Bombing of U.S. Marine Barracks in Beirut

October 23, 1983

Two truck bombs strike separate buildings housing Multinational Force in Lebanon (MNF) peacekeepers, specifically targeting United States and French service members, killing 241 U.S. and 58 French peacekeepers, 6 civilians, and the 2 suicide attackers. This was the deadliest single-day death toll for the U.S. Marine Corps since World War II’s Battle of Iwo Jima, the deadliest single-day death toll for the U.S. Armed Forces since the first day of the Vietnam War’s Tet Offensive, the deadliest single terrorist attack on American citizens prior to the September 11 attacks, and the deadliest single terrorist attack on American citizens overseas. A group called “Islamic Jihad” claimed responsibility and said that the bombings were aimed to get the Multinational Forces out of Lebanon.