November 1987 – January 1988
The largest Soviet operation of the war, Magistral deployed over 10,000 troops to open the besieged Gardez-Khost road. After weeks of intense fighting, the road was opened and Khost resupplied. Though a tactical success, the operation came at enormous cost in lives and equipment, and the road was reclosed by Mujahideen almost immediately after Soviet forces withdrew.