The Bay of Pigs Invasion

The Bay of Pigs Invasion was a failed attempt by a group of Cuban exiles, backed by the U.S. government, to overthrow Cuba's communist leader, Fidel Castro, in 1961. The plan involved landing on the southern coast of Cuba and initiating a rebellion. However, the operation was poorly executed, lacked sufficient support, and was quickly defeated by Cuban military forces. The failure embarrassed the U.S., increased tensions during the Cold War, and strengthened Castro’s government. It highlighted the risks of covert operations and impacted U.S.-Cuba relations for decades.