November 8, 2004
Assault on Fallujah
The United States occupation of Fallujah began in April 2003, a month after the beginning of the invasion of Iraq. In April 2003 U.S. forces fired on a group of unarmed demonstrators protesting against the invasion and occupation of their country. US forces said they were fired at first, but human rights groups who visited the site of the protests decided that physical evidence did not uphold their accusations and confirmed the resident’s accusations that the US forces fired generally on Iraqis with no provocation. 17 people were killed and 70 were wounded. In a later incident, US soldiers fired on Falluhaji protesters again. Fallujah's mayor, Taha Bedaiwi al-Alwani said that two people were killed and 14 wounded. Iraqi resistance fighters were able to claim the city a year later, before they were ousted by a siege and two re-invasions by US forces. These events caused widespread destruction. As of 2004, the city is largely ruined, with 60% of buildings damaged or destroyed. Although the majority of the residents were Sunni and had supported Saddam Hussein's rule, Fallujah lacked military presence after his fall. There was little looting and the new mayor of the city Taha Bidaywi Hamed, was pro-United States.
Assault on Fallujah
The United States occupation of Fallujah began in April 2003, a month after the beginning of the invasion of Iraq. In April 2003 U.S. forces fired on a group of unarmed demonstrators protesting against the invasion and occupation of their country. US forces said they were fired at first, but human rights groups who visited the site of the protests decided that physical evidence did not uphold their accusations and confirmed the resident’s accusations that the US forces fired generally on Iraqis with no provocation. 17 people were killed and 70 were wounded. In a later incident, US soldiers fired on Falluhaji protesters again. Fallujah's mayor, Taha Bedaiwi al-Alwani said that two people were killed and 14 wounded. Iraqi resistance fighters were able to claim the city a year later, before they were ousted by a siege and two re-invasions by US forces. These events caused widespread destruction. As of 2004, the city is largely ruined, with 60% of buildings damaged or destroyed. Although the majority of the residents were Sunni and had supported Saddam Hussein's rule, Fallujah lacked military presence after his fall. There was little looting and the new mayor of the city Taha Bidaywi Hamed, was pro-United States.
U.S. troops preforming final training drills before there mass assault on Fallujah