Battle of Mogadishu (1993)

Battle of Mogadishu

Part of Operation Gothic Serpent and the Somali Civil War

CW3 Michael Durant's helicopter Super Six-Four above Mogadishu on 3 October 1993.

Date

3–4 October 1993
(1 day)

Location

Mogadishu, Somalia

Result

Pyrrhic tactical U.S/U.N. victory; Strategic SNA victory

U.S. withdraws 25 March 1994
U.N. withdraws 28 March 1995

Belligerents

UNOSOM II

Somali National Alliance (SNA)
Al-Qaeda

Commanders and leaders

William F. Garrison

Mohamed Farrah Aidid

Strength

Initially: 160 men
12 vehicles (9 Humvees, 3 M939 trucks)
19 aircraft (16 helicopters – 8 Black Hawks and 8 Little Birds)

4,000–6,000 militiamen and civilian fighters

Casualties and losses

U.S.
18 killed, 73 wounded, 1 captured
Malaysia
1 killed, 7 wounded
Pakistan
1 killed, 2 wounded

SNA Militia and civilians
200–315 killed (per ICRC)
300–500 killed (per U.N.)
315 killed (133 militiamen), 812 wounded (per SNA)
350 killed, 500 wounded (per U.S.)
500 killed (per neutral Somalis)

Note: Task Force Ranger achieved the mission objectives of capturing specific Aidid lieutenants, but the political fallout from the resultant battle and consequent eventual U.S. withdrawal from Somalia could classify this as a Pyrrhic victory.

Pyrrhic tactical U.S/U.N. victory; Strategic SNA victory

UNOSOM II

The Battle of Mogadishu or Day of the Rangers (Somali: Maalintii Rangers), was part of Operation Gothic Serpent and was fought from 3–4 October 1993, in Mogadishu, Somalia, between forces of the United States--supported by UNOSOM II--and Somali militiamen loyal to the self-proclaimed president-to-be Mohamed Farrah Aidid, who had support from armed civilian fighters. The battle is also referred to as the First Battle of Mogadishu to distinguish it from subsequent battles in that city, such as the Second Battle of Mogadishu of 2006.

The initial U.S. Joint Special Operations force, Task Force Ranger, was a collaboration of various elite special forces units from Army Special Operations Command, Air Force Special Operations Command and Navy Special Warfare Command. Task Force Ranger was dispatched to seize two of Aidid's high-echelon lieutenants during a meeting in the city. The goal of the operation was achieved, though conditions spiraled into the deadly Battle of Mogadishu. The initial operation of 3 October 1993, intended to last an hour, became an overnight standoff and rescue operation extending into daylight hours of 4 October.

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