U.S. Marines Return to Somalia to Escort Peacekeepers as UN Mission Ends

U.S. Marines, along with Italian, French, British, and Malaysian forces, descended upon the Somali capital of Mogadishu for the second time in two years, this time to protect the last remnant of UN peacekeepers retreating from a failed mission. The amphibious landing, devoid of high drama, marked the beginning of Operation United Shield, a multinational effort to safely withdraw over 2,400 UN peacekeepers from Pakistan and Bangladesh. Amidst concerns of potential clan fighting and militia threats, US commanders expressed confidence in the operation's success, citing the secure nature of the airport and seaport areas.

Key Takeaways:

• The US-led coalition of 14,000 troops, comprised of half Americans, aimed to provide a rear guard for the UN peacekeepers' withdrawal from Somalia.
• The operation marked the first amphibious retreat since the US Marines were evacuated from Korea in 1950.
• Commanding the coalition was Marine Lt. Gen. Anthony C. Zinni, a seasoned officer and chief planner of the first US-led intervention in Somalia.
• Zinni assured reporters that the security situation was "in a good way" and that he did not "see any real threat or problem."
• The remaining Pakistani and Bangladeshi UN peacekeepers, totaling over 2,400, were the last remnants of a force that once numbered over 38,000 from 21 nations.
• The UN mission in Somalia, which started in December 1992, failed to establish a stable government, wasting over $2 billion and resulting in the deaths of over 120 UN troops and hundreds of Somalis.
• Fearing potential clan fighting, US military intelligence officers warned that rival factions may battle for control of the airport and port facilities once the UN withdrawal is complete.

Statistics:

• Over 14,000 troops were involved in Operation United Shield, including 7,000 Americans.
• The US has lost 42 soldiers in Somalia, with 30 of them killed in combat.
• More than 100 other peacekeepers have died in the conflict.
• An estimated 350,000 Somalis had died by the time US troops arrived in December 1992.
• The UN mission spent over $2 billion, with much of it reportedly spent with little oversight and accountability.

Sources:

• "American Marines Back in Somalia" by an Associated Press.
• "Somalia: UN Folds Peacekeeping Mission" by Reuters News Agency.
• "U.S. Marines Sent to Somalia to Escort UN Troops" by Knight-Ridder Newspapers.
• "Somalia's Bitter Reality" by The Washington Post.