally traditional areas in iraq.

following collapse of ba ath infrastructure in 2003, local residents had elected town council led taha bidaywi hamed, kept city falling control of looters , common criminals. town council , hamed both considered nominally pro-american, , election meant united states had decided city unlikely become hotbed of activity, , didn t require immediate troop presence. led united states committing few troops fallujah start.

although fallujah had seen sporadic air strikes american forces, public opposition not galvanized until 700 members of 82nd airborne division first entered city on 23 april 2003, , approximately 150 members of charlie company occupied al-qa id primary. on 28 april, crowd of approximately 200 people gathered outside school past curfew, demanding americans vacate building , allow re-open school. protesters became increasingly heated, , deployment of smoke gas canisters failed disperse crowd. protest escalated gunmen reportedly fired upon u.s. forces protesting crowd , u.s. army soldiers 1st battalion of 325th airborne infantry regiment of 82nd airborne division returned fire, killing 17 people , wounding more 70 of protesters. there no u.s. army or coalition casualties in incident. u.s. forces said shooting took place on 30–60 seconds, other sources claim shooting continued half hour.

two days later, protest @ former ba ath party headquarters decrying american shootings fired upon u.s. forces, time u.s. 3rd armored cavalry regiment, resulted in 3 more deaths. following both incidents, coalition forces asserted had not fired upon protesters until fired upon first.

the 82nd airborne soldiers replaced soldiers 3rd armored cavalry regiment , 101st airborne division 2/502nd b.co renegades, , on 4 june,the renegades came under attack after presence patrol. renegades hit rpg while mounting vehicles take them base.the attack resulted in 6 injured soldiers , 1 kia. pfc. brandon oberleitner killed on impact rpg struck lead vehicle sitting in. death marked loss of life b.co deployment. after attack 3rd armoured cavalry forced request additional 1,500 troops quell growing resistance faced in fallujah , nearby al-habaniyya.

in june, american forces began confiscating motorcycles local residents, claiming being used in hit-and-run attacks on coalition forces.

on 30 june, large explosion occurred in mosque in imam, sheikh laith khalil , 8 other people killed. while local population claimed americans had fired missile @ mosque, u.s. forces claimed accidental detonation insurgents constructing bombs.

on 12 february 2004, insurgents attacked convoy carrying general john abizaid, commander of u.s. forces in middle east, , 82nd airborne s major general charles swannack, firing on vehicles nearby rooftops rpgs, after seemingly infiltrating iraqi security forces.

eleven days later, insurgents diverted iraqi police false emergency on outskirts of city, before simultaneously attacking 3 police stations, mayor s office , civil defence base. @ least 17 police officers killed, , many 87 prisoners released.

during time, 82nd airborne conducting regular lightning raids inside city, humvee convoys destroy road barriers , curbs hide ieds, , oversee searches of homes , schools, saw property damage, , led shoot-outs local residents.

in march 2004, swannack transferred authority of al-anbar province marine expeditionary force commanded lt. general conway.

by march 2004, city began fall under increasing influence of guerrilla factions. rising violence against american presence resulted in complete withdrawal of troops city, occasional incursions trying gain , reinforce foothold in city being attempted. coupled 1 or 2 patrols around outer limits of fob volturno, former site of qusay , uday hussein s palace.

on march 27, jsoc surveillance team compromised in town , had shoot way out of trouble.