CIA's Operation Cyclone

Operation Cyclone was a covert CIA program during the Cold War (1979-1989) aimed at supporting Afghan resistance fighters (mujahideen) against the Soviet invasion. The CIA supplied funds, weapons, and training to bolster Afghan insurgents seeking to push out Soviet forces. This secret aid was part of broader U.S. efforts to counter Soviet influence in the region. The operation played a significant role in prolonging the conflict and contributed indirectly to the rise of groups like the Taliban and Al-Qaeda later on. It exemplifies Cold War strategies of covertly influencing conflicts in other countries to weaken rival superpowers.