On this day — December 4

Gaza Strip.

New York City near the entrance of the New York Hilton Midtown.

killing at least 68 people.

It eventually became the largest wildfire in modern California history to date after burning 1,140 square kilometers (440 sq mi) in Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties.

killing 17 people.

Louisiana.

the second module of the International Space Station, is launched.

W. Bush orders 28,000 U.S. troops to Somalia in Northeast Africa.

he is the last and longest-held American hostage in Lebanon.

resulting in an oil spill of approximately 500,000 US gallons (1,900,000 L).

Sri Lankan Army soldiers kill 107–150 civilians in Mannar.

Kennedy and USS Independence attack Syrian missile sites in Lebanon in response to an F-14 being fired on by an SA-7. One A-6 Intruder and A-7 Corsair are shot down. One American pilot is killed, one is rescued, and one is captured.