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PRINTER'S NO. 1618
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE RESOLUTION
No. 281
Session of
2026
INTRODUCED BY DUSH, ROTHMAN, MASTRIANO, ROBINSON, VOGEL,
PHILLIPS-HILL, MARTIN, J. WARD, PENNYCUICK AND BAKER,
APRIL 17, 2026
REFERRED TO RULES AND EXECUTIVE NOMINATIONS, APRIL 17, 2026
A RESOLUTION
Commemorating the anniversary of Operation El Dorado Canyon.
WHEREAS, On April 14, 1986, the United States launched
Operation El Dorado Canyon; and
WHEREAS, Operation El Dorado Canyon was a retaliatory United
States military mission aimed at terrorist operations led by
then Libyan President Muammar Gaddafi; and
WHEREAS, Operation El Dorado was carried out in direct
response to the bombing of the La Belle Discotheque in West
Berlin, a violent attack which ultimately killed two American
soldiers and injured at least 230 individuals, which included
more than 50 American service members; and
WHEREAS, The mission was planned primarily by the United
States Air Force's 48th Tactical Fighter Wing based in England;
and
WHEREAS, Twenty-four United States Air Force F-111s departed
Royal Air Force (RAF) Lakenheath along with five EF-111s from
RAF Upper Heyford; and
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WHEREAS, The F-111s faced a 3,500-mile flight with four
aerial refuelings each way due to flight restrictions; and
WHEREAS, As the aircraft approached Libya, two United States
Navy aircraft carriers, the USS Coral Sea and the USS America,
launched 14 A-6E strike aircraft and 12 F/A-18 and A-7 strike
support aircraft; and
WHEREAS, In close coordination with the United States Navy,
aircraft launched from the carriers effectively suppressed
Libyan air defenses and electronic countermeasures began shortly
before the attacks, neutralizing Libyan radar and missile
systems; and
WHEREAS, After Libya's air defenses were rendered useless,
Navy aircraft struck targets near Benghazi, while Air Force F-
111s attacked strategic sites in Tripoli, including military
barracks, a terrorist training camp and a military airport; and
WHEREAS, Tragically, one F-111 was shot down, resulting in
the deaths of both crew members; and
WHEREAS, Search and rescue efforts continued for over a day
but ultimately failed to recover the pilots; and
WHEREAS, Overall, the United States military recognized
Operation El Dorado Canyon as a successful operation and one
which demonstrated the Air Force's ability to conduct very
precise long-range bombing strikes; and
WHEREAS, The success of this operation and its show of force
resulted in ending international terrorism based in Libya for
decades and forced Colonel Muammar Gaddafi to cease his support
of international terrorism; and
WHEREAS, In the long term, the operation had lasting
significance for United States military strategy, exhibiting
this country's ability to achieve global reach on the ever-
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changing battlefield; and
WHEREAS, Equally as important, the lessons learned from
technical and operational shortcomings were later applied
successfully, particularly during Operation Desert Storm in
1991, where improved F-111 targeting systems proved highly
effective; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate commemorate the anniversary of
Operation El Dorado Canyon.
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