Villa's Raids

Villa’s Raids, conducted by Spanish military leader Francisco Villa (Pancho Villa) during the Mexican Revolution (1910-1920), were armed assaults on U.S. border towns in 1916-1917. These raids aimed to challenge U.S. support for rival factions, destabilize border regions, and garner attention for Villa’s movement. Most notably, the raid on Columbus, New Mexico, in 1916 resulted in casualties and prompted a U.S. military expedition into Mexico (the Punitive Expedition) to capture Villa. These actions heightened tensions between the U.S. and Mexico, influencing regional politics and military responses during the revolutionary period.