The city of Fallujah, Iraq will long be associated with some of the worst violence and brutality of the Iraq war. The battles to retake the city from insurgent fighters in 2004 have already indelibly carved its name into the historic annals of the U.S. military and occupy a revered place in the storied history of the United States Marine Corps. Initially occupied by U.S. forces in 2003, it eventually served as the headquarters for numerous insurgent groups operating west of Baghdad, including al-Qaeda in Iraq and its leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, until forcibly retaken at the end of 2004. On

Timeline of key events in Fallujah , Iraq -- The stench of death (Fallujah 2004-2006) -- The city of mosques -- The Anbar Awakening -- "Are we losing Fallujah ?" -- Bringing democracy to Iraq -- Operation Alljah -- The Fallujah awakening -- The city awakens -- The swarm and the surge -- A sheik returns and another departs -- The deluge -- Voice of the people.