The Last 600 Meters: Now Streaming on Amazon Prime Video
Experience History Through the Eyes of Those Who Made It
The Last 600 Meters: The Battles of Najaf and Fallujah—the acclaimed Iraq War documentary from director Michael Pack—is now available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.
This powerful, unflinching film offers an unprecedented look at the Iraq War’s most intense combat operations, revealing the untold stories of American service members who fought in the battles of Najaf and Fallujah—urban warfare so fierce it remains unmatched in the 21st century.
From PBS Premiere to International Streaming
Following its national broadcast on PBS, The Last 600 Meters reaches a worldwide audience beginning November 11, 2025 with its debut on Amazon Prime Video. This streaming release ensures viewers everywhere can experience the courage, sacrifice, and humanity of the soldiers who faced two of the most intense battles of the Iraq War—anytime, on demand. Other streaming platforms will be announced soon.
Watch the Film
Now streaming on Amazon Prime Video — The Last 600 Meters brings the battles of Najaf and Fallujah to life through the voices of those who were there.
Learn More
Visit our film page for additional context, historical resources, and related documentaries.
The Battles That Defined a War
In the spring and summer of 2004, two Iraqi cities became crucibles of urban warfare.
In March 2004, mobs in Fallujah killed four American contractors and hung them from a bridge. This sparked the first battle of Fallujah, when the Marines entered the city to take it back from insurgents, only to be told to pull back before completing the mission. Fallujah became a safe haven for insurgents, leading to beheadings of civilians.
Najaf, home to one of Shia Islam’s holiest sites, erupted when U.S. Marines and Army forces faced the Mahdi Army in street fighting that lasted for weeks. Outnumbered and battling through an ancient cemetery filled with concealed positions, the Marines engaged in hand-to-hand combat to secure hotels and buildings surrounding the Imam Ali Mosque.
Three months later, Marines again attempted to seize Fallujah, making it the site of the Iraq War’s bloodiest confrontation.
More than 12,000 U.S., British, and Iraqi troops entered the city in Operation Phantom Fury, beginning on November 8, 2004. The urban fighting was devastating—concealed sniper positions, booby-trapped buildings, and insurgents who turned every street into a battlefield. By the time the battle concluded in December, American forces had suffered over 1,000 casualties, with 151 killed in action.
A Film Unlike Any Other
The Last 600 Meters: The Battles of Najaf and Fallujah tells the story of these battles not through traditional narration, but through the powerful firsthand accounts of the Marines and soldiers who were there. Director Michael Pack, whose PBS documentary work has earned national recognition for over four decades, employs an approach that places viewers in the center of the action. The result is a visceral, authentic portrait of modern combat that honors the sacrifice and courage of those who served.
The film explores the strategic complexity of fighting in urban terrain where every building becomes a fortress and every decision carries life-or-death consequences. Through archival footage and veteran interviews, The Last 600 Meters captures the intensity of these operations while examining their lasting impact on military doctrine and the veterans who returned home forever changed.
- Former Secretary of Defense, General James Mattis
From the Filmmaker
“These battles represent some of the most challenging urban combat American forces have faced,” says director Michael Pack. “By letting the veterans tell their own stories, we preserve the historical record while honoring their service and sacrifice.”
Pack’s Manifold Productions has created award-winning documentaries including Created Equal: Clarence Thomas in His Own Words, which enjoyed successful theatrical release, and Rickover: The Birth of Nuclear Power, nationally broadcast on PBS.
Historical Significance
The battles of Najaf and Fallujah marked a turning point in the Iraq War. These operations demonstrated both the capabilities and challenges of American military power in counterinsurgency operations. The lessons learned from these engagements—about urban warfare, rules of engagement near sensitive sites, and the psychological toll of prolonged combat—continue to influence U.S. military training today.
In 2023, the U.S. Navy announced plans to name a future America-class landing helicopter assault ship the U.S.S. Fallujah to honor the Marines who fell in these battles, cementing their place in American military history.
