This Day in History: August 7

2008 Outbreak of War Between Russia and Georgia

The beginning of the conflict was linked to South Ossetia and Abkhazia, two provinces in Gorgia that broke away in the early 90s. Their independence remained unrecognized by many in the international community. However, Russia was a supporter and positioned peacekeeping forces in these regions. In 2008, the situation aggravated as Russia added more troops in the area. The result of the war was a victory for Russia and Georgia losing some parts of South Ossetia and Abkhazia to them.

1998 Coordinated Bomb Attacks on American Embassies in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania and Nairobi, Kenya

The simultaneous attacks in these capital cities claimed over 200 innocent lives. An Egyptian Islamic Jihad, a known affiliate of Al-Qaeda, assumed the responsibility for this atrocious act.

1974 High-Wire Daredevil Walk Between Twin Towers of the World Trade Center

French high-wire artist, Philippe Petit, aged 24 at the time, dared to walk 8 times across a high wire strung between the twin towers. The entire act lasted 45 minutes, with wire set at an astonishing height of 1,350 feet from the ground.

1960 Independence of Ivory Coast

The West African region, Côte d'Ivoire, cut ties with France after being a member of the French Community for two years. The explorer Louis Gustave Binger led the domination of Ivory Coast under French Colony in 1893. Ivory Coast's first president was Felix Houphouet-Boigny, who held the position until his death in 1993.

1782 George Washington Introduces the Purple Heart

Originally known as the Badge of Military Merit, the Purple Heart serves as a military decoration. On the 200th anniversary of Washington's birth, in 1932, it was decided to be awarded to those killed or wounded serving in the US Armed Forces due to enemy action since or post April 5, 1917. Americans observe Purple Heart Day each year on August 7.

1461 Coup Against the Tianshun Emperor by Ming Dynasty Chinese Military General Cao Qin

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1714 The Battle of Gangut: A Significant Victory of the Russian Navy during the Great Northern War against Sweden

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1933 Massacre of Over 3,000 Assyrians in the Village of Sumail by The Iraqi Government

This day of horrific events has since been memorialised as the Assyrian Martyrs Day.

1955 Tokyo Telecommunications Engineering Begins Selling Its First Transistor Radios in Japan

This company served as the foundation for what would eventually become the multinational conglomerate, Sony.

1990 US Deploys Troops to Saudi Arabia, Marking the Beginning of Operation Desert Shield

This action was a response to Iraq's invasion of Kuwait earlier in the year, igniting the Gulf War.