In Iraq, Fallujah Falls to Al Qaeda-Affiliated Militants

In Iraq, Militants Take the City of Fallujah

January 3, 2014: In Iraq, forces affiliated with Al-Qaeda established control of the city of Fallujah, a city that U.S. forces struggled to control in 2004, and a scene of bloody fighting during that period.

In the wake of the U.S. withdrawal from Iraq in 2011, a high degree of sectarian violence (Sunni versus Shiite) returned in 2013. By the start of 2014, it was unclear if the sectarian struggle constituted a full-blown civil war.


"In Fallujah, where Marines fought the bloodiest battle of the Iraq war in 2004, the militants appeared to have the upper hand, underscoring the extent to which the Iraqi security forces have struggled to sustain the gains made by U.S. troops before they withdrew in December 2011."

---Liz Sly, Washington Post 


In Iraq, Militants Take Control of the City of Fallujah

"U.S. intelligence officials said Friday the situation in western Iraq was 'extremely dire' after radical Sunni forces linked with al Qaeda raised their flag in the town of Fallujah - site of two of the bloodiest battles during the Iraq war - and gained control of the city."

---Andrea Mitchell and Courtney Kube, NBC News

NBC News: Fallujah Falls