Battle of Khe Sanh 1968: Siege, Air Support and Vietnam War Timeline

Khe Sanh Combat Base became the center of one of the Vietnam War's most closely watched confrontations in early 1968. North Vietnamese forces isolated the base and subjected it to sustained artillery and ground pressure while United States forces relied heavily on air power and aerial resupply.

The battle overlapped with the Tet Offensive and drew intense attention from American military and political leaders. Its strategic meaning remained disputed, but the siege became emblematic of the war's combination of conventional combat, firepower and uncertainty over enemy intentions.