Today in Military History: Jan. 10, 1995, more Marines to Somalia

An advance team of 100 U.S. Marines patrol the airport in Mogadishu shortly after their arrival on shore Feb. 27, 1995. . (AFP/Getty Images)

On January 10, 1995, the Pentagon announces that 2,600 U.S. Marines will deploy to Somalia for Operation United Shield to assist in the final withdrawal of UN peacekeeping troops from the country. The decision is in response to a UN request for U.S. protection of its peacekeeping forces serving in the war-torn African nation.

U.S. Marines had been in the country since Dec. 9, 1992 when the capital of Mogadishu was stormed in Operation Restore Hope. The mission was to restore order in the country which had been fighting a bloody civil war.

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