5. The Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan (1979)
In December 1979, the Soviet Union intervened in Afghanistan to support the faltering communist government against insurgent forces. This intervention led to a protracted and brutal conflict, resulting in the deaths of an estimated 1 to 3 million Afghans and the displacement of millions more. The war also facilitated the rise of radical groups and left Afghanistan’s social and political fabric irrevocably disrupted (britannica.com).
