Operation Phantom Fury: The Turning Point of the Iraq War

[@warographics643]

Thanks to Keeps for sponsoring this video! Head to keeps.com/SIMON to get a special offer.

[@raptorhunter5549]

Keeping up with your schedule is hard lol love your work tho

[@nathanhayes2]

😂😂 too true!

[@chrisgreener5599]

My cousin was a Marine killed in operation phantom fury, but I was too young to enlist prior to the start of the campaign. Thank you for this overview.

[@aymonfoxc1442]

My condolences.

[@alvinbonny1562]

Did you end up enlisting or change your mind ?

[@theawesomeman9821]

Sorry for your loss

[@shitboyshah8932]

Thank God you didnt .. would be dead for a lie and scam ..

[@surfdocer103]

Former Marine Corpsman . It hurts hard.

[@JamesFromTexas]

I remember when we had 128(ish) Iraqi police snipers vanished a day after graduation. They were US trained and equipped. All their gear disappeared with them. Any time we found American gear we had to call in and, if there was time, wait for investigators to come.

[@cadillacslim5284]

What was outcome of investigations?

[@antonverheyen9170]

the entire group was in on it?

[@JamesFromTexas]

@@cadillacslim5284 no idea, I was just a combat engineer.

[@JamesFromTexas]

@@antonverheyen9170 that's what the theory was. No idea what happened overall though, I was just a combat engineer.

[@tannerdenny5430]

​@@JamesFromTexasthat's right as a soldier all you know is what's on the net and what you see and hear through the grapevine. The men have always been kept in the dark

[@Mr-or9pn]

I have been fascinated with the battles of fallujah since i was 12 years old, when they happened. Ive studied it endlessly, and for me this video is the best hands down retelling of the second battle of fallujah. It gets almost everything right and includes so many things often left out or glossed over by other sources or retellings.

[@dartdude4084]

Good retelling for sure. I was in ramadi shortly after falujah

[@Dixie_N0rmis]

Long live Simon. The patron saint of new content 🎉😂❤

[@B.404M]

Cheerleader..

[@cwj2733]

@@B.404Mand yet here you are.

[@PissbucketRoyale]

Did he pass away?

[@Dixie_N0rmis]

@@PissbucketRoyale he can't, he will live forever in new content so different rules apply to him

[@B.404M]

@@cwj2733 and there are you

[@refowen]

2nd Lt Blecksmith…was killed there 11 November clearing houses. My sister graduated HS with him. 😢

[@FansFre-w9l]

he should have never went overseas to kill people who did nothing to him

[@ignitionfrn2223]

1:00 - Chapter 1 - Preface & ambush 2:50 - Mid roll ads 4:20 - Back to the video 9:20 - Chapter 2 - Conditions of battle 13:30 - Chapter 3 - The battle 18:30 - Chapter 4 - Aftermath

[@gregpalmer610]

That’s awesome that you mentioned the Seabees. Hardly anyone knows about us and what we did in Iraq and Afghanistan.

[@Jayjay-qe6um]

Six Days in Fallujah, span of the six bloodiest days in the battle for Fallujah. It was dropped by Konami for the controversy surrounding it and remained in limbo until 2021. The restarted game was announced in 2021 with publishing of Victura and developed by Highwire Games. Early access release was in June 2023, and follows 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines (3/1) as they the Iraqi insurgency in the city of Fallujah, Iraq.

[@03BangBang]

The Horno Marines

[@multiyapples]

Rest in peace to those that passed away.

[@BryanW-bp3le]

To all my brothers who made the ultimate sacrifice during this time, thank you. You are not forgotten by some of us.

[@Andy-te1mw]

Well said brother

[@Potatismos33]

Yes I agree we should never forget the innocent civilians 😢

[@kiwi_comanche]

We will remember Them.

[@Dennis-nc3vw]

@@Potatismos33 Let us never forget that about 88% of innocent civilians in Iraq were killed by "insurgents, militia, and terrorists" according to John Sloboda of Iraq Body Count. Now those insurgents and their allies are portrayed as people who were "just defending their country". No event has been more distorted in human history to support an agenda of hate (anti-Americanism) than the Iraq War.

[@Dennis-nc3vw]

@@Potatismos33 American troops were there to kill and capture the people who killed the vast majority of those innocent civilians.

[@navyboy0785]

Deployed twice to Fallujah. AFTER Operation Phantom Fury. Those men are legends and warriors.

[@pdst3]

Thank you for your service sir

[@mr.smithsgovermentclass4556]

I was part of this. I was stationed in Camp Korean Village near AR Rutba. Iraq from Aug 2004 to May 2005. We didn't see the craziness of Falluja, but sh1t was wild where we were at.

[@lomakheran469]

Thank you for your service

[@PositionTheory]

The irony of Simon being sponsored by a hair loss company is pretty funny to me 😂

[@thelordofcringe]

In an entire month of house to house fighting, only 800 civilians were killed in a city of tens of thousands. This is the single lowest civilian casualty rate in the entire history of urban warefare. Frankly, its the single most astounding and important fact to know about the entire battle. Its absolutely stunning.

[@alfiecollier2484]

I wouldn’t believe any statistics made by anyone when it comes to Iraq mate. That whole war was a needless shit show based on lies to begin with, why would the middle or the end be any different

[@Hathur]

Because over 300,000 civilians were told to evacuate a month before the battle by the Americans, drastically reducing the number of dead civilians. Had they not evacuated, the death toll of civilians would easily be in the tens of thousands or higher. It's one of the few good / decent things America did during whole travesty of the "war on terror".

[@dadrising6464]

Just makes the numbers even less believable...

[@ljt3084]

That civilian body count is not reflected by the international war graves commission. They list it as 11x higher.

[@Barneys69Ruiz]

Also only 95 American soldiers died that’s Also really good numbers but Rest In Peace and thank you for your service

[@stooge389]

Bush declaring Mission Accomplished so Early reminds me of Reagan invading Grenada for National Security reasons, lol.

[@hestikakala3027]

Bush referring to Mission Accomplished was probably about securing the oil wells.

[@davidcraft4636]

It was the Aircraft Carrier that had the banner. Major combat operations had ended at that time only to flare up the following year.

[@jonathanramos8414]

​@@hestikakala3027 i think its ironic that Iraq really did become a hotbed for terrorism and fundamentalism after Saddam was ousted lol

[@massman3698]

I’d like to see you do a video on the Algerian Civil War. Or maybe you could put it on Into the Shadows considering how messed up it was

[@Amehdion]

It's great how we blame the uniformed soldiers, who actually tried to clear the city of civilians, for civilian deaths instead of the insurgents using them as human shields.

[@pinheadlarry1327]

The local militias legitimately don’t care about civilians, doesn’t matter which middle eastern country you go to

[@mangosaurusrex3416]

Blame Bush and Cheney instead.

[@abulebube1239]

I mean, the guys dropping 155mm shells in the city were those same uniformed soldiers.

[@tobeforgottenisworsethande8995]

Oh whatever

[@stooge389]

Important to note: despite the city of Fallujah being practically razed to the ground, only 800 civilians died total in the month of fighting.

[@Hathur]

Because over 300,000 civilians were told to evacuate a month before the battle by the Americans, drastically reducing the number of dead civilians. Had they not evacuated, the death toll of civilians would easily be in the tens of thousands or higher.

[@jpmountaingaming5681]

@@HathurAnd people still ckaim the US doesn’t care about civilians. It annoys me that people don’t see that we do care.

[@mrs8171]

"Civilians".....right......

[@philipmartin9035]

Don't think you've done a video just for the troubles in northern ireland (where I'm from) but I'd love a video about that. Would be very interested.

[@Dixie_N0rmis]

Him being an Englishman I could see why he wouldn't want to say anything but I agree it would be interesting.

[@philipmartin9035]

@@Dixie_N0rmis I get what you mean but as myself I'm a protestant living in a town just outside Belfast, so it's a very tough issue to wrap my head round haha.

[@badluck5647]

The algorithm hates the Troubles.

[@badgersgetabadname]

@@philipmartin9035 Howaya. I`m in Fermanagh studying in Queens. Simon has covered crimes against humanity carried out by the Empire in the past so can`t see why not. I dislike the term "troubles" it was civil war and it was fucking awful. Fingers crossed Stormont opening up again means a future.

[@bradlevantis913]

I read this comment and thought “I am sure he has at some point” but I don’t see it It might have been in “Into the Shadows” But yes it would be a good one to cover

[@Gareth769]

thanks for the content - you might want to change that image right after 'blackwater' reference though @4:55

[@everydayhero5076]

II didn't notice that BWHAHAHAHAHA!

[@philipanderson1105]

I think he only had 2 pictures from the battle. This guy sucks

[@Gareth769]

It’s what happens when the channel/video editors let AI choose the pics i guess ?

[@GaneshMushika]

And @9:40.

[@coloradodrives7784]

@@philipanderson1105most of it I doubt would be allowed on KZbin. This guys channels are some of the top tier content on KZbin.

[@Darumaster]

I wonder how much time and effort goes into coming up with these cool operation names

[@rickflash448]

Speaking of Blackwater, could you do a video on The Nisour Square massacre? Feel like it's a good topic to cover after this one.

[@veryconcernedbread]

I genuinely doubt they're gonna be able to do that considering every history channel i saw who tried to talk about it got either demonetized or straight up channel striked whenever that particular incident gets anything more than a passing mention.

[@dpelpal]

The US Marines scored a victory that will be remembered for near perfect techincal assault. Whether you support the US Coalition or not, it was a mesmerizingly well fought battle and Americans proved their absolute military superiority.

[@tacc529]

that never happened

[@ProbablyNotLegit]

I think that would be an Into The Shadows episode

[@jeez5735]

Not really relevant to the massacre?? This is when some blackwater guys shot up at city​@@dpelpal

[@Natkonichiwa]

Hey for those interested and for those who want a reverent take (from the side of the US) on the battle there is a game called Six Days in Fallujah that does a good job of putting you in the boots of a marine clearing buildings within the city. Incredibly difficult and brutal game.

[@MilStdNZ]

Did you mean "Royal" not "Raw" in the reference to the Black Watch in the infographic?

[@keeperofsecretsq-z1b]

votre emission rtait tres instructive et a jour. Bon travail, Simon. {q}

[@P90XGetRipped]

If you want to hear a great first hand account of the battle of Fallujah, go listen to Cody Alford’s interview on the Shawn Ryan Show. He’s a great story teller and he paints a vivid picture of how brutal the battle was.

[@jh456-4]

Who is pulling the archival pics? Around 9:41 "support fighter" is something from the 50s.

[@digdugsmug]

Thank you for pointing this out! I noticed too and had to do a double take, what the heck plane is that even??

[@jbrone1241]

I saw your keeps commercial but I'm more interested in your beard would love to hear what you do to maintain it and make it look nice. I sadly look like I should sit outside with a cup of I don't go to a barber regularly.

[@jessiebedlam6094]

I remember that city. Routes mobile & Michigan and many nights operating out of the train station.

[@bracko2k]

Keep it up Simon

[@RetreatHell]

Marine Corps Sgt Byron Norwood, KIA 11/13/2004 Fallujah, Iraq, in the “Hell House”... Fair winds and following seas, Brother.

[@bandit5875]

This is why we consider cities and other urban areas secondary; the U.S. military doctrine now encourages the idea of sweeping past a city, securing the rear (side closest to enemy frontline), cutting off their reinforcements, and THEN pushing through the city with a second wave while the bulk of the force holds the flanks, if entirely necessary. Most urban environments are entirely avoided because of what happened in Fallujah.

[@arwing20]

Yeah but you are never always going to have the manpower to surround a city and continue the push further into enemy territory. If you bypass it you just leave an enemy strongpoint to your rear where they can strike out whenever they please if you can't effectively surround it, even the Russians knew this in Ukraine. They took a lot of casualties but they captured cities like Mariupol because they couldn't afford to leave such a large settlement untouched.

[@RK-cj4oc]

​@@arwing20Mariupol is a wrong example. As it was taken just as US doctrine describes. Melitopol and Kherson is a better example. As it was directly assaulted by russian units and taken.

[@nigelyorkshiremanwadeley6263]

I need to ask, who is digging up the photos for this video because some of them are a little out of date....

[@camrennik9512]

My cousin was over in Iraq at Fallujah. After many whiskeys he told me about this situation where he had to shoot a kid. I was like dang man.

[@fernando2283]

RPG Stands for "Ruchnoy Protivotankovyy Granatomot", 'Handheld Anti-Tank Grenade-launcher'

[@mrmaxcarter2306]

Rocket propelled grenade

[@djsonicc]

And here we are 20 yrs later...

[@That1Brandon]

NEXT VIDEO IDEA: Fact check Putins historical claims during his interview with Tucker Carlson

[@jedricbarlow3940]

I will die before watching a sponsored segment

[@phettywappharmaceuticalsll8842]

Bro yall killing me …KZbin red like $10 a month

[@RK-cj4oc]

KZbin is free bro.as it should always be.​@@phettywappharmaceuticalsll8842

[@anthonymcmxcviii6549]

What's up with some of the images used in the video? Some of them had nothing to do with what Simon was talking about. Simon: Introduces Blackwater PMC Image: African Mercenaries (?) not even from Blackwater

[@ALLMINDmercenarysupportsystem]

Also has an F16 when talking about fighters (as in people who fight) when talking about people of various countries coming to Iraq.

[@hachimaru295]

including the errors on subtitles its clear the team that puts it together hasn't got a proofer

[@dawnsredemptiongaming5567]

No shoe Simon in the keeps ad I’m here for it all

[@shonenjumpmagneto]

From *Operation Nimrod* to *Operation Phantom Fury.* I see a *Warographics "Operations" Playlist* in the making.

[@FancyPantsFiles]

Major props to sponsor blocking apps on browsers making things so much easier! :D Also 9:43. Nice period accurate picture there hahaha

[@stooge389]

Did you already do the first and third battles of Fallujah? If not I'd appreciate if you could work them into your upcoming schedule!

[@robertmosher7418]

Only 800 civilians? With the fighting that went on that's not a lot. Al Zaquari was hunted by every unit in Iraq the entire time I was there and my Battalion commander thought we had killed him in a raid at one point but it was one of his body doubles. That commander is now the Central Command Commander, Micheal "the gorilla" Kurrilla. Great man, great leader. Gimme two and two.

[@rabidjellybadger]

Is everyone here dyslexic? It's Zarqawi.

[@Hathur]

Because over 300,000 civilians were told to evacuate a month before the battle by the Americans, drastically reducing the number of dead civilians. Had they not evacuated, the death toll of civilians would easily be in the tens of thousands or higher.

[@dmw7923]

@@rabidjellybadgerfucking hell ahaha, i thought i was the only one.

[@WagJesTerI3]

I was deployed there as a Seabee before and during this operation. I'm glad the Seabee's were known in this... My memories are fragmented and spotty, timelines jumbled... but I think I'll make an attempt to put stuff into stories... Explain what it's like there as a Seabee. Think I'll start a podcast or something...iono

[@Moonerang]

As a kid I wanted nothing more than to be a solider once I was 18, but a broken collar bone caused me to hold off for a few years after graduation in '07. By then I was already part of the workforce with bills. I always think about the brotherhood and friends I missed out on, but I never agreed with the war in the middle east at the time. Honestly that broken collar bone probably saved my life, I most likely would've gotten killed or changed for life in a negative way.

[@Street.Hermit]

Brother, great video! I absolutely adore your work and will even rewatch episodes. It would be great to see you cover my last deployment with 3rd BN 5th Marines regiment or Darkhorse. It was a very explosive and active area of operations and ended up being the Marines bloodiest deployment. Look into 2010 3/5 Marines Sangin Afghanistan

[@ElCapitanJones]

I love that when he says that the government lied about the weapons of mass destruction he immediately cuts to the sponsor ad. 🤣

[@ProbablyNotLegit]

We need a video on the battle of Fallujah

[@nic1457]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/fZCTmWugfpVja7ssi=4Q036BvbUUUTVzTU

[@benkelly7499]

That’s funny that this video came out right after it was mentioned in passing in a book I read

[@woahhbro2906]

The decision to disband the military was such a bad idea. I don't see how a large insurgency could form without that happening.

[@johnnyfamous]

Sweet now do Ramadi

[@PointerPapa]

This guy knows, 2005 was something else. The amount of attacks in the city in the lead of to that election is something I hope that the US never experiences no matter how horrendously divided we become by politics.

[@robertmosher7418]

I was there at this time. I was in Mosul at that time. Most of the insurgents the Marines ran out of Falutia ended up fighting us up north.

[@phettywappharmaceuticalsll8842]

You were there but can’t spell fallujah?

[@pdst3]

Thank you for your service sir

[@craigstoner2632]

Those 2 things arent even close to being related 😂 and soldiers arent trained in correct spelling, theyre train in war fighting. That's like saying all dyslexics are liars as they make spelling errors. I hope this helps you get past your cognitive stumbling block 😊​@phettywappharmaceuticalsll8842

[@hazonku]

Clearly a Marine.@@phettywappharmaceuticalsll8842

[@DannyHeywood]

I know of the 1st Marine that was a casualty there. He was shot in the head but lived.

[@te10183]

You also failed to mention how the insurgents forced some civilians to stay in the city to use them as human shields while they ambushed us clearing houses. Or after the main battle but with gunfire still going on, the insurgents would seek aid only to go out and fight us the next day.

[@owenthomas1464]

10:10 The Raw Regiment of Scotland, huh? 😂

[@herewasbob7650]

Who picked these images... black water? Marine jets?

[@bloodking73]

It's an ai video

[@NATO-SOCOM]

Well done whistle boy, well done 👏🏻

[@cassiesabol6099]

thought the sponsor today was Vessi because he wasn’t wearing shoes….. nice socks, simon 😂

[@GalenLarson-e1e]

Less than 30 seconds in and you get Zarqawi's name wrong.

[@danielsantiagourtado3430]

Love your content 😊😊😊

[@EAcapuccino]

Simon you did tanks, guns How about a long episode about with Warships or Aircraft? How they evolved over not only decades, but centuries! (Ships for that latter part) 😊

[@19kilo40]

Great video! I'm sure everybody says this. I was actually there. I was in 263 armor battalion 1st infantry division. The only thing I didn't like is when you talk about tanks you're showing some who knows what country Old Russian tanks you couldn't find any pictures of American Abram tanks?

[@ab5olut3zero95]

263rd AR? Was that an Active or Guard unit? I started my career in B-263AR, later reflagged as D-1-118CAB SCARNG.

[@Schneids1216]

Thank you so much! You have really made my life better

[@sephuris5555]

Left out the ROE change in the US military implemented in Fallujah, if they touch a weapon they can get some.

[@thejoshandcharles1]

I might be wrong, but I think the Iraqis wanted the Americans for war crimes after Falloujah because they thought all the head shots were executions. Instead, it was the new at the time ACOG scope that just dominated.

[@MaliVal]

the entire war was a war crime perpetrated by the United States to be fair

[@maniac117]

It’s crazy to think that the US considers 95 deaths to be “heavy casualties” after dismantling a government and rooting out brutally entrenched resistances.

[@van3158]

It was an intense time to be in the Anbar province, end of 03 to the end of 04. How did the rest of you spend your 22nd birthday?

[@philipanderson1105]

Nice summer vacation south of Garmsir district

[@animeshsrivastava2844]

You should do a case study on the Pakistani army. You will be surprised to know that such an army does also exist

[@surfdocer103]

6000 would be a large number, but nothing compared to other wars.

[@danlemke6407]

A little bias at work here. Not saying that what took place was right, as any wanton killing seems unwarranted, but to suggest most of the insurgents or bad guys weren't even there is... Let's say unkind to those that died fighting this battle. I love your videos and you oft surprise me on your bias, which makes me wonder how many writers you lend your talented voice to. I also would like to know what that small, twin boom, aircraft with the belly gun, was. believe tail number was 320, with some Arabic lettering. Anywho, thank you for another fine, thought provoking video.

[@nicklrrueckert]

This shit fired me up

[@reggiefurlow1]

If Toyota would stop making light pickup trucks they wouldn't have any vehicles

[@CC-gg4oj]

Simon lost his Vessi shoes in the Keeps add...

[@vt7091]

Yeah it sucks but at the same time they shouldn't bite the hand that is trying to help them

[@justdeaf-ry6bn]

I think when the USA went in Iraq the 2nd time was a mistake at that time. But what's done is done. With billions to trillions of tax dollars went down the drain and I don't think Iraq has improved much since then. Again, I could be wrong

[@economiccrisis9267]

Iraq is an Iranian puppet now instead of an American one.

[@m.c.martin]

Technically that was the first time went went to Iraq. The “first time” was when we went to liberate Kuwait from Iraq and never truly pushed into Iraqi Territory when they retreated

[@davidcraft4636]

@@m.c.martinWe had to invade Southern Iraqs empty deserts during the Gulf War.

[@UnknownOps]

Damn, the US used good strategies when it came to fighting their battles compared to the Russians, seriously, I'm still shocked by the fact that they failed this badly, even after 2 years, I still can't come into terms with it.

[@maximilianodelrio]

Because in Fallujah they fought insurgents they outnumbered 10 to 1, Ukraine v Russia is a conventional, symmetrical war where numbers have more than often been on Ukraine's side, and Russia allocated way too few resources for it's initial invasion, which led to it stalling and becoming the war of attrition we have today

[@nsbat755]

That A-4 Skyhawk should not be there. Min. 2:13.

[@joegagnon2268]

Keeps but it looks like you lost to the hair insurgency

[@donvillejames761]

War is a game that older men play with younger men’s lives :/ *got this quote from somewhere idk tho

[@celticlofts]

I love hearing some English dude telling us what we got right and what we got wrong in the war. A country that has left a trail of chaos everywhere they've ever gone and who eventually got their ass kicked out of everywhere they've gone.

[@lukemcgahern2357]

Sooo…. We’ve got experience enough to call you out then.

[@gavinpower2020]

Hey simon do you apply wax/polish to your head?

[@michaelsinger4638]

Urban combat is a special kind of nightmare.

[@nic1457]

It's to bad you missed certain facts, with the use of a miclic to open a entry point for the u.s army tanks to enter the city, as well as the use of white phosphorus. The 1st day of the assault was non stop artillery and gun fire, the night sky was filled with tracer fire and burning sky's.

[@iVETAnsolini]

Simon, it is not to late to put some shoes on

[@HyBr1dRaNg3r]

I don’t know if it should be on this channel, but maybe look into what inspired the movie Lone Survivor?🤔It’s a good enough story to make a movie about it, so…..

[@jon9021]

“Raw Regiment of Scotland?”…oops.

[@up6044]

Can you do your own personal reaction to Tucker and Putin interview

[@russianarkadiy]

Fighters (shows f15s) came from all corners to fight in Faludja!)

[@hooks4638]

What is with that plane @9:41 ? 😆

[@lolroflroflcakes]

De Havilland Vampire.

[@bloodking73]

I think this is an ai video, it's just grabbing random pictures

[@auroradefae]

This has been out for seven hours, I couldn't post sooner because of work, but a thought for a series/larger video that would be interesting: how would it affect the world if America (the military side or the CIA side) stopped intervening everywhere?

[@montevallomustang]

We already know what would happen because it happened 85 years ago.

[@ShadowsFormer]

I'm sorry, but the quality of this edit is really trash compared to most of Simon's videos. This seems like it was a random after thought of an "oh shit I have an assignment due."

[@Evolutionrlfc]

Early gang 💪🏽

[@seanmarshall5463]

Yeah, white phosphorus is awful stuff. Not only does it spontaneously ignite in air, it’s also extremely poisonous.

[@sarameyrick7182]

My only complaint is, Simon needs to bring his stuff out faster, especially on his decoding the unknown and of course, Casual Criminalist lol , simply, we just can't get enough ❤❤❤❤❤

[@finnianfitzsimons623]

Can you do a video on the logistics / story of how the USA invaded Afghanistan

[@JamesMorrison1974]

3/5 GET SOME!

[@brocephus1107]

I need to know the Google search for that image of Blackwater contractors. EDIT: They fixed it

[@SinkLikeStone]

One would fight with everything they have if someone comes to one’s country, for whatever the justified or unjustified reason. For whom there are thinking that the US is fighting a just war.

[@hazzardalsohazzard2624]

It's hard to say it wasn't a just war when you look at Saddam's history of human rights abuses. He loved Hitler and Stalin.

[@Dennis-nc3vw]

No. If Biden declared himself autocrat for life and his son his heir, and someone invaded America with the promise of restoring our elections, I wouldn't even consider joining an insurgency.