February 16: What Happened on This Day in History

• 2021: Five thousand people gathered in the town of Kherrata, Bejaia Province to commemorate the two-year anniversary of the Hirak protest movement. The demonstrations, which had been suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, resumed with a significant public turnout.
• 2014: Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah called for sectarian forces to withdraw from Syria, signaling potential shifts in the complex conflict. In a humanitarian gesture, an injured Syrian child was treated at an Israeli hospital following clashes near the border.
• 2004: Shirley Strickland, a renowned Australian Olympic athlete who was a multiple medal winner, passed away at the age of 79. She was a significant figure in Australian sports history, particularly in track and field.
• 2002: Walter Winterbottom, a significant figure in English football management who was born in 1913, passed away. He was instrumental in developing football coaching and management techniques in the United Kingdom.
• 2000: Nobel Peace Prize laureate and renowned human rights activist Archbishop Desmond Tutu delivered an impactful speech at the University of Toronto, sharing insights on social justice and reconciliation.
• 1994: A powerful 6.5 magnitude earthquake struck Southeast Sumatra, causing significant loss of life with 200 people killed. The earthquake highlighted the region's seismic vulnerability and the devastating potential of tectonic activity in Indonesia.
• 1988: On February 16, 1988, U.S. military advisors were involved in their first documented combat action during the Salvadoran Civil War. This marked a significant moment in U.S. military involvement in Central American conflicts, highlighting the complex geopolitical tensions of the late Cold War era. The advisors, who were primarily supporting the Salvadoran government forces against left-wing guerrilla groups, became directly engaged in combat operations, signaling a more active role in the regional conflict.
• 1985: The New Jersey Devils set a franchise record by scoring their fastest hat trick in just 42 seconds during an NHL game.
• 1981: On February 16, 1981, a dramatic security incident occurred during Pope John Paul II's mass at Pakistan's National Stadium in Karachi. Twenty minutes before the Pope's arrival, a hand grenade unexpectedly detonated in a stairway behind the VIP grandstand, killing the individual carrying the explosive device. The incident highlighted the potential security risks faced by high-profile religious leaders during international visits.
• 1977: The Soviet Union conducted a nuclear weapons test at the Sary Shagan Test Range in Kazakhstan, continuing its strategic nuclear weapons development during the Cold War era. The test site, located in a remote region of the Kazakh SSR, was a critical facility for Soviet military research and weapons testing.

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February 16th marks the 47th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar.

There are 318 days remaining until the end of the year (or 319 days in case of leap years).

February 16th is the 16th day of the month of February.

What day of the week is February 16?

On February 16th, 2025 the day of the week is Sunday.

Holidays and Observances on February 16

The zodiac sign associated with February 16th is Aquarius according to the Western Zodiac.

More about February 16 zodiac

What is special about the Aquarius sign?

• Aquarius personality traits and attitude
• Aquarius most and least compatible signs
• Why February born are so special