A U.S. military mission to capture faction leader Mohamed Farrah Aidid in Mogadishu, Somalia, led to a prolonged firefight and the downing of two Black Hawk helicopters.
U.S. Army Rangers and Delta Force began the raid aimed at capturing key lieutenants of Somali warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid.
Two Black Hawk helicopters were shot down by Somali militia, which escalated the battle and led to a rescue operation under heavy fire.
Following the helicopter crashes, U.S. forces fought intensely to rescue trapped soldiers and extract all personnel from Mogadishu.
The battle resulted in 18 U.S. soldiers killed, over 70 wounded, and significant Somali militia casualties, impacting U.S. foreign policy in Somalia.
The joint force begins the mission to capture two aid leaders in the Mogadishu district.
Rangers and Delta Force soldiers insert into the target area via helicopters for the capture operation.
The two Somali warlord lieutenants are captured by US forces as planned.
One Black Hawk helicopter (Super Six One) is hit by RPG fire and crashes, initiating the rescue operation.
Rangers and Delta Force soldiers launch a ground mission to secure the crash site and rescue survivors from Super Six One.
A second Black Hawk helicopter (Super Six Four) is shot down by RPGs near the first crash site, complicating the rescue mission.
Convoy of armored vehicles tries to reach the downed helicopters to rescue trapped soldiers while facing heavy Somali resistance.
US forces hold positions under heavy fire throughout the night defending both helicopter crash sites and the convoy.
Reinforcements arrive to reinforce and extract surviving soldiers and casualties from the battle zone.
