Historical Basis
Though the film is largely fictional, it was inspired by the murder of ABC reporter Bill Stewart and his translator Juan Espinoza by National Guard forces on June 20, 1979. ABC cameraman Jack Clark was shooting "incidental" footage, and caught the entire episode on tape. The footage was shown on national television in the United States and became a major international incident, undermining what remained of President Somoza's support. The incident was the final straw for the Carter Administration's relationship with Somoza, whose regime fell on July 19.
Read more about this topic: Under Fire (film)
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