Also known as Operation Valiant Resolve, this operation was launched on April 3, 2004. The operation was a response to the in response to the March 31 killing of four U.S. Blackwater contractors in Fallujah. The contractors were ambushed and burned, and their bodies were hung from the King Faisal Bridge in Fallujah. The images and videos of the incident spread around the world, causing outrage. The operation began with the Marines launching an assault on Fallujah. The operation involved infantry battalions, tanks, aviation units, and U.S. Navy Seabees. The U.S. forces took over a third of Fallujah within a week. However, the Iraqi government pressured the U.S. to withdraw on May 1 due to the destruction of the city and heavy civilian casualties. The U.S. handed over control of the city to the Fallujah Brigade, a Sunni security force, but they quickly disbanded and surrendered their weapons. The operation resulted in the deaths of 27 U.S. service members.

Learn More:

• 20 Year Reflection: The War Horse
• Ambush on Blackwater
• Case Study: Modern War Institute
• Casualty Report: Defense Casualty Analysis System
• Documentary: Frontline PBS
• First Battle of Fallujah: Wikipedia Entry
• Historical Footage: 20 Year Reflection PBS NewsHour
• Iraq War: Wikipedia Entry
• Remembering Fallujah: Shawn Ryan Show

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