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Major Events of April 2018: 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 April 2018 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

history

Major Events of April 2018: Key Historical Moments from the Month

  • 01 Apr 2018 Syrian Civil War: Rebel Evacuation from Douma: Rebel fighters began evacuating Douma, the last rebel stronghold in Eastern Ghouta, Syria, using government-provided buses to relocate to Idlib Governorate.
  • 02 Apr 2018 US-China Trade Tensions Escalate: The White House condemned China's retaliatory decision to impose tariffs up to 25% on 128 U.S. imports, including pork and wine, in response to U.S. tariffs on Chinese steel and aluminum imports.
  • 03 Apr 2018 Trump Invites Putin to White House: The Kremlin reported that President Trump invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to visit the White House, a controversial move given ongoing tensions over election interference allegations.
  • 04 Apr 2018 First ICC Indictment of Malian War Criminal: Al Hassan Ag Abdoul Aziz Ag Mohamed Ag Mahmoud became the first Malian to be indicted before the International Criminal Court. He is accused of serious war crimes in Timbuktu, including desecration of religious shrines, rape, torture, and sexual enslavement during the conflict in Mali.
  • 05 Apr 2018 US-China Trade Tensions Escalate: President Trump ordered officials to examine an additional $100 billion in potential tariffs against China, compounding the existing $50 billion worth of tariffs on Chinese imports. This action significantly heightened trade tensions between the two economic superpowers.
  • 06 Apr 2018 Humboldt Broncos Bus Tragedy: A devastating bus collision occurred in Saskatchewan, Canada, involving the Humboldt Broncos junior ice hockey team. The bus collided with a semi-truck near Tisdale, resulting in 16 fatalities and 13 serious injuries. This tragic accident shocked the Canadian sports community and led to widespread national mourning.
  • 07 Apr 2018 Douma Chemical Attack: During the Eastern Ghouta offensive of the Syrian Civil War, Syrian government forces conducted a chemical weapons attack in Douma, resulting in dozens of civilian casualties.
  • 08 Apr 2018 2018 Douma Chemical Weapons Attack: A devastating chemical weapons attack in Douma, Syria, reportedly killed at least 70 people. The White Helmets claimed the attack occurred, while Russia and the Syrian government denied any chemical weapons usage. U.S. President Donald Trump strongly condemned the attack, referring to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad as 'Animal Assad' and warning Russia and Iran about their support.
  • 09 Apr 2018 2018 Douma Chemical Attack: Human Rights Watch condemned the Douma chemical attack in Syria as a potential war crime, suggesting that Russia and Syria could be criminally responsible. The attack in Idlib resulted in the deaths of more than a dozen people, including children and civilians, further escalating the humanitarian crisis in the Syrian Civil War.
  • 10 Apr 2018 Syria Chemical Attack International Response Preparations: Anonymous U.S. officials revealed potential plans for a multilateral military response to Syrian government forces following the Douma chemical attack. Experts suggested potential involvement from France, the United Kingdom, and Middle Eastern allies. Eurocontrol simultaneously warned airlines about potential airstrikes in the Mediterranean region.
  • 11 Apr 2018 Yemeni Crisis Missile Interception: During the ongoing Yemeni Crisis, the Royal Saudi Air Defense successfully intercepted a ballistic missile fired from Yemen over Riyadh, causing panic among residents. Houthi rebels claimed to have launched multiple Burkan-2 missiles targeting Saudi Arabian oil facilities, with two additional Qasef-1 drones being shot down near the border.
  • 12 Apr 2018 Syrian Civil War: Eastern Ghouta Falls: Syrian government forces successfully expelled rebels from Douma, completing their recapture of Eastern Ghouta, a significant former rebel stronghold.
  • 13 Apr 2018 Ecuadorian Journalists Killed by Colombian Rebels: The Government of Ecuador confirmed that three Ecuadorian journalists, previously kidnapped on March 26 by Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebels, have been killed. In response, President Lenin Moreno ordered military operations at the Colombian border and offered a US$100,000 reward for capturing the killers.
  • 14 Apr 2018 US, France, and UK Missile Strikes in Syria: On Saturday morning, the United States, France, and Britain launched coordinated missile strikes against chemical weapons sites and military facilities in Syria. This was a direct response to the chemical attack in Douma. Russia immediately called for an emergency meeting at the United Nations Security Council to discuss potential retaliatory measures, including plans to supply S-300 missile systems to Syria.
  • 15 Apr 2018 Trump Warns Syria on Chemical Attacks: U.S. President Donald Trump warns Syria that the United States is 'locked and loaded' and prepared to strike again in response to potential chemical attacks, escalating tensions in the region.
  • 16 Apr 2018 Syrian Civil War: Chemical Weapons Investigation: Amid ongoing tensions, Russia denied interfering with the chemical weapons attack site in Douma, Syria. The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, a nine-member team, was granted permission to visit Damascus to investigate the incident. Syrian state media reported missile interceptions at Shayrat Airbase, with the U.S. denying any involvement.
  • 17 Apr 2018 Barbara Bush Passes Away: Barbara Bush, former First Lady of the United States and wife of President George H.W. Bush, died at the age of 92.
  • 18 Apr 2018 End of Castro Era in Cuba: Miguel Diaz Canel was elected as Cuba's new president, marking the first time since the Cuban Revolution that a non-Castro family member leads the country. Raul Castro prepared to resign, concluding decades of Castro family governance.
  • 19 Apr 2018 Nuclear Risk in Donbass: Ukrainian ecology minister Ostap Semerak warned of a potential nuclear catastrophe if pro-Russian separatists proceed with plans to flood a mine where small nuclear weapons were tested in the 1970s. Semerak appealed for international intervention to prevent a possible environmental and security disaster.
  • 20 Apr 2018 North Korea Halts Nuclear Testing: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un announced the cessation of missile and nuclear testing, agreeing to close down nuclear test facilities, signaling a potential diplomatic breakthrough.
  • 21 Apr 2018 Syrian Civil War Developments: The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons collected samples from a chemical weapons attack site in Douma, Syria. Simultaneously, Qalamoun rebels began evacuating the region after agreeing to surrender to the Syrian government. Sweden hosted a rare United Nations Security Council meeting to discuss the Syrian conflict.
  • 22 Apr 2018 Kabul Suicide Bombing: A devastating suicide bombing in Kabul, Afghanistan resulted in 57 fatalities and 119 injuries, marking a significant terrorist attack in the ongoing Afghanistan conflict.
  • 23 Apr 2018 Yemen Conflict Escalation: A Saudi-led coalition airstrike killed Saleh Ali al-Sammad, the president of Yemen's Supreme Political Council and a senior Houthi official. In a separate incident, another airstrike hit a wedding procession in Hajjah Governorate, resulting in 22-33 civilian casualties.
  • 24 Apr 2018 Toronto Van Attack: Alex Minassian was charged in Toronto with ten murders and thirteen attempted murders after deliberately driving a van into pedestrians, causing significant loss of life and injury.
  • 25 Apr 2018 Golden State Killer Arrest: Sacramento County Sheriff's Department arrested Joseph James DeAngelo in connection with the notorious Golden State Killer case.
  • 26 Apr 2018 Major Trump Administration Personnel Changes: Two significant personnel changes occurred: Ronny Jackson withdrew his nomination for Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and Mike Pompeo was confirmed as Secretary of State with a Senate vote of 57-42.
  • 27 Apr 2018 Panmunjom Declaration Signed: The Panmunjom Declaration was signed between North and South Korea, officially declaring their intentions to end the decades-long Korean conflict and work towards peace and potential reunification.
  • 28 Apr 2018 Israeli Airstrikes in Gaza: Israel launched retaliatory airstrikes against Hamas targets in Gaza, including ships in the harbor and a building in Deir al Balah, in response to ongoing and sometimes violent protests.
  • 29 Apr 2018 North Korea Nuclear Diplomacy: During a summit with South Korean President Moon Jae-in, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un proposed shutting down the Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site in May and indicated potential willingness to surrender nuclear weapons if the United States pledges not to attack.
  • 30 Apr 2018 Nobel Peace Prize Suggestion for Trump: South Korean President Moon Jae-in suggested that U.S. President Donald Trump be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts in denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula, highlighting the diplomatic developments between North and South Korea.