The Battle of Mogadishu

The Battle of Mogadishu, occurring on October 3-4, 1993, was a military engagement in the Somali capital, involving U.S. forces and Somali militia loyal to warlord Mohamed Farah Aidid. Aiming to capture Aidid's top leaders, U.S. Rangers and Delta Force soldiers faced unexpected heavy resistance. The battle escalated to intense urban combat, leading to the downing of two Black Hawk helicopters and significant American casualties. The event highlighted the challenges of urban warfare and the complexities of humanitarian intervention, contributing to the U.S. decision to withdraw from Somalia and impacting its foreign policy for years to come.