Operation Unified Task Force

a marine 8x8 lav-25 (light armored vehicle) 3rd light armor infantry battalion (left), , italian soldiers in 4x4 fiat-oto melara type 6614 armored personnel carrier (right), guard intersection on green line in mogadishu.

the operation began on 6 december 1992, when u.s. navy seals , special boat crewmen naval special warfare task unit tripoli began conducting reconnaissance operations in vicinity of airport , harbor. these operations lasted 3 days. in hours of 8 december 1992 elements of army s 4th psychological operations group (airborne) attached 15th marine expeditionary unit (meu) conducted leaflet drops on capital city of mogadishu. on 9 december, meu performed unopposed amphibious assault city of mogadishu uss tripoli (lph-10), uss juneau (lpd-10) , uss rushmore (lsd-47).

the meu s ground combat element, 2nd battalion 9th marines (2/9), performed simultaneous raids on port of mogadishu , mogadishu international airport, establishing foothold additional incoming troops. echo , golf company assaulted airport helicopter , amphibious assault vehicles, while fox company secured port economy of force rubber boat raid. 1st marine division s air contingency battalion (acb), 1st battalion, 7th marines , 3rd battalion 11th marines (3/11 artillery unit operated provisional infantry battalion while in somalia), arrived after airport secured. elements of blt 3/9 india co, 3rd battalion, 9th marines , 1/7 went on secure airport in baidoa , city of bardera while golf company 2/9 , elements of belgian special forces conducted amphibious landing @ port city of kismayo. air support provided combined helicopter units of hmla-267, hmh-363, hmh-466, hmm-164 , hc-11 det 10.

concurrently, various somali factions returned negotiating table in attempt end civil war. effort known conference on national reconciliation in somalia , resulted in addis ababa agreement signed on 27 march 1993. conference, however, had little result civil war continued afterwards.