During a supposed ceasefire, the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese Army unleashed a series of shocking attacks on over 100 cities and towns in South Vietnam, catching the US and their allies off guard. The surprise assaults, known as the Tet Offensive, saw guerrilla fighters and soldiers pour out of hidden tunnels and forests, striking at military bases, government offices, and civilian populations. The US embassy in Saigon was even breached, with attackers penetrating the grounds. As the smoke cleared, it became evident that the offensive had been a propaganda coup for the North, exposing the weaknesses of the US-backed government in South Vietnam and further eroding support for the war back home.