The Battle of Abu Ghraib was a battle between Iraqi Mujahideen and United States forces at Abu Ghraib prison on April 2, 2005.
Mujahideen linked to Al-Qaeda in Iraq launched a surprise attack on the American section of Abu Ghraib prison, known as Camp Redemption, by firing heavy mortars and rockets at the facility, and then assaulting with small arms, grenades, and vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices. The attempted siege was successfully repelled by the US forces after four hours, resulting in over 40 wounded in action, and an estimate 70 insurgents were killed.
Background
Abu Ghraib prison was a notorious maximum-security prison located in Abu Ghraib, Iraq, west of Baghdad, known for its use by Saddam Hussein to hold political prisoners who were subject to torture and extrajudicial killing. It was closed by Saddam in 2002, but following his overthrow in the Invasion of Iraq a section of the prison was reopened by the United States, which became an internment camp known as Camp Redemption. Despite Abu Ghraib prison being a fortified stronghold for US forces in the Baghdad area, the scandal made it a prime target for Iraqi insurgents.
By the later half of 2004, violence in Iraq was at a low point, and one of the main insurgent groups making attacks, Al-Qaeda in Iraq, was primarily attacking with suicide bombers and car bombs. An internet posting by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in December 2004 stated that Abu Ghraib prison was a target for attack.
Assault
At approximately 7:06 p.m. (UTC+3) on April 2, 2005, a large group of insurgents launched an attack on Camp Redemption, with initial thrust of the attack consisting of multiple rockets and mortars aimed at every area of the US facility. The barrage was quickly followed by a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) attacking the northwest section of the outer wall perimeter, but 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. The attack surprised the US forces as this was the first time that Al-Qaeda in Iraq had directly assaulted the US military, and soldiers present stated that the insurgents had so much firepower that it seemed that over 300 people were attacking.
The US Marine Corps' Echo Battery 2nd Battalion, 10th Marines, stationed at Abu Ghraib was tasked with perimeter defense of Camp Redemption, engaging the insurgents from the outer wall defensive platforms and managing to slow the momentum of the assault. The main effort of the attack was directed at Tower 4, an outer watchtower located at the southeast corner of the facility, and was subjected to a concerted push by the insurgents. The Marines in the tower received heavy small arms fire and multiple rocket propelled grenades, and several were wounded when hand grenades were thrown from the base of the tower. Two soldiers positioned themselves at the only place the insurgents could enter the tower by rappelling down the wall. Ammunition for the .50 cal machine gun in Tower 4 ran so low that its operators were given orders to fix bayonets in preparation for possible hand-to-hand fighting if insurgents breached into the tower. The Marines evacuated their wounded, including a severely wounded US Navy Corpsman, reinforcing the tower and holding back the insurgents. Meanwhile, a second smaller attack on the other side of the base was used as a feint to distract from the main attack. The prison's defenders were reinforced by the 119th Field Artillery Regiment of the Michigan Army National Guard, the 623rd Field Artillery Regiment of the Kentucky Army National Guard, the 524th Military Intelligence Battalion, the 111th Field Artillery of the Virginia National Guard, 306th Military Police Battalion, the United States Army Reserve, the 732nd Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron of the US Air Force, and the 115th Combat Support Hospital. These soldiers resupplied ammunition, evacuated casualties, resupplied water to entrenched soldiers, and held various defensive positions throughout the base.