El Salvador - Honduras war
El Salvador - Honduras war was a 4-day war that began on July 14, 1969, between two Central American countries. It is mainly called the football war/soccer war/100-hour war. In fact, football is not the real reason why these two countries go to war but it is a launching pad for war. Honduras and El Salvador have had a series of problems between them and these problems have led to strained relations between the two neighbors. El Salvador is a small country with a high population, so the chances for Salvadorans in the 1960s were very low. But Honduras is much larger than El Salvador, so the chances of finding an opportunity like a job are very high. The influx of Salvadorans into Honduras was so high that most of the native Hondurans developed hatred/hate towards the other community (Salvador). El Salvador - Honduras war is considered a typical war in the list of shortest wars in history that had a devastating human cost.
During the El Salvador - Honduras war, the 1970 World Cup qualifiers that will be held in different countries, fights and riots will occur between two spectators/fans. When Honduran fans destroyed and attacked Salvadoran homes and shops, most fled back to El Salvador. El Salvador demanded action and the perpetrators were arrested but got nothing. Diplomatic relations with Honduras broke down. On July 14, the El Salvador air force made a surprise attack on the Hondurans. Then the army invaded Honduras with tanks and armored vehicles moving quickly as they approached the Honduran capital Tegucigalpa. The Organization of American States (OAS) called for an immediate ceasefire at the request of Honduras. But El Salvador wants to ensure the safety of its citizens in Honduras and compensate for injuries and damages. On July 18, 1969, a ceasefire was announced making it a 4-day war. Although it was a brief war, it resulted in the deaths of 900 Salvadorans and 2,100 Hondurans. The war has highlighted how hostility between the two communities can lead to war and its consequences.
- Date: 14 - 18 July 1969
- Location: El Salvador and Honduras
- Result: Ceasefire by OAS intervention
