Simplify the following text for a Grade 8 native English-speaking person.
Original: A contingent of United States Marines landed near Mogadishu on December 9 , 1992 to spearhead the United Nations peacekeeping forces during Operation Restore Hope , in which Pakistan , Italy and Malaysia also participated .
Simplified: A group of United States Marines landed near Mogadishu on December 9 , 1992 . They were the first part of the United Nations peacekeeping forces during Operation Restore Hope to go to the country .