The Bay of Pigs Invasion was a significant event during the Cold War, tightly linked to U.S. attempts to counter the influence of communism in the Western Hemisphere. The operation, which was planned by the CIA under President John F. Kennedy’s administration, aimed to foster a rebellion against the communist regime of Fidel Castro in Cuba by landing an armed group of Cuban exiles at the Bay of Pigs. In the lead-up to the invasion, the CIA had trained these exiles in Guatemala, providing them not only with military training but also logistical and financial support to ensure their success. On April 17, the operation commenced with an initial air assault that sought to destroy Cuban air defenses, which ultimately failed to achieve its objective.Despite the initial bombardment, the invasion quickly unraveled. Once the exiles landed, they encountered fierce resistance from Castro's forces, which were better prepared than anticipated. The invaders were outnumbered, and support from the U.S. was delayed. As the situation deteriorated, the hopes for a mass uprising to support the exiles were dashed. By April 19, only 1,200 members of the Cuban exile force had surrendered to Cuban troops, and the mission was deemed a total failure. This debacle not only embarrassed the Kennedy administration but also solidified Castro’s power in Cuba and escalated tensions during the Cold War, leading to subsequent events such as the Cuban Missile Crisis.