U.S. Forces Storm Fallujah
Monday, November 08, 2004

NEAR FALLUJAH, Iraq — U.S. and Iraqi troops stormed Fallujah (search) on Monday as part of Operation Phantom Fury (search) — an effort to rout out Sunni Muslim guerrillas controlling the city and other towns north and west of Baghdad ahead of Iraq's January elections.

Thousands of U.S. Marines and Army troops stormed two Fallujah neighborhoods where insurgents were considered at their strongest. The troops, backed by the 1st Cavalry Division's tanks and armor, swarmed into the city's northwestern Jolan district, the warren-like historic heart of Fallujah.

At the same time, some 4,000 troops, also supported by the 1st Cavalry Division, went into the northeastern Askari district.

Reuters reported that witnesses said several U.S. Marine tanks also entered the city.

The prelude to the assault began just north of the city, where Marine Regimental Combat Team 1 — more than 4,000 Marines and Army troops, along with Iraqi allies — had been massed Sunday night.

A military spokesman estimated that 42 insurgents were killed across Fallujah in the opening round of attacks.

FOX News' Greg Palkot, embedded with the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, said Monday that the unit was overlooking the northwest corner of Fallujah, where a series of tanks had been pounding positions inside the city for two hours.


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Marines Rock!!
Semper Fi