The U.S. cruise missile strikes on August 20 targeted alleged al-Qaeda camps in Afghanistan and a suspected chemical weapons site in Sudan as a direct response to the embassy bombings that occurred on August 7, which caused considerable loss of life. The bombings in Nairobi, Kenya, and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, left more than 200 people dead and thousands injured, marking a significant terrorist attack on American interests overseas. President Bill Clinton authorized the strikes, stating that they were necessary to prevent further attacks and hold those responsible accountable.

The strikes involved approximately 75 cruise missiles launched from Navy ships in the Red Sea. They specifically targeted a facility in Khost, Afghanistan, believed to be an al-Qaeda training camp, and a pharmaceutical factory in Khartoum, Sudan, which U.S. officials alleged was producing chemical weapons. The attacks were controversial, raising questions about the accuracy of intelligence used to justify military actions, especially regarding the factory in Sudan, which was argued by some to be a legitimate commercial operation.

These military actions underscored the growing global threat posed by al-Qaeda and emphasized the U.S. commitment to combating terrorism. They marked one of the first significant military responses from the U.S. after the Cold War aligned with the emerging need to deal with non-state actors. The incidents had lasting implications for U.S. foreign policy, particularly in the context of targeting terrorism and addressing security issues in the Middle East and beyond.