What happened in Chile during the military coup of September 11, 1973?

On September 11, 1973, the Chilean armed forces launched a military coup that overthrew the democratically elected socialist government of President Salvador Allende.12

During the assault, fighter jets bombed the presidential palace in Santiago. Allende, who had been facing severe economic instability, social unrest, and political polarization, died by suicide during the attack. Following the coup, a junta led by General Augusto Pinochet seized power.231

The new military regime immediately suspended the constitution, dissolved Congress, and banned political parties. This marked the beginning of a 17-year dictatorship characterized by widespread state repression, including the detention, torture, and forced disappearance of thousands of citizens. While later investigations found no evidence that the United States directly carried out the coup, U.S. officials had spent years undermining Allende’s government through economic pressure and covert actions, creating an environment in which military intervention appeared likely.2415