Part 1/11:
The Soviet War in Afghanistan: An Overview of a Tumultuous Conflict
The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, often referred to by Afghans as the Soviet War or Afghan Jihad, began on Christmas Day in 1979 and would last for nearly a decade, leading to significant geopolitical shifts and tragic consequences for Afghan society. The conflict claimed over 25,000 Soviet soldiers' lives and countless Afghan casualties, highlighted by intense guerrilla warfare led by the Mujahedin, who saw themselves as combatants for a righteous cause against a foreign invader.