December 20, 1989
The U.S. invades Panama overthrowing Panamanian leader Manuel Noriega. Noriega surrendered two weeks later and was subsequently sentenced to 40 years in prison on drug trafficking, racketeering, and money laundering charges. In 2011, he was extradited to Panama to serve sentences for past crimes.
Noriega had previously been a U.S. ally and CIA informant.
Twenty-three U.S. soldiers, three U.S. civilians, 150 Panamanian soldiers, and 500 Panamanian civilians were killed in the operation with over 20,000 Panamanians displaced from their homes.