1993-during the operation, two u.s. mh-60 black hawk helicopters were shot down by rocket-propelled grenade attacks to their tail rotors, trapping soldiers behind enemy lines. this resulted in an urban battle that killed 18 american soldiers, wounded 73 others, and one was taken prisoner. there were many more somali casualties. some of the american bodies were dragged through the streets a spectacle broadcast on television news programs. in response, u.s. forces were withdrawn from somalia and later conflicts were approached with fewer soldiers on the ground.
background:
in january 1991, the president of somalia, mohammed siad barre, was overthrown by a coalition of opposing clans called the united somali congress. after this revolution, the coalition divided into two groups.
in september 1991, severe fighting broke out in mogadishu, which continued in the following months and spread throughout the country, with over 20,000 people killed or injured by the end of the year. these wars led to the destruction of the agriculture of somalia, which in turn led to starvation in large parts of the country. the international community began to send food supplies to halt the starvation, but vast amounts of food were hijacked and brought to local clan leaders, who routinely exchanged it with other countries for weapons. an estimated 80 percent of the food was stolen. these factors led to even more starvation, from which an estimated 300,000 people died and another 1.5 million people suffered between 1991 and 1992. in july 1992, after a ceasefire between the opposing clan factions, the united nations (un) sent 50 military observers to watch the distribution of the food.
when this proved inadequate to stop the massive death and displacement of the somali people (500,000 dead and 1.5 million refugees or displaced), the u.s launched a major coalition operation to assist and protect humanitarian activities in december 1992.
