Battle of Mogadishu (1993)

At a glance

Dates: From 1993.

What came before

Background Main articles: Somali Civil War , 1992 famine in Somalia , and United Nations Operation in Somalia I Throughout the 1980s, the Somali Rebellion escalated, eventually culminating in the full outbreak of the Somali Civil War and the collapse of the regime of President Siad Barre at the start of 1991. Food shortages began in mid-1990, the final year of Siad Barre's rule. [ 1 ] By early 1991, the formal economy collapsed as rebel groups toppled the Somali Democratic Republic . [ 2 ]

What happened

Aftermath After the battle, the bodies of several of the conflict's US casualties (Black Hawk Super 64 's crewmembers and their defenders, Delta Force soldiers MSG Gordon and SFC Shughart) were dragged through Mogadishu's streets by a large crowd of Somalis. [ 1 ] After being asked to justify the incident in an interview with American television,

The Battle of Mogadishu, also known as the Black Hawk Down Incident, was part of Operation Gothic Serpent. It was fought on 3–4 October 1993, in Mogadishu, Somalia, between forces of the United States—supported by UNOSOM II—against Somali National Alliance (SNA) fighters and other insurgents in south Mogadishu.