Movies

The Untold Horrors of the Battle of Mogadishu

BBG News

2002’s Academy Award-winning film “Black Hawk Down,” directed by Ridley Scott, dramatically narrated the events of the Battle of Mogadishu, where Black Hawk helicopters suffered damage at the hands of Somali troops in 1993.

However, the movie was a work of fiction, primarily centered around the viewpoint of U.S. soldiers. Conversely, a new docu-series from Ridley Scott Associates titled “Surviving Black Hawk Down“, set to release on Netflix on February 10, intends to share an unfiltered account of that battle, not just through the eyes of the American military personnel who were present, but also the Somalis involved.

In this article, we’ll delve into the Battle of Mogadishu – a pivotal event that left an indelible mark in history. We’ll explore some of the most poignant scenes depicted in the documentary series, and discuss how American veterans who were part of the battle are coping with its aftermath today.

How the Battle of Mogadishu started

1992 saw the U.S. stepping into Mogadishu with a clear intention – addressing a devastating famine by providing food to the starving populace. The aim was also to safeguard UN Relief operations from potential assaults by militia groups loyal to Somali warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid, who posed a threat to these humanitarian efforts.

However, during their operation on October 3, 1993, as detailed in TIME’s Oct. 18 issue, U.S. Rangers and their Blackhawk helicopter support encountered strong opposition when they raided a gathering spot of Aidid’s followers. Within 45 minutes, 19 prisoners were captured, but the operation was met with ambush by Somali militia members. This resulted in several Black Hawk helicopters crashing down, and sadly, over the following four days, at least 18 American lives were lost.

Approximately 200 Somalis are believed to have perished in the incident, though an official tally has yet to be confirmed. However, what Americans were exposed to were gruesome images, such as a deceased helicopter crewman being manhandled through the streets and ridiculed by Somalis, along with footage of a distraught helicopter pilot, Michael Durant, under interrogation by his Somali captors.

After spending 11 days in confinement, Durant shared his ordeal with a Red Cross worker and two journalists who came to see him. He recounted how Somalis viciously attacked him using their fists and sticks, and then proceeded to strip him bare so they could lift him up, blindfolded, with bound hands, above the furious crowd.

On October 7, President Bill Clinton declared that all American combat troops would withdraw by March 1994. As stated on the U.S. State Department’s website, the United States has often grappled with deciding its level of involvement in global peacekeeping missions and whether it’s worth risking American lives for these efforts. The situation in Somalia from 1992 to 1994 particularly brought this debate into sharp focus.

TIME magazine noted that it wasn’t immediately clear why President George H.W. Bush initiated the Somalia operation in December of 1992, a month following his defeat by Bill Clinton in the presidential election. At that time, according to TIME, the main hypotheses put forward were:

(Note: The sentence structure has been adjusted slightly for clarity and readability.)

The primary reasons for the action were indeed disturbing images on TV of famine in the country, along with appeals from U.N. Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali for aid to provide food to the starving population amidst armed gangs and a lack of any significant government or order. Moreover, it’s likely that Bush aimed to leave a lasting impact as a global leader, and this decision served not only as a means to achieve that goal but also seemed to help lift his spirits following his election loss.

What it was like on the ground during the Battle of Mogadishu

On October 3, 1993, U.S. military personnel in Somalia had planned a leisurely day. They spent their morning lounging on the beach and indulging in a game of RISK. However, their plans took an unexpected turn as they were abruptly summoned to duty.

Brad Thomas from the U.S. Army Rangers explained that there were initially four of us at the beach this morning, but now only two remain, as he sadly lost two of his closest friends during the Battle of Mogadishu. He remembered the harrowing experience of being in a convoy under constant fire, describing it as driving around aimlessly while facing gunfire.

In the documentary series, Durant, who had been captured, recounts his experience of getting struck by what felt like a soft object, only to discover it was one of the crew members’ arms. “At that moment,” he explains, “I thought, there seemed to be no escape.

Some members of the U.S. military force disagreed strongly with President Clinton’s plan to withdraw American soldiers from Somalia. As Tom Slattery of Delta Force put it in a documentary, “My friends have died, and now you want to pull out? That’s a squandering of lives. We’ve spent our time uselessly. We’ve lost these lives unnecessarily, and I was furious. Angry. Incredibly angry.

1993 TV news in America primarily showed Somalis engaged in attacks, but the miniseries “Surviving Black Hawk Down” provides insight into the intense hardship endured by Somali civilians during the conflict. The series features footage captured by a man named Ahmed “Five,” who transitioned from filming social events to documenting the chaos. He explains, “The situation needed to be recorded.” Remarkably gruesome scenes in this footage depict victims, many of them elders, in their final moments, as well as a boy covered in blood.

During the raid, a woman named Halima remembers taking shelter at a nearby school with around 20 children piled on top of her, feeling sick and fainting. When they evacuated the school, she claims she ran shoeless as helicopters flew above, causing her to lose faith in life.

In this poignant documentary, I found myself moved by the heartbreaking story of Binti Adan, a resilient Somali woman, and her daughter Ifrah. Ifrah, then a young girl, tragically lost her sight due to injuries sustained during a siege. As Binti speaks, her sorrow palpable, she shares, “There’s nothing more heart-wrenching than losing your eyesight.” She adds, with tears in her own eyes, “She was just a child.

U.S. veterans open up

Even though the Battle of Mogadishu has officially ended, the American military personnel who were present are undeniably and deeply impacted by that experience.

As a musician who donates my royalties to aid first responders, I’m thrilled that the new series is giving more survivors a chance to tell their stories. I often find myself reflecting on how the movie “Black Hawk Down” has been perceived as the main narrative, and people always ask me about its authenticity. In truth, I wasn’t given a voice in that story, but now, I’m grateful for the opportunity to share my own experiences of the battle and the sights I witnessed.

Upon returning from the Battle of Mogadishu, Slattery remained silent on the drive home. However, once he reached his kitchen and his wife inquired about his deployment, he couldn’t hold back the tears. “I started crying uncontrollably,” he shares with TIME. “It was heart-wrenching to return home and attempt to describe the ordeal to others. It’s simply beyond words.

Whenever he visits the beach, it brings back memories of the battle for him since his military base in Somalia was situated near the coast. The scent of bleach takes him back to when he had to clean up the extensive bloodstains on the base’s tarmac.

Currently, Slattery serves as both CEO and co-founder of the All Secure Foundation, an organization dedicated to aiding families of Special Operations forces in overcoming post-traumatic stress and readjusting to American life. He expresses his wish that his book, “Surviving Black Hawk Down,” will offer readers a deeper understanding of the experiences of U.S. military personnel. In his words, “They’re not superheroes like in Team America. They are humans, highly skilled individuals who give their best. When they return home, they face post-traumatic stress that stays with them for life. I want people to grasp the true impact of war on human beings.

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2025-02-11 02:07

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