Battle of Mogadishu (1993)
Mogadishu, Somalia
What happened
U.S. Army Rangers and Delta Force soldiers of Task Force Ranger, part of the UN mission in Somalia, fought militia fighters of the Somali National Alliance led by Mohamed Farrah Aidid. In 1992 the United States and the UN sent troops to Somalia in Operation Restore Hope to help deliver food, but the mission later turned into a conflict with the militia leader Mohamed Farrah Aidid. On 3 October 1993 American soldiers raided Mogadishu to capture two of his lieutenants, but Somali fighters shot down two Black Hawk helicopters, trapping the soldiers overnight. A rescue convoy of Malaysian, Pakistani and U.S. troops fought through the city to reach them.
Why it matters
Result: Somali National Alliance victory Somali National Alliance successfully force the Task Force Rangers and UNOSOM II to withdraw SNA captures TFR pilot; released by. Leader: Mohamed Farrah Aidid / Sharif Hassan Giumale. Why it matters: Eighteen American soldiers were killed, and Somali deaths are estimated at 133 to 700. The battle led the United States to pull back from the mission and made it wary of large interventions for years afterwards.
What came next
U.S. operations in Somalia ended, and all UN forces left Somalia by early 1995. The battle was later told in the book 'Black Hawk Down'.
Did you know?
The original mission in Somalia was called Operation Restore Hope.
Timeline
- December 1992Operation Restore Hope begins.
- May 1993Relations between the Somali militia and the UN operation UNOSOM II deteriorate.
- 3-4 October 1993The Battle of Mogadishu is fought.
- Early 1995The last UN forces leave Somalia.