Battle of Abu Ghraib

Battle of Abu Ghraib
Part of Iraqi insurgency
Damage done to the Abu Ghraib prison during the 2 April 2005 attack.
Date April 2, 2005 Location Abu Ghraib, Iraq Result Successful American defense of the Abu Ghraib facility
Belligerents
United States	Iraqi insurgents: Al Qaeda in Iraq
Commanders and leaders
	Ammar Hamza Zubaidi
Casualties and losses
2 killed and over 44 wounded in action	70 killed (American estimate)

Iraqi insurgents:

The Battle of Abu Ghraib was an April 2, 2005 attack on United States forces at Abu Ghraib prison, which consisted of heavy mortar and rocket fire, under which armed insurgents attacked with grenades, small arms, and two vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices (VBIED). The U.S. Military's munitions ran so low that orders to fix bayonets were given in preparation for hand-to-hand fighting.

Because of the earlier Abu Ghraib torture and prisoner abuse, the prison was despised by the insurgents.

Violence was at a low point in the later half of 2004. One of the insurgent groups making attacks was Al-Qaeda in Iraq, which was primarily attacking with suicide bombers and car bombs.

An internet posting by Zarqawi in December 2004 stated that the prison was a target for attack.

At approximately 7:06 p.m. (Baghdad Time) on April 2, 2005,insurgents launched an assault on the U.S. military facility and internment camp at Abu Ghraib, Iraq.

The initial thrust of the attack consisted of multiple rockets and mortars aimed at every area of the FOB. These were quickly followed by a vehicle-borne IED (VBIED) attacking the northwest section of the outer wall perimeter. This VBIED detonated approximately 100 meters from the wall and was unsuccessful in creating a breach. Observers noted the attack was well-organized and professional, and, due to the broad-daylight preparations, it was also called audacious and brazen. This was the first time that Al-Qaeda in Iraq had directly assaulted the US military, as opposed to the previous use of car bombs. Soldiers present stated that the insurgents had so much firepower that it seemed that over 300 people were attacking.

...
Wikipedia