Major Events of February 2017: 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 February 2017 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.
Major Events of February 2017: Key Historical Moments from the Month
- 01 Feb 2017 UK Parliament Supports Brexit Bill: The House of Commons in the United Kingdom overwhelmingly supported the Brexit bill with a decisive vote of 498 to 112, signaling a strong parliamentary mandate for the UK's departure from the European Union.
- 02 Feb 2017 White House Cautions Israel on West Bank Settlements: The White House warns Israel that expanding or building new settlements in the West Bank could potentially hinder peace negotiations with Palestinians.
- 03 Feb 2017 U.S. Travel Ban Temporarily Blocked: A U.S. federal judge temporarily blocked President Trump's controversial travel ban nationwide, pending a legal challenge. U.S. Customs and Border Protection subsequently instructed airlines to allow previously blocked travelers to board.
- 04 Feb 2017 Federal Judge Blocks Trump Immigration Order: A federal judge in Seattle issued a temporary restraining order against President Trump's executive order, which had suspended US entry for individuals from seven majority-Muslim nations.
- 05 Feb 2017 Trump Travel Ban Legal Challenge: The US Court of Appeals (Ninth Circuit) denied President Trump's request to suspend the ruling blocking portions of his controversial travel ban, maintaining legal restrictions.
- 06 Feb 2017 Queen Elizabeth II Reaches Sapphire Jubilee: Queen Elizabeth II celebrated her 65th year as sovereign, becoming the first British monarch to reach a Sapphire Jubilee, marking an extraordinary milestone in British royal history.
- 07 Feb 2017 Syrian Human Rights Violations and Airstrikes: Amnesty International reported a horrific human rights violation, revealing that between 5,000 to 13,000 civilians were potentially executed at Sednaya Prison in Damascus from September 2011 to December 2015. Simultaneously, airstrikes in Idlib killed at least 26 people, with the death toll expected to rise, underscoring the brutal nature of the Syrian Civil War.
- 08 Feb 2017 Putin Decriminalizes Minor Domestic Violence: Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a controversial law decriminalizing minor domestic violence, a move that was met with significant criticism from human rights organizations worldwide.
- 09 Feb 2017 Court Blocks Trump's Immigration Order: The 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals denied the Trump administration's appeal, maintaining a lower court ruling that halted the president's controversial executive order on immigration.
- 10 Feb 2017 Trump Administration Reconsiders Travel Ban: President Trump indicates potential revisions to the controversial travel ban after the Ninth Circuit Court's decision to suspend the original policy, signaling potential legal and diplomatic adjustments.
- 11 Feb 2017 Trump Proposes New Immigration Order: President Donald Trump suggested creating a 'brand new' immigration order after his previous executive order restricting entry from seven majority-Muslim nations was defeated in court, promising enhanced security measures.
- 12 Feb 2017 North Korean Ballistic Missile Test: North Korea conducted a provocative ballistic missile test over the Sea of Japan, escalating regional tensions and drawing international concern.
- 13 Feb 2017 Michael Flynn Resigns as National Security Advisor: Michael T. Flynn resigned from his position as National Security Advisor amid controversy over his communications with Russian officials. Retired General Keith Kellogg was appointed as acting National Security Advisor pending a permanent replacement.
- 14 Feb 2017 Syrian Civil War: Idlib Governorate Clashes: On February 14, 2017, rival fighters from Tahrir Al-Sham and Jund Al-Aqsa engaged in intense clashes within Syria's northern Idlib Governorate. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported dozens of fatalities during this violent confrontation, highlighting the ongoing fragmentation and internal conflicts within Syrian rebel groups.
- 15 Feb 2017 ISRO Sets World Record for Satellite Launch: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) achieved a remarkable milestone by launching a record number of satellites in a single mission, demonstrating India's advanced space technology capabilities.
- 16 Feb 2017 Myanmar's Military Ends Rohingya 'Clearance Operation': Myanmar's military announced the conclusion of its 'clearance operation' against the Rohingya population in Rakhine State. The United Nations expressed serious concerns, suggesting the actions may constitute ethnic cleansing or crimes against humanity.
- 17 Feb 2017 Scott Pruitt Confirmed as EPA Administrator: The U.S. Senate confirmed Scott Pruitt as Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency with a 52-46 vote. Pruitt, known for his skeptical stance on climate change, was supported by some Democrats and opposed by Republican Susan Collins.
- 18 Feb 2017 Putin Recognizes Documents from Ukrainian Separatist Regions: Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered temporary recognition of civil registration documents issued in the separatist-held areas of Donetsk and Luhansk, further complicating the ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine.
- 19 Feb 2017 Battle of Mosul: Iraqi Forces Launch Western Mosul Operation: U.S.-backed Iraqi forces initiated an operation to reclaim western Mosul from ISIL militants. The United Nations reported critical humanitarian challenges, with approximately 800,000 residents facing severe shortages of food, fuel, water, and electricity.
- 20 Feb 2017 South Sudan Famine Crisis: The World Food Programme and UN agencies declared a severe famine in Unity State, South Sudan. Approximately 100,000 people are at immediate risk of starvation, with an additional one million on the brink of a humanitarian catastrophe.
- 21 Feb 2017 Trump Administration Immigration Policy: The Trump Administration released a comprehensive memo outlining the policy for deportation of undocumented immigrants accused of criminal activities, signaling a significant shift in immigration enforcement.
- 22 Feb 2017 Syrian Civil War: SDF Advances Against ISIS near Raqqa: U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) troops converge on two fronts northeast of Raqqa, successfully encircling a small group of villages still held by ISIS militants.
- 23 Feb 2017 Iraqi Forces Enter Mosul International Airport: During the Battle of Mosul, Iraqi Police Forces successfully entered the Mosul International Airport and seized the runway from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), advancing their campaign to reclaim the city.
- 24 Feb 2017 Kim Jong-nam Assassination Investigation: Malaysian police confirmed that Kim Jong-nam, half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, was killed using VX nerve agent, a toxin almost exclusively used in chemical warfare, suggesting a state-sponsored assassination.
- 25 Feb 2017 Democratic National Committee Leadership Election: Tom Perez was elected Chair of the Democratic National Committee in Atlanta, Georgia, receiving 235 votes. He subsequently named Keith Ellison as Deputy Party Chair, marking a significant moment in the party's leadership transition.
- 26 Feb 2017 89th Academy Awards Ceremony: The 89th Academy Awards took place in Los Angeles, featuring a historic moment when 'Moonlight' won Best Picture after initially being mistakenly announced as 'La La Land'. Key winners included Damien Chazelle (Best Director), Casey Affleck (Best Actor), Emma Stone (Best Actress), Mahershala Ali (Best Supporting Actor), and Viola Davis (Best Supporting Actress).
- 27 Feb 2017 SpaceX Announces Lunar Tourist Mission: SpaceX revealed plans to send two space tourists on an orbital lunar mission in 2018, marking a significant milestone in commercial space exploration.
- 28 Feb 2017 Turkish Coup Attempt Trial: A massive trial commenced in Turkey, with approximately 330 individuals facing charges related to the previous year's coup attempt, including allegations of murdering and attempting to overthrow government officials.