Part 6/11:
On December 24, 1979, following a series of covert deployments, Soviet forces crossed into Afghanistan under the pretext of providing assistance to the besieged regime. The initial assault met little resistance, as Soviet troops quickly overran key infrastructure and cities, with the expectation that they would be welcomed as liberators. However, the reality was quite the opposite. The presence of Soviet soldiers ignited a fierce nationalistic reaction among the Afghan populace.