Marine Corps Knowledge Practice 2026 - Free Marine Corps Practice Questions and Study Guide

Operation Just Cause was specifically designed to capture Manuel Noriega, the de facto leader of Panama, who was implicated in drug trafficking and other criminal activities. This military operation took place in December 1989 and aimed not only to apprehend Noriega but also to restore democratic governance in Panama and safeguard U.S. citizens living there. The operation involved a significant military presence and utilized various strategies, including airstrikes and ground forces, to accomplish its objectives.

In contrast, Operation Enduring Freedom refers to the military campaign initiated in response to the September 11 attacks in 2001, targeting terrorist organizations in Afghanistan. Operation Urgent Fury was the U.S. invasion of Grenada in 1983, aimed at restoring an overthrow government and protecting American citizens. Lastly, Operation United Shield, conducted in the early 1990s, was focused on the withdrawal of U.N. peacekeeping forces from Somalia amidst the country’s civil unrest. Each of these operations had distinct goals and contexts, highlighting why Operation Just Cause is the one specifically associated with capturing Manuel Noriega.