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The shortest war in history lasted 38 minutes

On August 27, 1896, the British battleship HMS Philomel opened fire on the Zanzibar fleet in what is now Tanzania, leading to the Anglo-Zanzibar War. The war ended 38 minutes later with Zanzibar's surrender, making it the shortest war in recorded history. This brief conflict was sparked by a dispute over who should be the ruler of Zanzibar, with the British supporting the deposed Sultan Hamad bin Thuwaini. The British victory was a decisive one, with the Zanzibar fleet suffering heavy losses.