1776day.year
American Revolutionary War: The Battle of Harlem Heights is fought.
During the American Revolutionary War on September 16, 1776, Continental forces won a morale-boosting victory at the Battle of Harlem Heights.
Following a series of setbacks around New York City, General George Washington’s Continental Army engaged British troops at Harlem Heights on September 16, 1776. The skirmish saw American sharpshooters and militia units harass British light infantry on the heights overlooking the Harlem River. A daring counterattack by the 1st Maryland Regiment and other Continental forces forced the British back in close-quarters combat. Though casualties were modest, the encounter restored American confidence after recent defeats. The victory demonstrated the growing discipline and resolve of Washington’s army. It became one of the first clear tactical successes for the fledgling United States.
1776
American Revolutionary War
Battle of Harlem Heights
1779day.year
American Revolutionary War: The Franco-American Siege of Savannah begins.
On September 16, 1779, French and American forces commenced the Siege of Savannah in a bold but ultimately failed attempt to recapture the city from the British.
In the autumn of 1779, Franco-American forces under Count d’Estaing and General Benjamin Lincoln embarked on a campaign to retake Savannah, Georgia. On September 16, the allied troops arrived and established siege lines around the fortified British-held city. They coordinated artillery bombardments aimed at weakening defenses and cutting supply routes. Despite early optimism and fierce fighting, miscommunication and logistical challenges hampered the siege. A frontal assault in October ended in heavy casualties and a British tactical victory. The failed operation underscored the complexities of coalition warfare and left Savannah in British hands until 1782.
1779
Siege of Savannah
1810day.year
With the Grito de Dolores, Father Miguel Hidalgo begins Mexico's fight for independence from Spain.
Father Miguel Hidalgo issued the Grito de Dolores on September 16, 1810, igniting Mexico’s struggle for independence from Spain.
In the small town of Dolores, Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla rang the church bell and delivered a fiery call to arms against Spanish colonial rule. On September 16, 1810, his proclamation—known as the Grito de Dolores—urged Mexicans to fight for freedom, unity, and land reform. The declaration sparked a popular uprising that rapidly spread across central Mexico. Peasants, indigenous communities, and discontented criollos rallied under Hidalgo’s banner, creating one of the first major rebellions in Latin America. Although Hidalgo’s campaign ended in his capture and execution in 1811, the movement it launched continued under other leaders. Mexico eventually secured independence in 1821, cementing September 16 as its national holiday.
1810
Grito de Dolores
Miguel Hidalgo
Mexico's fight for independence from Spain
1914day.year
World War I: The Siege of Przemyśl (present-day Poland) begins.
The protracted Siege of Przemyśl begins as Russian forces encircle the Austro-Hungarian fortress in modern-day Poland.
On September 16, 1914, Russian troops encircled the strategic fortress city of Przemyśl, marking the start of a grueling siege. Situated along Austria-Hungary’s northeastern frontier, Przemyśl was a key defensive stronghold against Russian advances. The siege lasted until March 1915, making it one of the longest and most grueling engagements of the early war. Both sides endured harsh winter conditions, supply shortages, and relentless artillery bombardments. The eventual fall of the fortress dealt a blow to Austro-Hungarian morale and altered the dynamics on the Eastern Front. The siege demonstrated the brutal nature of trench warfare and foreshadowed the attritional battles that would define World War I.
1914
World War I
Siege of Przemyśl
1940day.year
World War II: Italian troops conquer Sidi Barrani.
Italian troops capture Sidi Barrani in Egypt, advancing their position in World War II’s North African campaign.
On September 16, 1940, as part of the Italian invasion of Egypt, the Regio Esercito seized the town of Sidi Barrani from British forces. The victory followed weeks of logistical buildup across the Libyan border under Marshal Rodolfo Graziani's command. Securing Sidi Barrani provided Italy with a strategic launch point for further advances toward the Nile Delta. However, overstretched supply lines and inadequate reinforcements soon hampered their operational momentum. British counterattacks later halted the Italian advance, setting the stage for a seesaw battle in the desert. The actions around Sidi Barrani foreshadowed the larger struggle that would culminate in the British Operation Compass offensive.
1940
World War II
conquer Sidi Barrani
1943day.year
World War II: The German Tenth Army reports that it can no longer contain the Allied bridgehead around Salerno.
The German Tenth Army admits failure to contain the Allied beachhead at Salerno, Italy, amid fierce WWII fighting.
On September 16, 1943, commanders of the German Tenth Army reported that they were unable to drive Allied forces from their Salerno bridgehead on Italy’s western coast. This admission came days after Operation Avalanche, where British and American troops stormed the beaches south of Naples. The trench and urban combat around Salerno saw heavy artillery duels and tank engagements as Germans attempted counterattacks. Despite initial resistance, Allied naval gunfire support and troop reinforcements solidified the beachhead. The struggle at Salerno marked Italy's shift from Axis power to co-belligerent following Mussolini's ousting. The successful establishment of the Salerno front paved the way for the Allied advance toward Rome.
1943
German Tenth Army
Allied bridgehead around Salerno
1945day.year
World War II: The Japanese occupation of Hong Kong comes to an end.
The Japanese occupation of Hong Kong ends as British forces re-establish control following Japan’s WWII surrender.
On September 16, 1945, British forces formally resumed administration of Hong Kong after five years of Japanese occupation. The handover followed Japan's surrender on August 15 and the subsequent Allied acceptance of its terms. Under Japanese rule since December 1941, the colony had endured food shortages, forced labor, and civilian hardships. The British military government set about restoring civil order, repairing infrastructure, and reviving the local economy. Many residents faced the challenge of rebuilding homes and livelihoods after years of wartime deprivation. The end of occupation marked a new chapter for Hong Kong as it began its postwar transformation into a global trading hub.
1945
Japanese occupation of Hong Kong
1970day.year
King Hussein of Jordan declares war against the Palestine Liberation Organization, the conflict came to be known as Black September.
King Hussein of Jordan declares war on the PLO, igniting the conflict known as Black September.
In 1970, tensions between the Hashemite monarchy and Palestinian guerrilla factions in Jordan reached a breaking point. On September 16, King Hussein ordered military action against the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), asserting sovereignty and aiming to curb guerrilla attacks. The ensuing conflict, labeled Black September, escalated into a brief but brutal civil war within Jordan. Urban warfare erupted in Amman and refugee camps, drawing regional and international scrutiny. Hundreds were killed and thousands displaced before a ceasefire was brokered with foreign mediation. The events reshaped Jordan's political landscape and led to the PLO's relocation to Lebanon.
1970
King Hussein
Jordan
Palestine Liberation Organization
Black September
1982day.year
Lebanon War: The Sabra and Shatila massacre in Lebanon takes place.
In the midst of the Lebanon War, hundreds of Palestinian and Lebanese civilians are massacred at Sabra and Shatila refugee camps.
Between September 16 and 18, 1982, right-wing Phalangist militias entered the Sabra and Shatila refugee camps in Beirut, Lebanon. Under the watch of Israeli forces, Lebanese Christian militiamen killed an estimated several hundred to over a thousand civilians. The atrocities targeted Palestinian refugees and Lebanese Shiites following the assassination of Bashir Gemayel. Evidence of systematic brutality led to international condemnation and a United Nations investigation. The Kahan Commission later found Israel indirectly responsible, contributing to the resignation of Defense Minister Ariel Sharon. The massacre remains one of the darkest chapters of the Lebanon War and a lasting symbol of wartime atrocities against civilians.
1982
Lebanon War
Sabra and Shatila massacre
2007day.year
Security guards working for Blackwater Worldwide shoot and kill 17 Iraqis in Nisour Square, Baghdad.
Private security contractors from Blackwater Worldwide opened fire in Baghdad's Nisour Square on September 16, 2007, killing 17 Iraqi civilians in a controversial sniper attack.
Blackwater guards were escorting a US embassy convoy when they entered Nisour Square under tense conditions.
Eyewitnesses reported unprovoked gunfire that lasted several minutes.
Seventeen Iraqi civilians were killed, with dozens more wounded in the chaos.
The incident sparked international outrage and raised questions about the use of private military firms.
Investigations and legal battles over jurisdiction and accountability would continue for years.
The Nisour Square shooting remains a focal point in debates over private security roles in conflict zones.
shoot and kill
2014day.year
The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant launches its Kobani offensive against Syrian–Kurdish forces.
The Islamic State launched a major assault on the Syrian town of Kobani on September 16, 2014, igniting intense urban combat with Kurdish defenders.
Kobani, a border town in northern Syria, became a strategic target for ISIS to split Kurdish territories.
On September 16, 2014, ISIS fighters initiated a multi-pronged attack from multiple directions.
Kurdish defenders, backed by U.S.-led coalition airstrikes, mounted a stubborn defense.
The battle raged for weeks, resulting in heavy casualties on both sides and widespread destruction.
Images of the siege galvanized global attention and humanitarian efforts to aid civilians.
The Kobani offensive marked a turning point in the fight against ISIS by highlighting the importance of air support and local alliances.
2014
Kobani offensive
2022day.year
During the Let Yet Kone massacre, the Burmese military kills 13 villagers, including eight children, after attacking a school in Sagaing Region, Myanmar.
In a brutal attack on September 16, 2022, the Burmese military assaulted a school in Sagaing Region, killing villagers including children.
On September 16, 2022, soldiers from the Myanmar military entered Let Yet Kone village in Sagaing Region and opened fire on a school building. The assault resulted in the death of 13 villagers, of whom eight were children, and left the community in shock. Eyewitnesses reported indiscriminate targeting of civilians, including students sheltering inside the school. Human rights organizations condemned the massacre as a gross violation of international law and called for accountability. The incident deepened the humanitarian crisis in the region and intensified calls for urgent intervention by the international community. Local and global advocacy groups have since documented similar attacks across Myanmar’s conflict-affected areas, highlighting the urgent need for protection of civilian populations.
2022
Let Yet Kone massacre
Burmese military
Sagaing Region
Myanmar