August 20, 1998 - In response to August 7th terrorist bombings of U.S. Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, and under orders given by President WIlliam Jefferson Clinton, the United States military launches cruise missiles against alleged Al-Qaida (Al-Qaeda) camps in Afghanistan in an attempt to neutralize Osama bin Laden whos followers were responsible for the attacks. 

In the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, the Al Shifa Pharmaceutical Industries factory, which U.S. officials say was housing chemical weapons, was also attacked and destroyed.

The Tomahawk cruise missiles were launched from U.S. Navy ships in the Red Sea and Arabian Sea.

The Sudanese government reacted angrily to the attack stating that “We have no checmical weapons factory in our country”.  The attempt to kill Osama bin Laden failed, leaving him alive and well to plan and carry out subsequent terrorist activies including the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon.