previous year2009
2010201120122013201420152016201720182019
2020next year

Major Events of December 2016: Key Historical Moments from the Month

Each month is marked by defining moments that shape the course of history. Whether through political shifts, cultural movements, or world-changing events, these periods leave a lasting impression. Dive into the most important events from December 2016 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

history

Major Events of December 2016: Key Historical Moments from the Month

  • 01 Dec 2016 North Carolina begins to count.
  • 02 Dec 2016 Trump's Controversial Taiwan Call: President-elect Donald Trump engaged in a historic telephone conversation with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, marking the first direct communication between a U.S. president-elect and a Taiwanese leader since 1979. This call significantly heightened diplomatic tensions with China.
  • 03 Dec 2016 Oakland Ghost Ship Fire Disaster: A catastrophic fire at the 'Ghost Ship' warehouse in Oakland killed at least 36 people during an overcrowded concert. The warehouse, known for illegal residency, was packed far beyond its safe capacity. A criminal investigation was initiated to determine the cause of the deadly blaze.
  • 04 Dec 2016 Syrian Civil War Casualties: Russian airstrikes in Idlib, Syria resulted in at least 21 civilian deaths, further escalating the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the region.
  • 05 Dec 2016 2016 Oakland Warehouse Fire: According to authorities, the death toll has now reached 36. Gregory Ahern, Alameda County Sheriff, confirmed that they do not expect to find additional bodies among the debris.
  • 06 Dec 2016 Battle of Mosul: Iraqi Army Advances: Iraqi Army forces advanced to a bridge crossing the Tigris River in Mosul, with intense fighting occurring in the Salam district, located less than 1.5 km from the river.
  • 07 Dec 2016 Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day: Survivors and commemorators honored the 2,403 service members and civilians killed during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, marking the 75th anniversary of the historic event.
  • 08 Dec 2016 Park Geun-hye Impeachment Proceedings Initiated: A historic moment in South Korean politics as a bill is introduced to the National Assembly to impeach President Park Geun-hye, with a crucial vote expected the following day.
  • 09 Dec 2016 CIA Russian Election Interference Report: The CIA concluded that Russia actively attempted to influence the 2016 United States presidential election in favor of Donald Trump, revealing significant concerns about foreign electoral manipulation.
  • 10 Dec 2016 Istanbul Stadium Bombings: Two terrorist explosions occurred outside the Vodafone Arena in Istanbul, Turkey, killing 38 people and injuring 166 others. Ten suspects were subsequently arrested in connection with the attacks.
  • 11 Dec 2016 Russian Election Interference Allegations: A bipartisan group of senators, led by Senator John McCain, called for an investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election after the CIA reportedly concluded Russia was actively working to elect Donald Trump. Trump denied the allegations in a FOX News Sunday interview.
  • 12 Dec 2016 Battle for Aleppo Concludes: According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the battle for Aleppo has concluded with a significant victory for the Syrian government, marking a crucial turning point in the Syrian Civil War.
  • 13 Dec 2016 Syrian Civil War: Battle of Aleppo Ceasefire: After intense fighting, warring parties in Aleppo agreed to a ceasefire to facilitate the evacuation of civilians and rebel fighters. The evacuation was scheduled to begin at 5:00 a.m. EET Wednesday (03:00 UTC), with five buses designated to transport passengers out of the war-torn city.
  • 14 Dec 2016 China Militarizes Spratly Islands: Satellite imagery revealed China is constructing anti-aircraft guns, missile defense systems, and missile installations on artificial islands in the South China Sea, contradicting previous pledges not to militarize the region.
  • 15 Dec 2016 Intelligence Agencies Allege Putin Directed Election Hacking: U.S. intelligence agencies concluded that Russian President Vladimir Putin personally directed election interference aimed at helping Donald Trump win the 2016 presidential election.
  • 16 Dec 2016 Aleppo Evacuation Crisis: During the Syrian conflict, Syrian forces disrupted evacuations following a failed ceasefire. Approximately 8,000 civilians were evacuated from the devastated city of Aleppo, marking a critical moment in the Syrian Civil War.
  • 17 Dec 2016 Coalition Airstrikes Against ISIL: Coalition military forces conducted 13 coordinated airstrikes against ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq. The operation included 10 strikes in Syria using various aircraft and 3 strikes in Iraq, supporting the Government of Iraq's counter-terrorism efforts.
  • 18 Dec 2016 Syrian Civil War: Aleppo Offensive Bus Attack: During the Syrian Civil War's Aleppo Offensive in November-December 2016, rebels targeted and set fire to several buses intended to evacuate ill and wounded civilians from the besieged Syrian villages of Al-Fu'ah and Kafriya, escalating the humanitarian crisis.
  • 19 Dec 2016 Donald Trump Elected President: Donald Trump was confirmed as the next President of the United States through the Electoral College process, concluding one of the most contentious and polarizing presidential elections in modern American history.
  • 20 Dec 2016 Russian Ambassador Assassination Details: Russia's ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov, was shot and killed at an Ankara art gallery by an off-duty Turkish police officer named Mevlut Mert Altintas. The gunman shouted 'God is great' and 'Don't forget Aleppo' before being killed in a subsequent shootout with Turkish special forces.
  • 21 Dec 2016 2016 Berlin Attack Manhunt: German officials offer a reward of up to 100,000 Euros ($104,000) for information leading to the capture of Anis Amri, a 24-year-old Tunisian asylum seeker whose identification was found in the truck used during the terrorist attack.
  • 22 Dec 2016 Syrian Army Takes Full Control of Aleppo: After a prolonged and devastating conflict, the Syrian Army claims complete control of Aleppo following the evacuation of the last rebel group to the Idlib Governorate, marking a critical turning point in the Syrian Civil War.
  • 23 Dec 2016 Berlin Christmas Market Attack Suspect Killed: Anis Amri, the suspected perpetrator of the Berlin Christmas market terrorist attack, was killed in a shootout with Italian police in Milan. The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack, which killed 12 people and wounded over 50. Amri's fingerprints were found on the truck used in the assault.
  • 24 Dec 2016 Breakthrough in Ebola Vaccine Research: An experimental Ebola vaccine demonstrated remarkable efficacy, offering 100 percent protection in final clinical trials, marking a significant milestone in combating one of the most deadly viral diseases in recent history.
  • 25 Dec 2016 Russian Tu-154 Plane Crash in Black Sea: A Russian Defence Ministry Tupolev Tu-154 aircraft carrying members of the Alexandrov Ensemble tragically crashed into the Black Sea shortly after takeoff from Sochi, resulting in the loss of all 92 passengers and crew members. The plane was en route to Khmeimim, Syria, where Russian Armed Forces were participating in the Syrian Civil War.
  • 26 Dec 2016 UN Acknowledges Responsibility for Haiti Cholera Epidemic: The United Nations officially admitted that its peacekeepers were responsible for introducing the cholera epidemic in Haiti in 2010, which tragically resulted in 30,000 deaths, marking a significant moment of institutional accountability.
  • 27 Dec 2016 U.S. Federal Trade Commission grants the antitrust clearance to Abbott Laboratories for its acquisition of St. Jude Medical.
  • 28 Dec 2016 Colombia's FARC Amnesty Law: The Congress of Colombia approved a landmark amnesty law facilitating the demobilization of thousands of FARC rebels as part of the ongoing peace process. The law specifically excludes war criminals and those who have committed human rights violations, demonstrating a nuanced approach to reconciliation.
  • 29 Dec 2016 US Expels Russian Diplomats Over Election Interference: The United States expelled 35 Russian diplomats in response to alleged Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, escalating diplomatic tensions between the two nations.
  • 30 Dec 2016 Syria Ceasefire Agreement: A ceasefire brokered by Russia, Iran, and Turkey between Syria's government and opposition groups took effect, offering a potential path to reducing conflict in the war-torn region.
  • 31 Dec 2016 U.S. Troop Withdrawal from Afghanistan: As part of the ongoing Afghanistan War, the United States maintained a reduced military presence, with 8,400 troops remaining at four strategic garrisons: Kabul, Kandahar, Bagram, and Jalalabad. This marked a significant transition in the U.S. military's long-term engagement in the region.