Today in history: 241 US servicemen were killed in 1983 Beirut barracks bombings by Islamic Jihad

The 1983 Beirut barracks bombings were a devastating pair of suicide bombings that targeted the United States Embassy and Marine barracks in Beirut, Lebanon. A total of 241 Americans, mostly U.S. Marines, were killed in the attacks. The bombings were carried out by Islamic Jihad, a militant group with ties to Iran and Hezbollah. The group targeted Americans due to religious and political motivations, as well as a desire to expel Western forces from the region.