On December 17, 1996, 14 heavily armed MRTA militants stormed a diplomatic reception at the Japanese ambassador's residence in the San Isidro district of Lima, Peru. They initially took hundreds of captives. 

Over four months, the rebels gradually released most hostages but retained 72 high-ranking diplomats, military officials, and politicians. The guerrillas demanded the release of jailed MRTA comrades, which the government vehemently refused.

While negotiators stalled, military engineers secretly dug a network of underground tunnels beneath the embassy floorboards directly to the residence.

On the afternoon of April 22, 1997, 148 Peruvian special forces commandos raided the compound. They used explosives to breach the floor and walls, launching the rescue in broad daylight.

All 14 MRTA rebels were killed, alongside one hostage (Supreme Court Justice Carlos Giusti) and two Peruvian commandos.

It remains one of the most daring and celebrated hostage rescue missions in modern military history.  

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