What 1961 failed invasion of Cuba was carried out by CIA-trained exiles?

The failed 1961 invasion of Cuba carried out by CIA-trained exiles was the Bay of Pigs Invasion.

The operation was organized during the Cold War to overthrow Fidel Castro’s revolutionary government. Cuban exiles formed Brigade 2506, a paramilitary force financed and trained by the United States Central Intelligence Agency. Training took place mainly in Guatemala, while the invasion force departed from bases in Central America.

The landing began on April 17, 1961, at beaches near the Bay of Pigs on Cuba’s southern coast. The exiles expected an uprising against Castro, but that support did not materialize. Poor air cover, inadequate planning, and President John F. Kennedy’s decision to limit overt U.S. involvement left the brigade vulnerable to Cuban counterattacks.

The invasion collapsed within days, and most surviving brigade members were captured. Its failure strengthened Castro’s position and pushed Cuba closer to the Soviet Union. It is often confused with the Cuban Missile Crisis, which occurred in October 1962, or with Operation Mongoose, a separate covert campaign against Castro.