February 16 in history — What Happened Today in History

Iran launches Operation Dawn 5, a major offensive during the Iran–Iraq War targeting the Basra–Baghdad highway, resulting in heavy casualties on both sides.

The Ash Wednesday bushfires in Victoria and South Australia kill 75.

The first computer bulletin board system is created (CBBS in Chicago).

In Haleyville, Alabama, the first 9-1-1 emergency telephone system goes into service.

Civil Air Transport Flight 010 crashes near Shongshan Airport in Taiwan, killing 21 of the 63 people on board and one more on the ground.

The Great Sheffield Gale impacts the United Kingdom, killing nine people; the city of Sheffield is devastated, with 150,000 homes damaged.

Flooding in the coastal areas of West Germany kills 315 and destroys the homes of about 60,000 people.

Explorer program: Explorer 9 (S-56a) is launched.

The U.S. Navy submarine USS Triton begins Operation Sandblast, setting sail from New London, Connecticut, to begin the first submerged circumnavigation of the globe.

Fidel Castro becomes Premier of Cuba after dictator Fulgencio Batista was overthrown on January 1.

World War II: American forces land on Corregidor Island in the Philippines.

The Alaska Equal Rights Act of 1945, the first anti-discrimination law in the United States, was signed into law.

World War II: In the early phases of the Third Battle of Kharkov, Red Army troops re-enter the city.

World War II: In Athens, the Greek People's Liberation Army is established

World War II: Attack on Aruba, first World War II German shots fired on a land based object in the Americas.

World War II: Altmark incident: The German tanker Altmark is boarded by sailors from the British destroyer HMS Cossack. A total of 299 British prisoners are freed.

Wallace H. Carothers receives a United States patent for nylon.

The Popular Front wins the 1936 Spanish general election.

The Austrian Civil War ends with the defeat of the Social Democrats and the Republikanischer Schutzbund.

The Commission of Government is officially sworn in; ending 79 years of responsible government in Newfoundland.

The Romanian Football Federation joins FIFA.

Howard Carter unseals the burial chamber of Pharaoh Tutankhamun.

The Council of Lithuania unanimously adopts the Act of Independence, declaring Lithuania an independent state.

The Southern Cross expedition led by Carsten Borchgrevink achieves a new Farthest South of 78° 50'S, making the first landing at the Great Ice Barrier.

Iceland's first football club, Knattspyrnufélag Reykjavíkur, is founded.

The Canadian Pacific Railway is incorporated by Act of Parliament at Ottawa (44th Vic., c.1).

Spencer Compton Cavendish, Marquess of Hartington becomes British Secretary of State for War.

American Civil War: General Ulysses S. Grant captures Fort Donelson, Tennessee.

Annika Beck, German tennis player

Federico Bernardeschi, Italian footballer

Ava Max, American singer and songwriter

Nicolai Boilesen, Danish footballer

Zsófia Susányi, Hungarian tennis player

Sergio Canales, Spanish footballer

The Weeknd, Canadian singer-songwriter and producer

Elizabeth Olsen, American actress

Diego Capel, Spanish footballer

Denílson, Brazilian footballer

Korbinian Holzer, German ice hockey player

Zhang Jike, Chinese table tennis player

Andrea Ranocchia, Italian footballer

Kralle Krawinkel, German guitarist (born 1947)

Michael Shea, American author (born 1946)

Colin Edwards, Guyanese footballer (born 1991)

Grigory Pomerants, Russian philosopher and author (born 1918)

Tony Sheridan, English singer-songwriter and guitarist (born 1940)

Gary Carter, American baseball player and coach (born 1954)

Elyse Knox, American model, actress, and fashion designer (born 1917)

John Macionis, American swimmer and lieutenant (born 1916)

Anthony Shadid, American journalist (born 1968)

Len Lesser, American actor (born 1922)

Justinas Marcinkevičius, Lithuanian poet and playwright (born 1930)

Stephen Kim Sou-hwan, South Korean cardinal (born 1921)

Johnny Grunge, American wrestler (born 1966)