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How Battles Were Fought
Military Operations

Operation Gothic Serpent

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Operation Gothic Serpent was a United States military operation in Mogadishu, Somalia, from August to October 1993, deploying Task Force Ranger, including Army Rangers and Delta Force, to capture Somali warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid. The operation culminated in the Battle of Mogadishu on 3-4 October 1993, a raid that turned into a prolonged firefight after two Black Hawk helicopters were shot down; eighteen American soldiers were killed, and the ensuing casualties led to the operation's termination and a U.S. withdrawal from Somalia.

Facts
Operation Type
Special-forces operation (manhunt) 1
Start Date
1993-08-22 1
End Date
1993-10-04 1
Location
Mogadishu, Somalia 1
Participants
Task Force Ranger: 75th Ranger Regiment, Delta Force, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, Navy SEALs, opposed by Somali National Alliance militia 1
Objective
Capture Somali warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid, blamed for attacks on United Nations and American forces 1
Outcome
Aidid was not captured; the Battle of Mogadishu on 3-4 October 1993 killed 18 American soldiers and led to the operation's termination and U.S. withdrawal from Somalia 1
Sources
1. Wikipedia: Operation Gothic Serpent
WikipediaBackground section
Quote, Background section
led US president Bill Clinton to initiate Operation Gothic Serpent in order to capture Aidid
View the Source
1. Wikipedia: Operation Gothic Serpent
WikipediaIn Category: Military OperationsView the Source
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