Operation Restore Hope

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Operation Restore Hope
Part of the Somalian Civil War
Original plan of battle
Date December 3, 1992 - May 4, 1993. Location Somalia Result UN withdraw
Combatants
United States United Nations Pakistan Malaysia	Somalia
Commanders
Many	Mohamed Farrah Aidid

The United Nations intervention in Somalia (code-named Operation Restore Hope) was a United Nations–sanctioned United States military operation from 9 December 1992 to 4 May 1993. The operation planned to avert a growing humanitarian disaster in the increasingly lawless Republic of Somalia, which was suffering from severe famine, general chaos, and domination by a number of warlords following the collapse of Siad Barre's military government.

The operation began in the early hours of Dec 8, 1992, when elements of the 8th Psychological Operations Battalion (Airborne) attached to the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) conducted leaflet drops over the capital city of Mogadishu. Early the following morning the MEU performed an amphibious assault into the city of Mogadishu. The MEUSOC's ground combat element, Battalion Landing Team (BLT) 2/9, performed simultaneous raids on the Port of Mogadishu and Mogadishu International Airport, establishing a foothold for additional incoming troops. Echo and Golf Company assaulted the airport by helicopter and amphibious assault vehicles, while Fox Company secured the port with an economy of force rubber boat raid. Fox Company's raid on the port was the first large scale Combat Rubber Raid Craft (CRRC) raid since World War II. Elements of BLT 2/9 went on to secure the airport in Baidoa, and the port city of Kismayo.

After President Clinton was inaugurated in January 1993, he decided to reduce the number of US troops, which were to be replaced by UN troops, and to hand over the primary peacekeeping role to the UN. By June 1993, only 1,800 US troops remained.

In May 1993, the UN officially took over, while a federalist government based on 18 autonomous regions was agreed upon by the leaders of Somalia's various armed factions. The UN renamed the mission to UNOSOM II.

The objective of UNOSOM II was to initiate nation building in Somalia, disarm the various factions, restore law and order, help the people to set up a representative government, and restore the infrastructure. UNOSOM II had a strength of 28,000 drawn from 26 countries, including the U.S. which operated under the military operation "Operation Continue Hope" from May 1993 to March 1994 when the last U.S. soldiers left the region.

On June 5, 24 Pakistani troops were assassinated by Somalian militia members while inspecting an arms weapons storage site. Warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid and his followers were accused of perpetrating this massacre, and on June 12 US troops commenced attacking targets in Mogadishu known to be connected to Aidid, a mission which lasted until June 16.

On June 19, a $25,000 warrant was issued by US Admiral Howe for information leading to the arrest of Aidid. however Aidid was never captured. Admiral Howe also requested a counter-terrorist rescue force to supplement the US forces after the killings of the Pakistani troops.

On July 12, a house where alleged clan leaders were meeting was attacked by US AH-1 Cobra helicopters. Several buildings were destroyed and an unknown number of Somalians died, civilians and militiamen alike. Subsequently when four western journalists attempted to investigate the scene, they were beaten to death by a Somali mob.

Canadian Military in Somalia, 1992.

On August 8, Task Force Ranger was deployed; composed of Delta and Ranger forces outside of the UN mandate and so were not limited by the strict rules of engagment.

Task Force Ranger was deployed for the hunt for Aidid and his lieutenants, leading to the Battle of Mogadishu which resulted in - according to U.S. estimates - the death of 500-1000 Somalian militia and civilians, the death of 18 American soldiers, and 73 wounded, and the death of one Malaysian soldier. The American Ranger and Delta force had to be rescued by the 10th Mountain Division, with the aid of UN troops, notably the forces of Malaysia and Pakistan. The book Black Hawk Down: A Story of Modern War and the movie Black Hawk Down are based upon this battle.

After the Battle of Mogadishu the 1st Battalion, 64th Armored Regiment of the 24th Infantry Division based at Fort Stewart, Georgia was sent to restore and maintain order in Mogadishu. This deployment, under the name Task Force Rogue, established Victory Base in the west of the city in October 1993. With the use of heavy tanks and a strong overt military presence a semblance of order was maintained in Mogadishu until President Clinton, under pressure from Congress, ended the US deployment in Somalia.

[edit] Background

Italian UN soldier with 50 caliber MG securing a checkpoint on a bridge in Beled Weyne, 1993

Egyptian soldiers served with the United Nations' peacekeeping mission Operation Restore Hope in Mogadishu, Somalia (January 1994).

In January 1991, the leader of Somalia, Mohammed Siad Barre, was overthrown by a coalition of opposing clans called the United Somalia Congress. After this revolution the coalition divided into two groups. One was led by Ali Mahdi Muhammad, who became president, and the other by Mohamed Farrah Aidid. In total there were four opposing groups: the United Somali Congress (USC), Somali Salvation Democratic Front (SSDF), Somali Patriotic Movement (SPM), and Somali Democratic Movement (SDM) which continued to fight over the domination of Somalia. In June 1991 these groups agreed to a ceasefire which ultimately failed to hold. A fifth group; the Somali National Movement (SNM) had already in June secessed the northwest of Somalia as the Somaliland Republic, with the leader of the SNM, Abdel-Rahman Ahmed Ali as president.

In September 1991, severe fighting broke out in Mogadishu, which succeeded 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 led to starvation in large parts of Somalia.

The international community began to send food supplies to halt the starvation. However, vast amounts of food were hijacked and brought to local clan leaders. The hijacked food was routinely exchanged with other countries for weapons. An estimated 80% of the food was stolen. These factors led to even more starvation of which an estimated 300,000 people died and another 1.5 million suffering between 1991 and 1992.

In July 1992, after a ceasefire between the opposing clan factions, the United Nations (UN) sent 50 military observers to hold sight on the distribution of the food.

In August 1992 the United States (USA) initiated Operation Provide Relief (UNOSOM I) to provide humanitarian relief for the people. Other Western nations also contributed to this airlift and the UN sent some troops to oversee the operation. However, most of the food was looted directly upon landing of these planes. This made the operation a failure and the UN therefore asked its members for assistance.

In December 1992 as President George H. W. Bush was preparing to leave office, he proposed to help under the restriction that the US Combat troops would lead the operation. After the UN accepted this offer 25,000 US troops (mostly US Marines from I MEF) were deployed to Somalia and the mission was renamed to Operation Restore Hope and became UNOSOM II.

On May 4, 1993 the UN Operation in Somalia (UNOSOM II) assumed responsibility for operations. Operation Continue Hope provided support of UNOSOM II to establish a secure environment for humanitarian relief operations by providing personnel, logistical, communications, intelligence support, a quick reaction force, and other elements as required. Over 60 Army aircraft and approximately 1,000 aviation personnel operated in Somalia from 1992 to 1994.

Black Hawk Down; film loosely based on Operation Restore Hope

In July 1993, Aidid's militia ambushed and slaughtered 24 Pakistani soldiers, and then began targeting American personnel.

[edit] See also

• Battle of Mogadishu
• Operation Provide Relief
• Operation Deliverance, the concurrent Canadian mission
• Black Hawk Down

[edit] External links

• George Monbiot on Operation Restore Hope
• UN version of UNOSOM I
• UN version of UNOSOM II
• Overview of the US intervention in Somalia
• The Somalia Intervention