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Fact check

Is it true: Operation Mongoose / CIA Castro assassination plots (1961-65)?

Confirmed5% confidence

Yes — this is confirmed.

The Church Committee (1975) documented at least 8 CIA assassination plots against Castro between 1960 and 1965. Methods included poison cigars, an exploding seashell, a contaminated diving suit, and a poison-pen device. The CIA partnered with Mafia figures (Roselli, Giancana, Trafficante) through Robert Maheu. Marita Lorenz attempted a botched poisoned-pill attack. All plots failed. Castro died of natural causes in 2016. This is confirmed by declassified congressional and CIA records.

The claim

The CIA's covert programme to assassinate Cuban leader Fidel Castro — encompassing Operation Mongoose and related activities — is among the best-documented cases of state-sponsored political assassina

Key evidence

Church Committee documented at least 8 assassination plots (1975)

All plots failed — Castro died of natural causes aged 90

Read the full evidence file

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