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

history

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

  • 01 Feb 2018 Major Archaeological Discovery in Maya Civilization: Archaeologists used Lidar technology to uncover thousands of previously undetected structures in the Mayan lowland civilization of Guatemala. The discovery suggests a significantly larger population of approximately 10 million people, revolutionizing our understanding of Mayan urban development and societal complexity.
  • 02 Feb 2018 US Nuclear Posture Review Update: The United States released its first nuclear weapons policy update since 2010, proposing the addition of two new weapon types to its arsenal: low-yield submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBM) and cruise missiles (SLCM), signaling potential shifts in military strategy.
  • 03 Feb 2018 Russian Military Aircraft Shot Down in Syria: A Russian Sukhoi Su-25 aircraft was shot down over Idlib Governorate by unidentified rebel groups. The pilot was killed after parachuting from the aircraft while attempting to avoid capture. The Russian Ministry of Defence confirmed these details.
  • 04 Feb 2018 Super Bowl LII: The Philadelphia Eagles defeated the New England Patriots 41-33 in Super Bowl LII, winning their first NFL championship.
  • 05 Feb 2018 Exoplanet discoveries: Scientists discover new exoplanets by using Chandra X-ray Observatory data.
  • 06 Feb 2018 SpaceX Falcon Heavy Maiden Flight: SpaceX successfully launched its Falcon Heavy, a super heavy launch vehicle, marking a significant milestone in commercial space exploration. The rocket carried Elon Musk's Tesla Roadster as payload, which played David Bowie's 'Life on Mars' and is expected to remain in an elliptical solar orbit for hundreds of millions of years. Both side boosters were successfully landed, though the core booster was lost near the drone ship.
  • 07 Feb 2018 US Military Intervention in Syria: The United States Central Command reported a significant military engagement, conducting self-defense strikes that resulted in over 100 pro-government troop casualties. The operation was strategically located eight kilometers east of the Euphrates de-confliction line, reportedly coordinated with Russian military leadership.
  • 08 Feb 2018 US Military Presence in Syria Challenged: Syria and Russia declared the United States' military presence in Syria illegal, with approximately 25% of Syrian territory now under control of US-backed forces, escalating tensions in the ongoing Syrian Civil War.
  • 09 Feb 2018 Historic Inter-Korean Diplomacy at Olympics Opening Ceremony: The Pyeongchang Winter Olympics opening ceremony became a landmark diplomatic moment, with North and South Korea marching under a unified flag. Kim Yo Jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, attended and shook hands with South Korean President Moon Jae-in, symbolizing a potential thaw in tensions.
  • 10 Feb 2018 Israeli F-16 Shot Down Over Golan Heights: Following Israeli strikes on Iranian targets in Syria, the Syrian Air Defense Force successfully shot down an Israeli F-16 flying over the Golan Heights. Both Israeli pilots managed to parachute to safety, marking a significant military engagement.
  • 11 Feb 2018 India's Massive Healthcare Initiative: The Indian government announced an ambitious healthcare plan to provide free medical coverage to 500 million people, representing one of the largest healthcare initiatives in global history aimed at improving access to medical services for a significant portion of the population.
  • 12 Feb 2018 Trump Submits 2019 Budget and Infrastructure Plan: President Donald Trump sent a $4.4 trillion budget proposal to Congress and presented a $1.5 trillion federal infrastructure plan to mayors and governors at the White House.
  • 13 Feb 2018 Israeli Police Recommend Netanyahu Indictment: Israeli police recommended indicting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for corruption and bribery charges, which Netanyahu strongly denies.
  • 14 Feb 2018 Parkland School Shooting: A tragic mass shooting occurred at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, resulting in 17 fatalities and 17 injuries. The shooter, 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz, a former student, was arrested. This event is considered one of the deadliest school massacres in American history.
  • 15 Feb 2018 Parkland School Shooting: A tragic mass shooting occurred at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in South Florida, where a 19-year-old ex-student, Nikolas Cruz, killed 17 people and wounded at least 16 others using an AR-15 semiautomatic rifle.
  • 16 Feb 2018 Parkland School Shooting Vigil: Approximately 8,000 people attended a vigil in Parkland, Florida, to mourn the victims of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting. The suspected shooter, 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz, confessed to the rampage that killed 17 people and was charged with 17 counts of premeditated murder.
  • 17 Feb 2018 Death Sentence for Zainab Ansari's Murderer: Imran Ali was sentenced to death by the Anti-Terrorism Court of Lahore, Pakistan, for the rape and murder of 7-year-old Zainab Ansari. The victim's family demanded public execution, reflecting the severe public outrage over the heinous crime.
  • 18 Feb 2018 Syrian Government Offensive in Eastern Ghouta: As part of the ongoing Syrian Civil War, government forces initiated a new military offensive in the Eastern Ghouta region, escalating the conflict and potentially causing significant humanitarian concerns.
  • 19 Feb 2018 Boko Haram Kidnaps 110 Girls in Nigeria: In a horrific incident in Dapchi, Yobe state, Nigeria reported that 110 girls were presumed kidnapped by Boko Haram terrorists after an attack on a school, continuing the group's pattern of targeting educational institutions.
  • 20 Feb 2018 Parkland Shooting Aftermath: Advocacy in Tallahassee: Families and students from Parkland, Florida, traveled to the state capitol Tallahassee to meet with legislators and advocate for gun control. During the legislative session, the Republican-controlled Florida House rejected, in a party-line vote, a motion to debate assault weapons ban legislation.
  • 21 Feb 2018 Humanitarian Crisis in Syria's Eastern Ghouta: A UN official described the bombing in Syria's Eastern Ghouta as 'beyond imagination', with at least 250 people killed, including 50 children, and approximately 1,200 injured. The Syrian government continues military operations against the last major opposition stronghold near Damascus.
  • 22 Feb 2018 Syrian Civil War: Russian Diplomatic Obstruction: Russia blocked a United Nations Security Council resolution proposing a 30-day ceasefire in Syria, effectively prolonging the ongoing conflict. Simultaneously, the Rif Dimashq offensive resulted in over 400 deaths in Eastern Ghouta since February 18, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
  • 23 Feb 2018 Rick Gates Plea in Mueller Investigation: Rick Gates pleaded guilty and agreed to cooperate with the Special Counsel investigation into potential conspiracy against the United States, marking a significant development in the ongoing probe into Russian election interference.
  • 24 Feb 2018 UN Security Council Syria Ceasefire Resolution: The United Nations Security Council unanimously approved a resolution calling for a 30-day ceasefire in Syria, aiming to provide humanitarian relief and potentially create an opportunity for diplomatic negotiations in the ongoing Syrian Civil War.
  • 25 Feb 2018 China Removes Presidential Term Limits: The Central Committee of the Communist Party of China proposed a constitutional amendment to eliminate term limits for the President and Vice-President positions. This strategic move was widely interpreted as President Xi Jinping's deliberate effort to consolidate and potentially extend his political power indefinitely.
  • 26 Feb 2018 Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Students Return After Shooting: Thousands of students, parents, and teachers returned to Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, for an orientation session following the tragic February 14 shooting that killed 17 people. Grief counselors were present to support students, and memorial crosses adorned with flowers and stuffed animals marked the site. The school planned a phased reopening, with full schedule resumption expected by March 5, and administrators were working to restructure class schedules after the loss of the three-story building where the shooting occurred.
  • 27 Feb 2018 Trump 2020 Presidential Campaign Launch: President Donald Trump officially announced his intention to run for re-election in 2020, making the declaration an unprecedented 980 days before the election.
  • 28 Feb 2018 Retail Chains Respond to Stoneman Douglas High School Shooting: In response to the Parkland school shooting, Dick's Sporting Goods and Walmart raised the minimum age for firearm purchases to 21 and stopped selling semi-automatic rifles with military-style designs.