FACTBOX-The Bay of Pigs: a defining moment for Cuban exiles

(Reuters) - A defining moment in the long history of exile opposition to Cuban leader Fidel Castro, who retired after nearly 50 years in power on Tuesday, was the failed CIA-backed Bay of Pigs invasion. Many of those who fought then are now aging or have died.

Here are a few details of the Bay of Pigs invasion:

* THE BACKGROUND:

-- Castro entered Havana on January 8, 1959, after dictator Fulgencio Batista fled Cuba. Castro took over as prime minister a month later.

-- The United States, which had originally wooed Castro, changed tack after he strengthened contacts with Russia and China and confiscated private property -- much of it owned by U.S. interests. The United States began a partial economic embargo on Cuba in 1960 and President Dwight D. Eisenhower, in one of the final acts of his administration, broke diplomatic relations with Cuba in January 1961.

* THE BAY OF PIGS INCIDENT:

-- An operation to overthrow Castro was planned by the CIA during the last months of the Eisenhower administration and was finally approved by the new President John F. Kennedy.

-- On April 17, 1961, a force of around 1,500 Cuban exiles, led by Jose Cardona, landed at Bahia de Cochinos (Bay of Pigs). The site is also known as Playa Giron (Giron Beach).

-- The CIA-backed force had believed erroneously that the Cuban people would rise up against their leader. However, they did not and Castro's forces were well prepared. Kennedy also decided against giving the force effective air support and the whole operation became a fiasco.