Uploaded March 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
In 1978, Afghan communists violently seized power and launched sweeping reforms that many saw as attacks on Afghan culture and Islam. They struggled to maintain control against religious insurgents and called for Soviet intervention, which came in 1979. The Soviets invaded, assassinated the president, and installed a loyal replacement. However, the invasion backfired. An atheist army on Muslim soil defending an unpopular regime was met with fierce resistance. The Soviet military responded with torture, bombings, and massacres, fueling Islamist fervor. Afghans of all backgrounds fought back using guerilla tactics in difficult terrain, earning the war the nickname “the Soviets’ Vietnam.” For the U.S., the Mujahideen became a proxy to weaken the USSR. Reagan praised them as freedom fighters, and billions in CIA aid flowed to them, coordinated by Saudi and Pakistani intelligence. The Muslim world largely supported the fight, both financially and with volunteers: the two most important “Afghan Arabs” were the Palestinian Abdullah Azzam and the Saudi Osama Bin Laden.
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Images Used:
Music Used:
Doug Maxwell - Arabian Nightfall (Sting):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bRzD...
If any of the images or songs are yours, please let me know I will amend them. Please don't report me straight away!
0:00 Intro
1:23 Context
3:58 Cardinal Sin: 1953
9:34 An Unholy Alliance: 1973
15:09 A Chance At Redemption: 1980s
19:04 USA Here To Stay: 1991
23:17 Imperial Hubris: 2001
In 1978, Afghan communists violently seized power and launched sweeping reforms that many saw as attacks on Afghan culture and Islam. They struggled to maintain control against religious insurgents and called for Soviet intervention, which came in 1979. The Soviets invaded, assassinated the president, and installed a loyal replacement. However, the invasion backfired. An atheist army on Muslim soil defending an unpopular regime was met with fierce resistance. The Soviet military responded with torture, bombings, and massacres, fueling Islamist fervor. Afghans of all backgrounds fought back using guerilla tactics in difficult terrain, earning the war the nickname “the Soviets’ Vietnam.” For the U.S., the Mujahideen became a proxy to weaken the USSR. Reagan praised them as freedom fighters, and billions in CIA aid flowed to them, coordinated by Saudi and Pakistani intelligence. The Muslim world largely supported the fight, both financially and with volunteers: the two most important “Afghan Arabs” were the Palestinian Abdullah Azzam and the Saudi Osama Bin Laden.
FREE NEWSLETTER:
https://mailchi.mp/a69f93be6c66/hikma-history-newsletter
- Become a Patron for as little as a dollar a month to vote on upcoming and keep the movement going!
patreon.com/user?u=12397811
Massive thank you to our Patreons:
Elman
Walid
Preston P
Adam
Mohammad
Areeb
Awais
Omar
Farid
Ibrahim
Ari
Joshua
Haseeb
Amir
Mahmoud
Joel
CoreBard
- Join our social media community:
Twitter:
twitter.com/HikmaHistory
Instagram:
instagram.com/hikmahistory
Facebook:
facebook.com/HikmaHistory
Facebook group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/hikma...
#middleeastconflict #irannews #iranisraelwar
Images Used:
Music Used:
Doug Maxwell - Arabian Nightfall (Sting):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bRzD...
If any of the images or songs are yours, please let me know I will amend them. Please don't report me straight away!
0:00 Intro
1:23 Context
3:58 Cardinal Sin: 1953
9:34 An Unholy Alliance: 1973
15:09 A Chance At Redemption: 1980s
19:04 USA Here To Stay: 1991
23:17 Imperial Hubris: 2001
