2. Schlacht um Falludscha

U.S. Army soldiers fire a mortar at insurgent positions in Fallujah, Iraq, during Operation al Fajr (New Dawn) on Nov. 8, 2004. The soldiers are assigned to Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division.

U.S. Marines seize apartments at the edge of Fallujah, Iraq, in the first hours of Operation al Fajr (New Dawn) on Nov. 8, 2004. The Marines are assigned to K Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division that is engaged in security and stabilization operations in the Al Anbar Province of Iraq.

A U.S. Marine scout sniper scans for insurgents in the streets and buildings along the edge of Fallujah, Iraq, during the first hours of Operation al Fajr (New Dawn) on Nov. 8, 2004. The Marine is assigned to Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division.

A confirmed insurgent stronghold goes up in smoke after a strategic aerial strike during combat operations while US Marine Corps (USMC) Marines, 1st Battalion (BN), 8th Marine Regiment (1/8), search for insurgents and weapon caches during a Security and Stabilization Operation (SASO) conducted as part of Operation AL FAJR, which is an offensive operation to eradicate enemy insurgents in Fallujah, Al Anbar Province, Iraq, during Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. (Released to Public)

U.S. Army Spc. Deretinald Batiste looks for snipers from inside a house in Fallujah, Iraq, in support of Operation al Fajr (New Dawn) on Nov. 11, 2004. Batiste is assigned as a Signal Support Systems Specialist attached to Alpha Company, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Infantry Battalion.

U.S. Marines prepare to step off on a patrol through the city of Fallujah, Iraq, to clear the city of insurgent activity and weapons caches as part of Operation al Fajr (New Dawn) on Nov. 26, 2004. The Marines are (from left to right) Platoon Sergeant Staff Sgt. Eric Brown, Machine Gun Section Leader Sgt. Aubrey McDade, Radio Operator Cpl. Steven Archibald, and Combat Engineer Lance Cpl. Robert Coburn. All are assigned to 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division conducting security and stabilization operations in the Al Anbar Province of Iraq.

Cavalry scouts from the 1st Infantry Division, fight their way through southern Fallujah.

Original description: "Marines on the attack in Fallujah in November and December 04. Scenes of Marines firing grenade launchers; a two-man crew fires a large machine gun; Marines advance while others cover; a brick structure is weakened by weapons fire; tracer rounds whiz through the air; a tank turret turns and the Marine fires the tank's machine gun; another tank fires its main gun; more grenade launching and machine gun fire to break a wall so Marines can enter a compound; Marines hold artillery shells; more machine gun fire and grenade launching; Marines inspect a weapons cache and place explosive charges on it; blast and smoke rising from destruction of the cache; smoke rising from a field; Marine watches a fire; more tanks fire main gun and machine gun; an armored personnel carrier fires too; bulldozer operates; more Marines fire small arms and vehicle machine guns; Marines run to a broken brick wall, then into a compound; door kicked open and room searched; door opened with shotgun blast and Marines enter building and search rooms; small fire in building; Marines point out target from position; tank fires main gun; two-man crew fires machine gun; Marines light fuse and charge blows open door; Marines tie suspect's hands and carry artillery shells away. Video from I Marine Expeditionary Force Public Affairs. (Not available for broadcast quality)."

An M-198 155mm Howitzer of the US Marines firing at Fallujah, Iraq, during the Second Battle of Fallujah.

An M-198 155mm Howitzer of the US Marines firing at Fallujah, Iraq, during the Second Battle of Fallujah.

The original finding aid described this photograph as: Subject Operation/Series: IRAQI FREEDOM Base: Fallujah State: Al Anbar Country: Iraq (IRQ) Scene Camera Operator: LCPL Jeremy W. Ferguson, USMC Release Status: Released to Public

The original finding aid described this photograph as: Subject Operation/Series: IRAQI FREEDOM Base: Fallujah State: Al Anbar Country: Iraq (IRQ) Scene Major Command Shown: 2-7 CAV Scene Camera Operator: SFC Johancharles Van Boers, USA Release Status: Released to Public

Lance Cpl. Cody J. Stickels, a radio operator with Company L, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, patrols through farmland to the east of his company’s newly established observation post in Southern Shorsurak, Helmand province, Afghanistan, during Operation New Dawn, June 20. During the patrol the Marines found two directional fragmentation improvised explosive devices weighing 35 pounds each, 15 feet of detonation cord and 15 pounds of ammonium nitrate and aluminum powder. Operation New Dawn is a joint operation between Marine Corps units and the Afghanistan National Army to disrupt enemy forces, which have been using the sparsely populated region between Marjah and Nawa as a safe haven.

A mortar round impacts near the mortar platoon's fire direction control center from HHC, 2-7 Cav, 2nd BCT, 1st Cav Div during combat operation in Fallujah on Nov. 12, 2004 during Operation Iraqi Freedom. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Johancharles Van Boers) (Released)

The original finding aid described this photograph as: Base: Fallujah State: Al Anbar Country: Iraq (IRQ) Scene Camera Operator: LCPL Joel A. Chaverri, USMC Release Status: Released to Public

The original finding aid described this photograph as: Base: Fallujah State: Al Anbar Country: Iraq (IRQ) Scene Camera Operator: LCPL Joel A. Chaverri, USMC Release Status: Released to Public

The original finding aid described this photograph as: Base: Fallujah State: Al Anbar Country: Iraq (IRQ) Scene Camera Operator: LCPL Joel A. Chaverri, USMC Release Status: Released to Public

The original finding aid described this photograph as: Base: Fallujah State: Al Anbar Country: Iraq (IRQ) Scene Camera Operator: LCPL Joel A. Chaverri, USMC Release Status: Released to Public

This is an Iraqi Tabuk 7.62 mm assault rifle found by US Marine Corps (USMC) Marines, 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment (1/8), while searching for insurgents and weapon caches during a Security and Stabilization Operation (SASO) conducted as part of Operation AL FAJR, which was an offensive operation to eradicate enemy insurgents in Fallujah, Al Anbar Province, Iraq, during Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. Location: FALLUJAH, AL ANBAR IRAQ (IRQ)

An Injured U.S. Marine and his squad from 3rd Battalion 5th Marines in Fallujah, Iraq 2004, relax before before continuing the fight.

The original finding aid described this photograph as: Subject Operation/Series: IRAQI FREEDOM Base: Fallujah State: Al Anbar Country: Iraq (IRQ) Scene Camera Operator: LCPL J.A Chaverri, USMC Release Status: Released to Public

The original finding aid described this photograph as: Subject Operation/Series: IRAQI FREEDOM Base: Fallujah State: Al Anbar Country: Iraq (IRQ) Scene Camera Operator: LCPL Jeremy W. Ferguson, USMC Release Status: Released to Public

A U.S. Army soldier watches out for insurgents during Operation al Fajr (New Dawn) in Fallujah, Iraq, on Nov. 8, 2004. The soldier is assigned to 1st Platoon, Apache Troop, 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division.

U.S. Army soldiers use a wall and a pillar as a shield while they tactically enter and clear a building in Fallujah, Iraq, during Operation al Fajr (New Dawn) on Nov. 9, 2004. The soldiers are assigned to 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division.

U.S. Army soldiers are poised to enter a building in Fallujah, Iraq, during Operation al Fajr (New Dawn) on Nov. 9, 2004. The soldiers are assigned to 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division.

A U.S. Army soldier watches for insurgents in Fallujah, Iraq, during Operation al Fajr (New Dawn) on Nov. 9, 2004. The soldier is assigned to 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division.