War and Military Atlas

How Battles Were Fought
Military Operations

Operation El Dorado Canyon

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Operation El Dorado Canyon was a United States air strike on 15 April 1986 against targets in Tripoli and Benghazi, Libya, in retaliation for the Libyan-sponsored bombing of a West Berlin discotheque that killed American servicemen. U.S. Air Force F-111 bombers and Navy carrier aircraft struck command centers, training camps and airfields; one F-111 was shot down, killing its two-man crew, while Libya suffered dozens of military and civilian casualties.

Facts
Operation Type
Retaliatory air strike 1
Start Date
1986-04-15 1
End Date
1986-04-15 1
Location
Tripoli and Benghazi, Libya 1
Participants
United States Air Force 48th Tactical Fighter Wing (F-111F), United States Navy carrier air wings from USS America and USS Coral Sea 1
Objective
Reduce Libya's capacity to support and train terrorists in retaliation for the bombing of a West Berlin nightclub 1
Outcome
Ground targets in Tripoli and Benghazi were destroyed; one U.S. F-111 was shot down with both crew killed; Libya suffered an estimated 40 to 60 casualties 1
Sources
1. Wikipedia: Operation El Dorado Canyon
WikipediaThe Raid section (quoting President Reagan)
Quote, The Raid section (quoting President Reagan)
Today, we have done what we had to do. If necessary, we shall do it again.
View the Source
1. Wikipedia: Operation El Dorado Canyon
WikipediaIn Category: Military OperationsView the Source
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