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Operation Storm-333
1979 • Kabul
The headquarters of the Soviet 40th army in Kabul, Afghanistan in 1987.
Author: Photo: Mikhail EvstafievLicense:CC-BY-SA-4.0
Historical Overview
Operation Storm-333 was a military raid executed by the Soviet Union in Afghanistan on 27 December 1979. Special forces and airborne troops stormed the heavily fortified Tajbeg Palace in Kabul and assassinated Afghan leader Hafizullah Amin, a Khalqist of the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA) who had taken power in the Saur Revolution of April 1978. It was the start of the Soviet–Afghan War.
Quick Facts
Outcome:Sov. victory.
Soviet Union
- Commander: Grigori Bojarinow †
- Strength: ca. 700
- Casualties: 20
Afghanistan
- Commander: Hafizullah Amin †
- Strength: ca. 2.000
- Casualties: ca. 200
Strategic Context
Toppling Hafizullah Amin to install a puppet.
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Historical Locations
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