On October 25, 1983, U.S. forces and Caribbean allies launched an invasion of Grenada in Operation Urgent Fury. The action followed a coup and the execution of Prime Minister Maurice Bishop. U.S. officials said they were acting to protect American medical students on the island and to restore order. The invasion quickly toppled the military government and installed a new leadership. Many nations criticized the operation as a violation of international law, while supporters said it prevented further violence. The event showed how Cold War tensions and regional politics shaped U.S. military actions in the Caribbean.
