Sept. 11, 2001 The World Trade Center and the Pentagon are attacked after terrorists hijack four jetliners. Two hit the trade center’s twin towers with such force that the buildings collapse within hours; thousands are killed, most buried in mountains of rubble. The Pentagon strike plows a huge hole in the west side of the building, killing about 190 people. The fourth jet, perhaps on its way to another Washington target, crashes near Pennsylvania’s border with Maryland.
Oct. 12, 2000 Suicide bombers steer an explosives-laden small boat into the destroyer Cole during refueling in Aden, Yemen. The blast rips a huge hole in Cole’s amidships port side, killing 17 and injuring 42.
June 25, 1996 A truck bomb slams into a military housing complex, Khobar Towers, in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, killing 19 U.S. Air Force members.
July 6, 1990 Marine Col. Rich Higgins, a military observer in Lebanon, is declared dead, more than two years after pro-Iranian terrorists kidnapped him.
April 14, 1988 The frigate Samuel B. Roberts hits a mine in the Persian Gulf, injuring 10 sailors and seriously damaging the ship.
May 17, 1987 Iraqis launch Exocet missiles that slam into the frigate Stark, killing 37 sailors. Iraqis claim it was a case of mistaken identity.
Nov. 13, 1985 Terrorists bomb a Saudi Arabian National Guard office in Riyadh, killing five U.S. civilian trainers.
June 15, 1985 Hijackers affiliated with the terrorist group Hezbollah single out and kill Navy Steelworker 2nd Class Robert D. Stethem on a commercial airliner in Beirut.
Oct. 23, 1983 A truck laden with explosives crashes through a security checkpoint at the barracks of Battalion Landing Team 1/8 in Beirut, Lebanon, killing 241 U.S. military personnel, including 18 Navy people. Another 80 military members are wounded.
Oct. 18, 1983 Truck filled with explosives crashes into the U.S. Embassy in Beirut, killing 63 people, including 17 Americans. One U.S. Marine and three U.S. Army soldiers die.
Nov. 4, 1979 Islamic students storm the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, Iran, taking 52 Americans hostage. The hostages are held for 444 days.
— Times research
