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Events on Wednesday 20 December 1989 1
1989United States invades PanamaOperation Just Cause topples Manuel NoriegaUS forces invaded Panama to remove military leader Manuel Noriega, who was wanted on drug trafficking charges. Noriega took refuge in the Vatican embassy before surrendering in January 1990. The operation involved over 25,000 US troops and caused hundreds of Panamanian civilian and military casualties.