1704day.year
In Queen Anne's War, French forces and Native Americans stage a raid on Deerfield, Massachusetts Bay Colony, killing 56 villagers and taking more than 100 captive.
During Queen Anne’s War in 1704, French and Native American forces raided Deerfield, Massachusetts, killing villagers and taking captives.
On February 29, 1704, as part of Queen Anne’s War, a combined force of French troops and Native American warriors attacked Deerfield in the Massachusetts Bay Colony.
They killed 56 settlers and captured over 100, including women and children, during a lightning raid.
The Deerfield Massacre shocked the English colonists and fueled animosity on the New England frontier.
The captives were marched northward to Canada; some later returned, while others remained in French territories.
The raid illustrates the brutal nature of colonial warfare and the shifting alliances of the time.
It had a lasting impact on colonial defense strategies and relations with Native tribes.
1704
Queen Anne's War
Native Americans
raid on Deerfield, Massachusetts Bay Colony
1936day.year
The February 26 Incident in Tokyo ends.
The February 26 Incident, an attempted coup by young Japanese officers, ends in Tokyo, reshaping military and political dynamics.
In 1936, a faction of Imperial Japanese Army officers stages an insurrection known as the February 26 Incident.
The mutineers occupy key government buildings, demanding political reform and a purge of perceived corrupt officials.
After several days of tension, Emperor Hirohito orders the revolt suppressed, and loyalist troops retake control.
Over 1,400 soldiers are arrested, and the incident prompts a crackdown on radical military elements.
The crackdown influences the balance of power between civilian government and the military in pre-war Japan.
1936
February 26 Incident
1940day.year
Finland initiates Winter War peace negotiations.
Finland initiates peace negotiations to end the Winter War with the Soviet Union, seeking a diplomatic resolution.
After months of fierce fighting, Finland begins peace talks with the Soviet Union on February 29, 1940.
The Winter War, marked by extreme weather and determined Finnish defense, inflicts heavy casualties on both sides.
Concerned by mounting losses and isolation, Finland's leaders pursue negotiations mediated by Sweden.
The talks ultimately lead to the Moscow Peace Treaty in March, ceding territory but preserving Finnish independence.
This diplomatic effort demonstrates Finland's resilience and the harsh realities of great power conflict.
Winter War
1944day.year
The Admiralty Islands are invaded in Operation Brewer, led by American general Douglas MacArthur, in World War II.
American forces launch Operation Brewer to invade the Admiralty Islands under General Douglas MacArthur.
In February 1944, Allied commanders plan the invasion of the Admiralty Islands to secure Pacific advance.
On February 29, American troops under General Douglas MacArthur land on Los Negros Island.
Operation Brewer aims to establish airfields and cut Japanese supply lines in the Southwest Pacific.
Despite challenging terrain and strong defenses, the Allies secure key positions within days.
This victory paves the way for further operations in New Guinea and the Philippines campaigns.
1944
Admiralty Islands
Operation Brewer
Douglas MacArthur
1972day.year
South Korea withdraws 11,000 of its 48,000 troops from South Vietnam as part of Nixon's Vietnamization policy in the Vietnam War.
In 1972, South Korea pulled back 11,000 troops from Vietnam under Nixon's Vietnamization plan.
On February 29, 1972, South Korea announced the withdrawal of 11,000 of its 48,000 soldiers from South Vietnam, aligning with President Richard Nixon's Vietnamization strategy. This policy aimed to transfer combat duties to South Vietnamese forces and reduce American and allied troop presence. South Korean units had been heavily engaged in operations since 1965, and their partial pullout marked a shift in the war’s international dynamics. Military analysts noted changes in battlefield tactics and morale among South Vietnamese troops following the withdrawal. The move illustrated rising domestic pressures in allied nations to scale back involvement in the conflict.
1972
South Vietnam
Nixon's
Vietnamization
Vietnam War
1996day.year
The Siege of Sarajevo officially ends.
The brutal Siege of Sarajevo during the Bosnian War officially concluded in 1996.
On February 29, 1996, the four-year-long Siege of Sarajevo came to an official end following the implementation of the Dayton Peace Accords. Bosnian Serb forces had surrounded the city, subjecting residents to constant shelling, sniper fire, and severe shortages of supplies. The ceasefire allowed humanitarian aid to flow into Sarajevo and prompted the slow process of rebuilding. The end of the siege marked a significant moment in the Bosnian War and showcased the resilience of the city's inhabitants. Memorials and annual commemorations honor those who survived and those who lost their lives during the longest siege in modern warfare.
Siege of Sarajevo
2000day.year
Chechens attack a guard post near Ulus Kert, eventually killing 84 Russian paratroopers during the Second Chechen War.
In 2000, Chechen fighters attacked a Russian paratrooper guard post near Ulus Kert, killing 84 during the Second Chechen War.
On February 29, 2000, a group of Chechen rebels launched a surprise assault on a Russian guard post near the village of Ulus Kert. The fierce attack resulted in the deaths of 84 Russian paratroopers, marking one of the war’s deadliest single-day combats. Rebel forces reportedly used coordinated small-arms fire and grenades to overwhelm the defenders. The incident underscored the intensity and brutality of the Second Chechen War. It also highlighted the challenge faced by Russian forces in securing remote posts in the North Caucasus. In its aftermath, the Russian military reviewed its deployment strategies to prevent similar losses.
2000
Second Chechen War
2016day.year
In the Miqdadiyah bombing: at least 40 people are killed and 58 others wounded following a suicide bombing by ISIL at a Shi'ite funeral in the city of Miqdadiyah, Diyala, Iraq.
In 2016, an ISIL suicide bomber struck a Shi'ite funeral in Miqdadiyah, Iraq, killing at least 40 and injuring dozens.
On February 29, 2016, during a funeral service for a local militia member in the city of Miqdadiyah, Diyala province, Iraq, an Islamic State suicide bomber detonated explosives among mourners. The blast ripped through the gathering, killing at least 40 people and injuring over 50 others. Many of the victims were civilians paying respects to the deceased, highlighting the indiscriminate nature of the attack. Iraqi security forces and emergency responders rushed to the scene, transporting the wounded to nearby hospitals. The incident underscored the persistent threat posed by ISIL in eastern Iraq despite military operations against the group. It also deepened sectarian tensions in the region. International observers condemned the attack as an atrocity against peaceful civilians.
2016
Miqdadiyah bombing
suicide bombing
ISIL
Shi'ite
Miqdadiyah
Diyala
2020day.year
During a demonstration, pro-government colectivos shoot at disputed President and Speaker of the National Assembly Juan Guaidó and his supporters in Barquisimeto, Venezuela, leaving five injured.
In 2020, pro-government colectivos in Barquisimeto opened fire on protesters supporting Juan Guaidó, wounding five.
On February 29, 2020, a peaceful opposition march in Barquisimeto, Venezuela, turned violent when armed pro-government colectivos began shooting at attendees. Supporters of disputed President and National Assembly Speaker Juan Guaidó had gathered to demand the recognition of his interim government. Reports indicate that five protesters were wounded by gunfire as chaos erupted in the streets. Bystanders and journalists documented the incident, capturing footage of masked gunmen targeting the crowd. The attack intensified criticism of President Nicolás Maduro’s tolerance for armed civilian groups. It highlighted the dangerous intersection of politics and vigilante violence in Venezuela’s ongoing crisis. Human rights groups called for investigations and protection of peaceful assembly.
2020
colectivos
shoot
National Assembly
Juan Guaidó
Barquisimeto
2024day.year
The Flour Massacre (also known as the Al-Rashid massacre) took place on al-Rashid street at the Al-Nabulsi roundabout to the west of Gaza City in the Palestinian territory of the Gaza Strip where more than 100 Palestinians were killed and over 750 were wounded after Israeli forces opened fire on Palestinians waiting for humanitarian aid amidst the Gaza war.
In 2024, Israeli forces opened fire on Palestinians waiting for aid at the al-Rashid roundabout in Gaza, killing over 100 and wounding hundreds.
On February 29, 2024, during the ongoing Gaza war, hundreds of Palestinians gathered at the al-Rashid roundabout west of Gaza City to receive humanitarian flour aid. Israeli troops stationed nearby opened live fire on the crowd without warning, according to witnesses. More than 100 civilians were killed and over 750 wounded in the ensuing chaos. Eyewitness accounts described panicked crowds and desperate attempts to escape the hail of bullets. Humanitarian agencies condemned the shooting as a gross violation of international law. The incident, later termed the Flour Massacre, intensified global calls for ceasefire and accountability. It highlighted the perils faced by aid recipients in conflict zones. Investigations into the rules of engagement and command decisions were demanded by rights groups.
2024
Flour Massacre
Gaza City
Palestinian territory
Gaza Strip
Gaza war