On March 20 2003, the invasion of Iraq officially began. Ostensibly, the purpose of the U.S. led attack was "to disarm Iraq of weapons of mass destruction, to end Saddam Hussein’s support for terrorism, and to free the Iraqi people." On April 9 2003, the Iraqi military was officially defeated, and Baghdad fell. Saddam Hussein, the country’s deposed leader, was captured by coalition forces in December.

Initially, the attack left the city of Fallujah relatively unscathed. However, the havoc wrought by escaped criminals and looters was considerable. When the US Army entered the city, they occupied the vacated Ba'ath Party headquarters. An incident at the end of month, in which US troops allegedly fired upon protesting civilians, gave rise to considerable tension. Over the following months, Fallujah’s powder keg of Sunni rebellion, foreign terrorism, and US insensitivity and misunderstanding continued to build.

It erupted in March 2004, when four American private military contractors were dragged from their car and murdered. These scenes were reported globally, and led to an abortive US operation to recapture command of Fallujah, followed by a dramatic siege of the city.

This documentary focuses on US attempts to wrestle control of Fallujah back from ‘uncontrollable elements’ of the Iraqi population. Specifically, we address ‘Operation Phantom Fury’, the November 2004 US campaign to recapture the city. The operation would result in the deaths of roughly 5,000 insurgent fighters and 92 American marines. Local sources claim that the civilian death toll was also horrifically high.

We address the technical facts behind the controversial, destructive and ferocious battle for Fallujah. We explain the complex strategy which enabled six armoured columns of US Marines and Infantrymen to push steadily through the city. We also reveal the weaponry that the insurgent forces had at their disposal, including AK-47 guns and rocket propelled grenades. We also outline how foreign terrorists were able to use improvised explosive devices, road obstacles and fortified buildings in order to face American forces.