On this day 27 years ago, US forces invaded the Caribbean island of Grenada. The invasion, ordered by US President Ronald Reagan, commenced at 5am on 25th October 1983. Fighting continued for several days, with an invasion force of 7,000 US troops overwhelming the opposing 1,500 Grenadian soldiers and 700 Cubans. Just over 100 people were killed in the fighting, including at least 24 civilians.
In the years leading up to the invasion, the US had become increasingly concerned about the extent of communist influence in the island. In 1979 Maurice Bishop had seized power by means of an armed revolution, and became the head of the People’s Revolutionary Government. When the government began construction of a new airport with assistance from Libya, Cuba and Algeria, Ronald Reagan became convinced that it would become a Cuban-Soviet air base.
An attempted coup was led by the deputy prime minister in October 1983. Prime Minister Bishop was killed in the subsequent power struggle, and the army stepped in to form a military council, prompting the US invasion. The Grenada invasion was a success from the US point of view, although the action was roundly condemned by other countries. Grenada now celebrates the 25th of October as Thanksgiving Day.