On 17 April 1961, around 1,400 Cuban exiles, trained and supported by the United States Central Intelligence Agency, launched an amphibious invasion at Cuba’s Bay of Pigs in a failed attempt to overthrow Fidel Castro's revolutionary government.
Poor planning, inadequate support, and swift Cuban military response led to a humiliating defeat within days.
The botched operation significantly damaged US credibility, strengthened Castro’s position, and pushed Cuba closer to the Soviet Union during the Cold War.
