Final answer:
The First Battle of Fallujah, also known as Operation Vigilant Resolve, was a military operation in April 2004 wherein U.S. forces responded to the killing of four American contractors by Iraqi insurgents. It involved intense urban combat but was halted due to concerns about civilian casualties, resulting in insurgent control of Fallujah. The wider context includes Operation Iraqi Freedom, an ongoing insurgency, and significant financial costs.
Step-by-step explanation:
The event referred to as Operation Vigilant Resolve, or more commonly known as the First Battle of Fallujah, occurred in early April 2004. This operation was a response to the shocking ambush and murder of four American contractors in Fallujah by Iraqi insurgents. The ambush highlighted the strengthening insurgency against the U.S. occupation and the sectarian conflict within Iraq between the Shia and Sunni populations. The battle itself was characterized by intense urban combat, with U.S. Marines and insurgents engaging in house-to-house fighting. The U.S.-led coalition forces faced strong resistance, and the operation was eventually halted due to political pressure and concerns about civilian casualties, leaving insurgents in control of the city.
The broader context of the operation includes the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, Operation Iraqi Freedom, that started on March 20, 2003, without a formal declaration of war. The invasion led to the occupation of Iraq, the capture of President Saddam Hussein, and the rise of an insurgency against coalition forces. American hopes for a rapid transition towards a stable, democratic Iraqi government were frustrated by the continuous violent resistance, which included the theft and smuggling of weapons as well as the use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs). The war in Iraq also had a significant financial cost, estimated to approach $1.7 trillion by 2013.