The Seizure of Falluja was part of the Samarrah Offensive.
The Samarrah Offensive was a military campaign launched by the British Empire against the Ottoman Empire in Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq) in 1917.
The offensive was led by British General Sir Frederick Stanley Maude, and its goal was to capture the city of Samarrah, which was an important railway junction and supply center for the Ottomans.
The offensive began on March 13, 1917, with a British raid on Turkish lines north of Baghdad. The raid was successful, and the British were able to force the Turks to retreat to the junction of the Tigris and Adhaim rivers.
On March 19, the British captured Falluja, a town that controlled the Euphrates River floodplains. This was a crucial victory for the British, as it ensured that they would not have to deal with flooding during their advance further north.
On April 18, the British attacked the Turkish position at Istabulat. The fighting was fierce, and the British were initially held back by the Turkish defenses. However, the British eventually broke through, and the Turks were forced to retreat to Samarrah.
The British entered Samarrah on April 23, 1917. The city was a major prize for the British, as it gave them control of the railway line to Baghdad and the Euphrates River. The Samarrah Offensive was a major victory for the British, and it helped to pave the way for their eventual victory in Mesopotamia.
The Samarrah Offensive was a costly victory for the British. The British suffered over 18,000 casualties during the offensive, including over 4,000 killed. The Ottomans also suffered heavy casualties, with over 10,000 killed.
The Samarrah Offensive was a significant turning point in the Mesopotamian campaign. The British victory at Samarrah led to the collapse of the Ottoman defenses in Mesopotamia, and the British were able to advance rapidly to Baghdad. The fall of Baghdad in March 1917 was a major blow to the Ottoman Empire, and it helped to bring the war in Mesopotamia to a close.