The Battle of Iwo Jima was a pivotal conflict of World War II, fought between the United States and the Empire of Japan from February 19 to March 26, 1945. Key Information: - Objective: The U.S. sought to capture the island of Iwo Jima to use its airfields as bases for fighter escorts and emergency landings for bombers attacking Japan’s mainland. ​ - Combatants: Around 110,000 U.S. Marines and Navy personnel faced roughly 21,000 Japanese troops, who had fortified the island with tunnels, bunkers