2004: Fallujah, Najaf, and Sovereignty

Spring: two uprisings

On March 31, 2004, four American contractors were killed and their bodies mutilated in Fallujah. On April 4 U.S. Marines launched Operation Vigilant Resolve, the first battle for Fallujah, which ended May 1 with control of the city handed to a local Iraqi force. The same week, Shia militia loyal to Muqtada al-Sadr rose up in Baghdad's Sadr City and across the south. See Fallujah, 2004.

June: sovereignty

On June 28, 2004, the Coalition Provisional Authority transferred sovereignty to the Iraqi Interim Government. The Iraqi Governance campaign began the next day.

August: Najaf

From August 5 to 27, U.S. Marines and soldiers fought the Mahdi Army in Najaf, around the Imam Ali Shrine, one of the holiest sites in Shia Islam. The battle ended with an agreement brokered by Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani. See Najaf.

November: Fallujah again

On November 7, U.S. and Iraqi forces, with British support, began Operation Phantom Fury, also known as Operation al-Fajr, the second battle for Fallujah. It became the heaviest urban combat American forces had fought since Hue in 1968. On November 10, Staff Sgt. David Bellavia's actions in the city later earned him the Medal of Honor.

November 29: a medal for the war

President Bush established the Iraq Campaign Medal by executive order on November 29, 2004.