{"id":232469,"date":"2023-04-03T12:00:05","date_gmt":"2023-04-03T11:00:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/?p=232469"},"modified":"2026-04-26T20:54:52","modified_gmt":"2026-04-26T19:54:52","slug":"timeline-of-united-states-military-operations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/2023\/04\/timeline-of-united-states-military-operations\/","title":{"rendered":"Timeline of United States Military Operations"},"content":{"rendered":"

From 1945 to 2021 –> Addicted to Destruction of the Other
\n<\/em><\/h3>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>1945\u20131949<\/strong><\/p>\n

1945<\/strong>: China: In October 50,000 U.S. Marines were sent to North China to assist Chinese Nationalist authorities in disarming and repatriating the Japanese in China and in controlling ports, railroads, and airfields. This was in addition to approximately 60,000 U.S. forces remaining in China at the end of World War II.[RL30172]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

1945\u20131949<\/strong>:\u00a0Occupation of part of Germany<\/a>.<\/p>\n

1945\u20131955<\/strong>:\u00a0Occupation of part of Austria<\/a>.<\/p>\n

1945\u20131952<\/strong>:\u00a0Occupation of Japan<\/a>.<\/p>\n

1944\u20131946<\/strong>: Temporary reoccupation of the\u00a0Philippines<\/a>\u00a0during World War II and in preparation for previously scheduled independence.[citation needed<\/a><\/em>]<\/sup><\/p>\n

1945\u20131947<\/strong>:\u00a0U.S. Marines<\/a>\u00a0garrisoned in mainland China to oversee the removal of Japanese forces after World War II.[6]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

1945\u20131949<\/strong>: Post-World War II occupation of\u00a0South Korea<\/a>; North Korean\u00a0insurgency<\/a>\u00a0in Republic of Korea[7]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

1946<\/strong>:\u00a0Trieste<\/a>, (Italy): President Truman ordered the increase of US troops along the zonal occupation line and the reinforcement of air forces in\u00a0northern Italy<\/a>\u00a0after the\u00a0Yugoslav People’s Army<\/a>\u00a0shot down an unarmed U.S. Army transport plane flying over\u00a0Venezia Giulia<\/a>.[citation needed<\/a><\/em>]<\/sup>\u00a0Earlier U.S. naval units had been sent to the scene.[RL30172]<\/a><\/sup>\u00a0Later the\u00a0Free Territory of Trieste<\/a>, Zone A.<\/p>\n

1948<\/strong>:\u00a0Jerusalem<\/a>\u00a0(British Mandate<\/a>): A Marine consular guard was sent to Jerusalem to protect the U.S. Consul General.[RL30172]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

1948<\/strong>: Berlin:\u00a0Berlin Airlift<\/a>\u00a0After the Soviet Union established a land blockade of the\u00a0U.S., British, and French sectors of Berlin<\/a>\u00a0on June 24, 1948, the United States and its allies airlifted supplies to Berlin until after the blockade was lifted in May 1949.[RL30172]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

1948\u20131949<\/strong>: China: Marines were dispatched to\u00a0Nanking<\/a>\u00a0to protect the American Embassy when the city fell to\u00a0Communist<\/a>\u00a0troops, and to Shanghai to aid in the protection and evacuation of Americans.[RL30172]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

1950\u20131959<\/strong><\/p>\n

Map of military operations since 1950<\/p>\n

1950\u20131953<\/strong>:\u00a0Korean War<\/a><\/strong>: The United States responded to the North Korean invasion of\u00a0South Korea<\/a>\u00a0by going to its assistance, pursuant to United Nations Security Council resolutions. U.S. forces deployed in Korea exceeded 300,000 during the last year of the active conflict (1953). Over 36,600 US military were killed in action.[RL30172]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

1950\u20131955<\/strong>: Formosa (Taiwan): In June 1950, at the beginning of the Korean War, President Truman ordered the\u00a0U.S. Seventh Fleet<\/a>\u00a0to prevent\u00a0People’s Liberation Army<\/a>\u00a0attacks upon Formosa and\u00a0Republic of China Armed Forces<\/a>\u00a0operations against mainland China.[RL30172]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

1950<\/strong>: Puerto Rico (United States colonial territory): The\u00a0United States National Guard<\/a>\u00a0used\u00a0P-47 Thunderbolt<\/a>\u00a0attack aircraft, land-based artillery, mortar fire, and grenades to counterattack Puerto Rican freedom fighters, Nationalists and independence rebels looking to end U.S. colonial rule during the\u00a0Jayuya uprising<\/a>.<\/p>\n

1954\u20131955<\/strong>: China:\u00a0First Taiwan Strait Crisis<\/a>, Naval units evacuated U.S. civilians and military personnel from the\u00a0Tachen Islands<\/a>.[RL30172]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

1955\u20131964<\/strong>: Vietnam: First military advisors sent to Vietnam on February 12, 1955. By 1964, U.S. troop levels had grown to 21,000. On August 7, 1964, U.S. Congress approved Gulf of Tonkin resolution affirming “All necessary measures to repel any armed attack against the forces of the United States. . .to prevent further aggression. . . (and) assist any member or protocol state of the Southeast Asian Collective Defense Treaty (SEATO<\/a>) requesting assistance. . .”[Vietnam timeline]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

1956<\/strong>: Egypt: A marine battalion evacuated U.S. nationals and other persons from\u00a0Alexandria<\/a>\u00a0during the\u00a0Suez Crisis<\/a>.[RL30172]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

1958<\/strong>: Lebanon:\u00a01958 Lebanon crisis<\/a>, Marines were landed in\u00a0Lebanon<\/a>\u00a0at the invitation of President\u00a0Camille Chamoun<\/a>\u00a0to help protect against threatened insurrection supported from the outside. The President’s action was supported by a Congressional resolution passed in 1957 that authorized such actions in that area of the world.[RL30172]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

1959\u20131960<\/strong>: The Caribbean: Second Marine Ground Task Force was deployed to protect U.S. nationals following the\u00a0Cuban Revolution<\/a>.[RL30172]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

1955\u20131975<\/strong>:\u00a0Vietnam War<\/a><\/strong>: U.S. military advisers had been in\u00a0South Vietnam<\/a>\u00a0for a decade, and their numbers had been increased as the military position of the Saigon government became weaker. After citing what he falsely termed were\u00a0Vietnam People’s Navy<\/a>\u00a0attacks on U.S. destroyers, in what came to be known as the\u00a0Gulf of Tonkin incident<\/a>, President\u00a0Lyndon B. Johnson<\/a>\u00a0asked in August 1964 for a resolution expressing U.S. determination to support “freedom and protect peace in Southeast Asia.” Congress responded with the\u00a0Gulf of Tonkin Resolution<\/a>, giving President Johnson authorization, without a formal declaration of war by Congress, for the use of conventional military force in Southeast Asia. Following this resolution, and following a communist attack on a U.S. installation in central Vietnam, the United States escalated its participation in the war to a peak of 543,000 military personnel by April 1969.[RL30172]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

1960\u20131969<\/strong><\/p>\n

1962<\/strong>: Thailand: The\u00a0Third Marine Expeditionary Unit<\/a>\u00a0landed on May 17, 1962, to support that country during the threat of Communist pressure from outside; by July 30, the 5,000 marines had been withdrawn.[RL30172]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

1962<\/strong>: Cuba:\u00a0Cuban Missile Crisis<\/a>, On October 22, President Kennedy instituted a “quarantine” on the shipment of offensive missiles to Cuba from the Soviet Union. He also warned Soviet Union that the launching of any missile from Cuba against nations in the Western Hemisphere would bring about U.S. nuclear retaliation on the Soviet Union. A negotiated settlement was achieved in a few days.[RL30172]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

1962\u20131975<\/strong>: Laos: From October 1962 until 1975, the United States played an important role in military support of anti-Communist forces in Laos.[RL30172]<\/a><\/sup>\u00a0Meanwhile, the United States was fighting a covert military operation using CIA paramilitary forces, known as\u00a0The Secret War<\/a>.<\/p>\n

1964<\/strong>: Congo (Za\u00efre): The United States sent four transport planes to provide airlift for Congolese troops during a rebellion and to transport Belgian paratroopers to rescue foreigners.[RL30172]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

1965<\/strong>: Invasion of Dominican Republic:\u00a0Operation Power Pack<\/a>, The United States intervened to protect lives and property during a Dominican revolt and sent 20,000 U.S. troops as fears grew that the revolutionary forces were coming increasingly under Communist control.[RL30172]<\/a><\/sup>\u00a0A popular rebellion broke out, promising to reinstall\u00a0Juan Bosch<\/a>\u00a0as the country’s elected leader. The revolution was crushed when U.S. Marines landed to uphold the military regime by force.<\/p>\n

1967<\/strong>: Israel: The\u00a0USS\u00a0Liberty<\/em>\u00a0incident<\/a>, whereupon a United States Navy Technical Research Ship was attacked June 8, 1967, by the\u00a0Israel Defense Forces<\/a>, killing 34 and wounding more than 170 U.S. crew members.<\/p>\n

1967<\/strong>: Congo (Za\u00efre): The United States sent three military transport aircraft with crews to provide the Congo central government with logistical support during a revolt.[RL30172]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

1968<\/strong>: Laos & Cambodia: U.S. starts secret bombing campaign against targets along the\u00a0Ho Chi Minh trail<\/a>\u00a0in the sovereign nations of\u00a0Cambodia<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Laos<\/a>. The bombings last at least two years. (See\u00a0Operation Commando Hunt<\/a>)<\/p>\n

1970\u20131979<\/strong><\/p>\n

1970<\/strong>:\u00a0Cambodian Campaign<\/a>: U.S. troops were ordered into Cambodia to clean out Communist sanctuaries from which\u00a0Viet Cong<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0North Vietnam<\/a>\u00a0attacked U.S. and South Vietnamese forces in Vietnam. The object of this attack, which lasted from April 30 to June 30, was to ensure the continuing safe withdrawal of American forces from South Vietnam and to assist the program of\u00a0Vietnamization<\/a>.[RL30172]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

1972<\/strong>: North Vietnam: Christmas bombing\u00a0Operation Linebacker II<\/a>\u00a0(not mentioned in RL30172, but an operation leading to peace negotiations). The operation was conducted from December 18\u201329, 1972. It was a bombing of the cities\u00a0Hanoi<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Haiphong<\/a>\u00a0by\u00a0B-52<\/a>\u00a0bombers.<\/p>\n

1973<\/strong>:\u00a0Operation Nickel Grass<\/a>, a\u00a0strategic airlift<\/a>\u00a0operation conducted by the United States to deliver weapons and supplies to Israel during the\u00a0Yom Kippur War<\/a>.<\/p>\n

1974<\/strong>: Evacuation from Cyprus: United States naval forces evacuated U.S. civilians during the\u00a0Turkish invasion of Cyprus<\/a>.[RL30172]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

1975<\/strong>: Evacuation from Vietnam:\u00a0Operation Frequent Wind<\/a>, On April 3, 1975, President\u00a0Gerald Ford<\/a>\u00a0reported U.S. naval vessels, helicopters, and Marines had been sent to assist in evacuation of refugees and US nationals from Vietnam.[RL30172]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

1975<\/strong>: Evacuation from Cambodia:\u00a0Operation Eagle Pull<\/a>, On April 12, 1975, President Ford reported that he had ordered U.S. military forces to proceed with the planned evacuation of the U.S. citizens from Cambodia.[RL30172]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

1975<\/strong>: South Vietnam: On April 30, 1975, President Ford reported that a force of 70 evacuation helicopters and 865 Marines had evacuated about 1,400 U.S. citizens and 5,500 third country nationals and South Vietnamese from landing zones in and around the\u00a0U.S. Embassy, Saigon<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Tan Son Nhut Airport<\/a>.[RL30172]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

1975<\/strong>: Cambodia:\u00a0Mayaguez<\/em>\u00a0incident<\/a>, On May 15, 1975, President Ford reported he had ordered military forces to retake\u00a0SS\u00a0Mayaguez<\/em><\/a>, a merchant vessel which was seized from\u00a0Kampuchean Revolutionary Army<\/a>\u00a0naval patrol boats in international waters and forced to proceed to a nearby island.[RL30172]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

1976<\/strong>: Lebanon: On July 22 and 23, 1976, helicopters from five U.S. naval vessels evacuated approximately 250 Americans and Europeans from Lebanon during fighting between Lebanese factions after an overland convoy evacuation had been blocked by hostilities.[RL30172]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

1976<\/strong>: Korea: Additional forces were sent to Korea after\u00a0two American soldiers were killed<\/a>\u00a0by North Korean soldiers in the\u00a0Korean Demilitarized Zone<\/a>\u00a0while cutting down a tree.[RL30172]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

1978<\/strong>:\u00a0Za\u00efre<\/a>\u00a0(Congo): From May 19 through June, the United States used military transport aircraft to provide logistical support to Belgian and French rescue operations in Za\u00efre.[RL30172]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

1980\u20131989<\/strong><\/p>\n

1980<\/strong>: Iran:\u00a0Operation Eagle Claw<\/a>, on April 26, 1980, President Carter reported the use of six U.S. transport planes and eight helicopters in an unsuccessful attempt to rescue the\u00a0American hostages<\/a>\u00a0in Iran.<\/p>\n

1980<\/strong>: U.S. Army and Air Force units arrive in the\u00a0Sinai<\/a>\u00a0in September as part of “Operation Bright Star<\/a>“. They are there to train with the\u00a0Egyptian Armed Forces<\/a>\u00a0as part of the Camp David peace accords signed in 1979. Elements of the\u00a0101st Airborne Division<\/a>, (1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry<\/a>) and Air Force MAC (Military Airlift Command) units are in theater for four months & are the first U.S. military forces in the region since World War II.<\/p>\n

1981<\/strong>: El Salvador: After a guerrilla offensive against the government of El Salvador, additional U.S. military advisers were sent to El Salvador, bringing the total to approximately 55, to assist in training government forces in counterinsurgency.[RL30172]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

1981<\/strong>: Libya:\u00a0First Gulf of Sidra incident<\/a>, on August 19, 1981, U.S. planes based on the carrier\u00a0USS\u00a0Nimitz<\/em><\/a>\u00a0shot down two Libyan jets over the Gulf of Sidra after one of the Libyan jets had fired a heat-seeking missile. The United States periodically held freedom of navigation exercises in the Gulf of Sidra, claimed by Libya as territorial waters but considered international waters by the United States.[RL30172]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

1982<\/strong>: Sinai: On March 19, 1982, President Reagan reported the deployment of military personnel and equipment to participate in the\u00a0Multinational Force and Observers<\/a>\u00a0in the\u00a0Sinai Peninsula<\/a>. Participation had been authorized by the Multinational Force and Observers Resolution, Public Law 97-132.[RL30172]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

1982<\/strong>: Lebanon:\u00a0Multinational Force in Lebanon<\/a>, on August 21, 1982, President Reagan reported the dispatch of 800 Marines to serve in the multinational force to assist in the withdrawal of members of the Palestine Liberation force from Beirut. The Marines left September 20, 1982.[RL30172]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

1982\u20131983<\/strong>: Lebanon: On September 29, 1982, President Reagan reported the deployment of 1200 marines to serve in a temporary multinational force to facilitate the restoration of Lebanese government sovereignty. On September 29, 1983, Congress passed the Multinational Force in Lebanon Resolution (P.L. 98-119) authorizing the continued participation for eighteen months.[RL30172]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

1983<\/strong>: Egypt: After a Libyan plane bombed a city in Sudan on March 18, 1983, and Sudan and Egypt appealed for assistance, the United States dispatched an\u00a0AWACS<\/a>\u00a0electronic surveillance plane to Egypt.[RL30172]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

1983<\/strong>: Grenada:\u00a0Operation Urgent Fury<\/a>, citing the increased threat of Soviet and Cuban influence and noting the development of an international airport following a coup d’\u00e9tat and alignment with the Soviet Union and Cuba, the U.S. invades the island nation of Grenada.[RL30172]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

1983\u20131989<\/strong>: Honduras: In July 1983, the United States undertook a series of exercises in Honduras that some believed might lead to conflict with Nicaragua. On March 25, 1986, unarmed U.S. military helicopters and crewmen ferried Honduran troops to the Nicaraguan border to repel Nicaraguan troops.[RL30172]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

1983<\/strong>: Chad: On August 8, 1983, President Reagan reported the deployment of two AWACS electronic surveillance planes and eight F-15 fighter planes and ground logistical support forces to assist Chad against Libyan and rebel forces.[RL30172]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

1984<\/strong>: Persian Gulf: On June 5, 1984, Saudi Arabian jet fighter planes, aided by intelligence from a U.S. AWACS electronic surveillance aircraft and fueled by a U.S. KC-10 tanker, shot down two Iranian fighter planes over an area of the Persian Gulf proclaimed as a protected zone for shipping.[RL30172]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

1985<\/strong>: Italy: On October 10, 1985, U.S. Navy pilots intercepted an Egyptian airliner and forced it to land in Sicily. The airliner was carrying the hijackers of the Italian cruise ship\u00a0Achille Lauro<\/a>\u00a0who had killed an American citizen during the hijacking.[RL30172]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

1986<\/strong>: Libya:\u00a0Action in the Gulf of Sidra (1986)<\/a>, on March 26, 1986, President Reagan reported on March 24 and 25, U.S. forces, while engaged in freedom of navigation exercises around the\u00a0Gulf of Sidra<\/a>, had been attacked by Libyan missiles and the United States had responded with missiles.[RL30172]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

1986<\/strong>: Libya:\u00a0Operation El Dorado Canyon<\/a>, on April 16, 1986, President Reagan reported that U.S. air and naval forces had conducted bombing strikes on terrorist facilities and military installations in the Libyan capitol of Tripoli, claiming that Libyan leader Col.\u00a0Muammar Gaddafi<\/a>\u00a0was responsible for a bomb attack at a German disco that killed two U.S. soldiers.[RL30172]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

1987<\/strong>: Persian Gulf:\u00a0USS\u00a0Stark<\/em><\/a>\u00a0was struck on May 17 by two Exocet antiship missiles fired from a\u00a0Dassault Mirage F1<\/a>\u00a0of the\u00a0Iraqi Air Force<\/a>\u00a0during the Iran\u2013Iraq War, killing 37 U.S. Navy sailors.<\/p>\n

1987<\/strong>: Persian Gulf:\u00a0Operation Nimble Archer<\/a>. Attacks on two Iranian oil platforms in the Persian Gulf by United States Navy forces on October 19. The attack was a response to Iran’s October 16, 1987, attack on the\u00a0MV\u00a0Sea Isle City<\/em><\/a>, a reflagged Kuwaiti oil tanker at anchor off\u00a0Kuwait<\/a>, with a Silkworm missile.<\/p>\n

1987\u20131988<\/strong>: Persian Gulf:\u00a0Operation Earnest Will<\/a>. After the\u00a0Iran\u2013Iraq War<\/a>\u00a0(the Tanker War phase) resulted in several military incidents in the Persian Gulf, the United States increased U.S. joint military forces operations in the Persian Gulf and adopted a policy of reflagging and escorting Kuwaiti oil tankers through the Persian Gulf to protect them from Iraqi and Iranian attacks. President Reagan reported that U.S. ships had been fired upon or struck mines or taken other military action on September 21 (Iran Ajr<\/a>), October 8, and October 19, 1987, and April 18 (Operation Praying Mantis<\/a>), July 3, and July 14, 1988. The United States gradually reduced its forces after a cease-fire between Iran and Iraq on August 20, 1988.[RL30172]<\/a><\/sup>\u00a0It was the largest naval convoy operation since World War II.[8]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

1987\u20131988<\/strong>: Persian Gulf:\u00a0Operation Prime Chance<\/a>\u00a0was a\u00a0United States Special Operations Command<\/a>\u00a0operation intended to protect U.S.-flagged oil tankers from Iranian attack during the Iran\u2013Iraq War. The operation took place roughly at the same time as Operation Earnest Will.<\/p>\n

1988<\/strong>: Persian Gulf:\u00a0Operation Praying Mantis<\/a>\u00a0was the April 18, 1988, action waged by U.S. naval forces in retaliation for the Iranian mining of the Persian Gulf and the subsequent damage to an American warship.<\/p>\n

1988<\/strong>: Honduras:\u00a0Operation Golden Pheasant<\/a>\u00a0was an emergency deployment of U.S. troops to Honduras in 1988, as a result of threatening actions by the forces of the (then socialist) Nicaraguans.<\/p>\n

1988<\/strong>:\u00a0USS\u00a0Vincennes<\/em><\/a>\u00a0shoot-down of\u00a0Iran Air Flight 655<\/a>.<\/p>\n

1988<\/strong>: Panama: In mid-March and April 1988, during a period of instability in Panama and as the United States increased pressure on Panamanian head of state General\u00a0Manuel Noriega<\/a>\u00a0to resign, the United States sent 1,000 troops to Panama, to “further safeguard the canal, U.S. lives, property and interests in the area.” The forces supplemented 10,000 U.S. military personnel already in the Panama Canal Zone.[RL30172]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

1989<\/strong>: Libya:\u00a0Second Gulf of Sidra incident<\/a>. On January 4, 1989, two U.S. Navy F-14 aircraft based on USS\u00a0John F. Kennedy<\/em>\u00a0shot down two Libyan jet fighters over the Mediterranean Sea about 70 miles north of Libya. The U.S. pilots said the Libyan planes had demonstrated hostile intentions.[RL30172]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

1989<\/strong>: Panama: On May 11, 1989, in response to General Noriega’s disregard of the results of the Panamanian election, President Bush ordered a brigade-sized force of approximately 1,900 troops to augment the estimated 1,000 U.S. forces already in the area.[RL30172]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

1989<\/strong>: Colombia, Bolivia, and Peru: Andean Initiative in War on Drugs, On September 15, 1989, President Bush announced that military and law enforcement assistance would be sent to help the Andean nations of Colombia, Bolivia, and Peru combat illicit drug producers and traffickers. By mid-September there were 50\u2013100 U.S. military advisers in Colombia in connection with transport and training in the use of military equipment, plus seven Special Forces teams of 2\u201312 persons to train troops in the three countries.[RL30172]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

1989<\/strong>: Philippines:\u00a0Operation Classic Resolve<\/a>, On December 2, 1989, President Bush reported that on December 1, Air Force fighters from\u00a0Clark Air Base<\/a>\u00a0in\u00a0Luzon<\/a>\u00a0had assisted the Aquino government to repel\u00a0a coup attempt<\/a>. In addition, 100 marines were sent from\u00a0U.S. Naval Base Subic Bay<\/a>\u00a0to protect the\u00a0United States Embassy in Manila<\/a>.[RL30172]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

1989\u20131990<\/strong>: Panama:\u00a0United States invasion of Panama<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Operation Just Cause<\/a>, On December 21, 1989, President Bush reported that he had ordered U.S. military forces to Panama to protect the lives of American citizens and bring General Noriega to justice. By February 13, 1990, all the invasion forces had been withdrawn.[RL30172]<\/a><\/sup>\u00a0Around 200 Panamanian civilians were reported killed. The Panamanian head of state, General Manuel Noriega, was captured and brought to the U.S.<\/p>\n

1990\u20131999<\/strong><\/p>\n

1990<\/strong>: Liberia: On August 6, 1990, President Bush reported that a reinforced rifle company had been sent to provide additional security to the U.S. Embassy in Monrovia, and that helicopter teams had evacuated U.S. citizens from Liberia.[RL30172]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

1990<\/strong>: Saudi Arabia: On August 9, 1990, President Bush reported that he launched<\/p>\n

1990\u20131999<\/strong><\/p>\n

1990<\/strong>: Liberia: On August 6, 1990, President Bush reported that a reinforced rifle company had been sent to provide additional security to the U.S. Embassy in Monrovia, and that helicopter teams had evacuated U.S. citizens from Liberia.[RL30172]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

1990<\/strong>: Saudi Arabia: On August 9, 1990, President Bush reported that he launched\u00a0Operation Desert Shield<\/a>\u00a0by ordering the forward deployment of substantial elements of the U.S. armed forces into the Persian Gulf region to help defend Saudi Arabia after the August 2\u00a0invasion of Kuwait<\/a>\u00a0by Iraq. On November 16, 1990, he reported the continued buildup of the forces to ensure an adequate offensive military option.[RL30172]<\/a><\/sup>American hostages being held in Iran.[RL30172]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

1991:<\/strong>\u00a0Iraq:\u00a0Operation Desert Storm<\/a>, The Allied air to land offensive from January 17, 1991, to April 11, 1991[9]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

1991:<\/strong>\u00a0Iraq:\u00a0Operation Desert Sabre<\/a>, The Allied ground offensive from Feb 24-27, 1991[9]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

1991\u20131996<\/strong>: Iraq:\u00a0Operation Provide Comfort<\/a>, Delivery of humanitarian relief and military protection for\u00a0Kurds<\/a>\u00a0fleeing their homes in\u00a0northern Iraq<\/a>\u00a0during the\u00a01991 uprising<\/a>, by a small Allied ground force based in Turkey which began in April 1991.<\/p>\n

1991<\/strong>: Iraq: On May 17, 1991, President Bush stated that the Iraqi repression of the Kurdish people had necessitated a limited introduction of U.S. forces into northern Iraq for emergency relief purposes.[RL30172]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

1991<\/strong>: Zaire: On September 25\u201327, 1991, after widespread looting and rioting broke out in\u00a0Kinshasa<\/a>, Air Force C-141s transported 100 Belgian troops and equipment into Kinshasa. American planes also carried 300 French troops into the\u00a0Central African Republic<\/a>\u00a0and hauled evacuated American citizens.[RL30172]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

1992<\/strong>: Sierra Leone:\u00a0Operation Silver Anvil<\/a>, Following the April 29 coup that overthrew President\u00a0Joseph Saidu Momoh<\/a>, a\u00a0United States European Command<\/a>\u00a0(USEUCOM)\u00a0Joint Special Operations Task Force<\/a>\u00a0evacuated 438 people (including 42 Third Country nationals) on May 3. Two\u00a0Air Mobility Command<\/a>\u00a0(AMC)\u00a0C-141s<\/a>\u00a0flew 136 people from\u00a0Freetown<\/a>, Sierra Leone, to the\u00a0Rhein-Main Air Base<\/a>\u00a0in Germany and nine\u00a0C-130<\/a>\u00a0sorties carried another 302 people to\u00a0Dakar<\/a>, Senegal.[RL30172]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

1992\u20131996<\/strong>: Bosnia and Herzegovina:\u00a0Operation Provide Promise<\/a>\u00a0was a humanitarian relief operation in\u00a0Bosnia and Herzegovina<\/a>\u00a0during the\u00a0Yugoslav Wars<\/a>, from July 2, 1992, to January 9, 1996, which made it the longest running humanitarian airlift in history.[10]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

1992<\/strong>: Kuwait: On August 3, 1992, the United States began a series of military exercises in Kuwait, following Iraqi refusal to recognize a new border drawn up by the United Nations and refusal to cooperate with UN inspection teams.[RL30172]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

1992\u20132003<\/strong>: Iraq:\u00a0Iraqi no-fly zones<\/a>, The U.S., United Kingdom, and its Gulf War allies declared and enforced “no-fly zones” over the majority of sovereign Iraqi airspace, prohibiting Iraqi flights in zones in southern Iraq and northern Iraq, conducting aerial reconnaissance, and several specific attacks on Iraqi air-defense systems as part of the UN mandate. Often, Iraqi forces continued throughout a decade by firing on U.S. and British aircraft patrolling no-fly zones.(See also\u00a0Operation Northern Watch<\/a>,\u00a0Operation Southern Watch<\/a>)<\/em>\u00a0[RL30172]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

1993\u20131995<\/strong>: Bosnia:\u00a0Operation Deny Flight<\/a>, On April 12, 1993, in response to a United Nations Security Council passage of\u00a0Resolution 816<\/a>, U.S. and NATO enforced the no-fly zone over the Bosnian airspace, prohibited all unauthorized flights and allowed to “take all necessary measures to ensure compliance with [the no-fly zone restrictions].”<\/p>\n

1993<\/strong>: Somalia:\u00a0Battle of Mogadishu<\/a>, or the First Battle of Mogadishu, the outcome of\u00a0Operation Gothic Serpent<\/a>. October 3\u20134, 1993, Task Force Ranger, made up largely of the\u00a075th Ranger Regiment<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Delta Force<\/a>\u00a0entered hostile urban area\u00a0Mogadishu<\/a>\u00a0to seize two high ranking\u00a0Somali National Army<\/a>\u00a0leaders. Two American\u00a0UH-60 Black Hawks<\/a>\u00a0are shot down, 18 Americans are killed in action, with another 73 wounded, and 1 captured. The events of the battle were gathered in the book\u00a0Black Hawk Down<\/a>, which was later adapted to a\u00a0movie of the same name<\/a>.<\/p>\n

1993<\/strong>: Macedonia: On July 9, 1993, President Clinton reported the deployment of 350 U.S. soldiers to the\u00a0Republic of Macedonia<\/a>\u00a0to participate in the\u00a0UN Protection Force<\/a>\u00a0to help maintain stability in the area of former Yugoslavia.[RL30172]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

1994<\/strong>: Bosnia:\u00a0Banja Luka incident<\/a>, NATO become involved in the first combat situation when NATO\u00a0U.S. Air Force<\/a>\u00a0F-16<\/a>\u00a0jets shot down four of the six Bosnian Serb\u00a0J-21 Jastreb<\/a>\u00a0single-seat light attack jets for violating UN-mandated\u00a0no-fly zone<\/a>.<\/p>\n

1994\u20131995<\/strong>: Haiti:\u00a0Operation Uphold Democracy<\/a>, U.S. ships had begun embargo against Haiti. Up to 20,000 U.S. military troops were later deployed to Haiti to restore democratically elected Haiti President\u00a0Jean-Bertrand Aristide<\/a>\u00a0from a military regime which came into power in 1991 after a major coup.[RL30172]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

1994<\/strong>: Macedonia: On April 19, 1994, President Clinton reported that the U.S. contingent in Macedonia had been increased by a reinforced company of 200 personnel.[RL30172]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

1994<\/strong>: Kuwait:\u00a0Operation Vigilant Warrior<\/a>\u00a0began in October 1994 when Iraqi\u00a0Republican Guard<\/a>\u00a0Divisions began repositioning within Iraq south near the Kuwaiti border. U.S. Forces countered with a movement of forces to the Gulf – the largest since Operation Desert Shield. The operation as officially terminated on December 22, 1994. Also see[11]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

1995<\/strong>: Bosnia:\u00a0Operation Deliberate Force<\/a>, On August 30, 1995, U.S. and NATO aircraft began a major bombing campaign of\u00a0Bosnian Serb Army<\/a>\u00a0in response to a\u00a0Bosnian Serb mortar attack on a Sarajevo market<\/a>\u00a0that killed 37 people on August 28, 1995. This operation lasted until September 20, 1995. The air campaign along with a combined allied ground force of Muslim and\u00a0Croatian Army<\/a>\u00a0against Serb positions led to a\u00a0Dayton Agreement<\/a>\u00a0in December 1995 with the signing of warring factions of the war. As part of\u00a0Operation Joint Endeavor<\/a>, U.S. and NATO dispatched the Implementation Force (IFOR<\/a>) peacekeepers to Bosnia to uphold the Dayton agreement.[RL30172]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

1996<\/strong>: Central African Republic,\u00a0Operation Quick Response<\/a>: On May 23, 1996, President Clinton reported the deployment of U.S. military personnel to\u00a0Bangui<\/a>,\u00a0Central African Republic<\/a>, to conduct the evacuation from that country of “private U.S. citizens and certain U.S. government employees”, and to provide “enhanced security for the American Embassy in Bangui.”[RL30172]<\/a><\/sup>\u00a0United States Marine Corps<\/a>\u00a0elements of Joint Task Force Assured Response, responding in nearby Liberia, provided security to the embassy and evacuated 448 people, including between 190 and 208 Americans. The last Marines left Bangui on June 22.<\/p>\n

1996<\/strong>: Kuwait:\u00a0Operation Desert Strike<\/a>, American Air Strikes in the north to protect the Kurdish population against the\u00a0Iraqi Army<\/a>\u00a0attacks.<\/p>\n

1996<\/strong>: Bosnia:\u00a0Operation Joint Guard<\/a>, On December 21, 1996, U.S. and NATO established the\u00a0SFOR<\/a>\u00a0peacekeepers to replace the IFOR in enforcing the peace under the Dayton agreement.<\/p>\n

1997<\/strong>: Albania:\u00a0Operation Silver Wake<\/a>, On March 13, 1997, U.S. military forces were used to evacuate certain U.S. government employees and private U.S. citizens from\u00a0Tirana<\/a>, Albania.[RL30172]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

1997<\/strong>: Congo and Gabon: On March 27, 1997, President Clinton reported on March 25, 1997, a standby evacuation force of U.S. military personnel had been deployed to Congo and Gabon to provide enhanced security and to be available for any necessary evacuation operation.[RL30172]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

1997<\/strong>: Sierra Leone: On May 29 and 30, 1997, U.S. military personnel were deployed to\u00a0Freetown<\/a>,\u00a0Sierra Leone<\/a>, to prepare for and undertake the evacuation of certain U.S. government employees and private U.S. citizens.[RL30172]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

1997<\/strong>: Cambodia: On July 11, 1997, In an effort to ensure the security of American citizens in Cambodia during a period of domestic conflict there, a Task Force of about 550 U.S. military personnel were deployed at\u00a0Utapao Air Base<\/a>\u00a0in Thailand for possible evacuations.\u00a0[RL30172]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

1998<\/strong>: Iraq:\u00a0Operation Desert Fox<\/a>, U.S. and British forces conduct a major four-day bombing campaign from December 16\u201319, 1998 on Iraqi targets.[RL30172]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

1998\u20131999<\/strong>: Kenya and Tanzania: U.S. military personnel were deployed to\u00a0Nairobi<\/a>, Kenya, to coordinate the medical and disaster assistance related to the\u00a0bombing of the U.S. Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania<\/a>.[RL30172]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

1998<\/strong>: Afghanistan and Sudan:\u00a0Operation Infinite Reach<\/a>. On August 20, President Clinton ordered a cruise missile attack against two suspected\u00a0terrorist training camps<\/a>\u00a0in Afghanistan and a\u00a0suspected chemical factory<\/a>\u00a0in Sudan.[RL30172]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

1998<\/strong>: Liberia: On September 27, 1998, America deployed a stand-by response and evacuation force of 30 U.S. military personnel to increase the security force at the U.S. Embassy in Monrovia.\u00a0[1]<\/a>\u00a0[RL30172]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

1999\u20132001<\/strong>: East Timor: Limited number of U.S. military forces deployed with the United Nations-mandated\u00a0International Force for East Timor<\/a>\u00a0restore peace to East Timor.[RL30172]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

1999<\/strong>: Serbia:\u00a0Operation Allied Force<\/a>: U.S. and NATO aircraft began a major bombing of\u00a0Serbia<\/a>\u00a0and Serb positions in\u00a0Kosovo<\/a>\u00a0on March 24, 1999, during the\u00a0Kosovo War<\/a>\u00a0due to the refusal by Serbian President\u00a0Slobodan Milo\u0161evi\u0107<\/a>\u00a0to end repression against\u00a0ethnic Albanians<\/a>\u00a0in Kosovo. This operation ended on June 10, 1999, when Milo\u0161evi\u0107 agreed to pull his troops out of Kosovo. In response to the situation in Kosovo, NATO dispatched the\u00a0KFOR<\/a>\u00a0peacekeepers to secure the peace under\u00a0UNSC Resolution 1244<\/a>.[RL30172]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

2000\u20132009<\/strong><\/p>\n