The head of an army of Somalis proclaimed himself the leader of Somalia in 1992 and brought terror to the country. George H. W. Bush set up a humanitarian mission to bring food to those in need. In 1993, the situation quickly escalated: 24 peacekeepers on duty were murdered for no reason on the orders of Mohamed. Mohamed was declared a war criminal and a ransom was placed on his head. The peaceful humanitarian mission led until then by the Americans has now become military.

Mogadishu, October 3, 1993. The Rangers, transported by Black Hawk helicopters, were about to surround a hotel in the lower town. The Delta will assault and arrest two of Mohamed’s subordinates. Called Irene, the mission lasted an hour at most. But the armed forces had underestimated the impact of their presence on the population. For many Somalis do not appreciate anyone interfering in their problems. So they took up arms and opened fire. Surprised by this fierce and numerous opposition, the soldiers found themselves greatly outnumbered and surrounded and a Black Hawk helicopter was shot down. The American superiority is in fire and ashes and the soldiers are caught in the enemy’s fire.

The story of 160 elite U.S. soldiers who dropped into Mogadishu in October 1993 to capture two top lieutenants of a renegade warlord, but found themselves in a desperate battle with a large force of heavily armed Somalis.