Why did the U.S. invade Mogadishu?
Battle of Mogadishu, the battle between U.S. forces and Somali militia fighters in Mogadishu, Somalia, The battle was part of the broader Somali Civil War that had begun in 1991. The United Nations had initially become involved to provide food aid to alleviate starvation in the south of the country, but in the months preceding…
Battle of Mogadishu, the battle between U.S. forces and Somali militia fighters in Mogadishu, Somalia, The battle was part of the broader Somali Civil War that had begun in 1991. The United Nations had initially become involved to provide food aid to alleviate starvation in the south of the country, but in the months preceding the battle, had shifted its mission to establishing democracy and restoring a central government.
Why did the U.S. invade Mogadishu?
The Battle of Mogadishu also known as the Black Hawk Down incident was part of Operation Gothic Serpent. This week marked the 20th anniversary of the Battle of Mogadishu, the deadliest firefight U.S. forces had faced since Vietnam.
The incident ultimately pushed the U.S. out of Somalia, leaving a haven for extremist groups. It continues to impact U.S. foreign policy today, from the rise of Islamists to the nation’s reaction when asked to send American troops into harm’s way.
Seven months after the deployment of U.S. troops to Somalia, on June 5, 1993, the U.N. would suffer the worst loss of its peacekeepers in decades when the Pakistani contingent was attacked while inspecting an SNA weapons storage site.
