Communist Albanian victory[2][3] Communist Albania Supported by: Western Bloc: United States United Kingdom NATO United States Army British Army The Landing in Vlorë (Albanian: Zbarkimi në Vlorë) was a failed secret Operation in 1949 which took place south of the city of Vlorë by the British and American intelligence to weaken and overthrow Albania's communist government, led by Enver Hoxha.The operatives sent trained Albanian exiles from Malta to start an uprising in Vlorë, but the plan was exposed by Soviet agent Kim Philby.

[9][10][11] Albania was in an unenviable position after World War II,[12] as Greece claimed Albanian lands.

[12] The Western Allies recognized neither King Zog I nor a republican government-in-exile, nor did they ever raise the question of Albania or its borders at major wartime conferences.

It strengthened Enver Hoxha's regime and exposed Soviet infiltration in Western intelligence through Kim Philby.

For the CIA and MI6, it exposed flaws and Soviet infiltration through Philby, damaging trust between the agencies and forcing a rethink of Cold War strategies.