 On 24 November 1964, five United States Air Force C-130 transports dropped 350 Belgian paratroopers of the Paracommando Regiment onto the airfield at Stanleyville to rescue 2,000 European civilians being held hostage by the Simbas.This move made the United States very unpopular in Africa at the time.After the rebellion's defeat, Mulele fled into exile in Congo-Brazzaville.