Final answer:
The first U.S. land battle in North Africa was Operation Torch in November 1942, where American and British forces landed in French Morocco, signaling the start of the U.S. involvement in the European theater of World War II.
Step-by-step explanation:
The First Land Battle of the United States in North Africa
The first land battle that the United States took part in North Africa during World War II was Operation Torch. In November 1942, this marked the entry of American combat troops into the European war, with landings in French Morocco. The North African campaign was critical because the U.S. military, along with British forces, was not yet prepared for a direct assault on German-occupied France. Instead, Operation Torch aimed to land Allied troops on the continent to push east against German forces, starting with the Axis-controled areas in North Africa. The operation ended in May 1943 with the defeat and surrender of General Erwin Rommel's Afrika Korps.
The strategic importance of invading North Africa included gaining control of the Mediterranean for the Allies, easing the threat to British Egypt, and establishing a base for future operations against continental Europe, leading eventually to the invasion of Italy. The operation involved over 100,000 U.S. and British troops and was a turning point in the war, setting the stage for the subsequent Allied advances into Europe.