The Indochina War refers to a series of conflicts in Southeast Asia, primarily involving Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. The first phase, known as the First Indochina War (1946-1954), was fought between the French colonial forces and the Viet Minh, a communist-led nationalist group. This war ended with the Geneva Accords, which temporarily divided Vietnam at the 17th parallel. The second phase, known as the Vietnam War (1955-1975), saw the involvement of the United States supporting the anti-communist government in South Vietnam against the communist forces of North Vietnam and the Viet Cong. This conflict had significant regional implications and led to widespread devastation in the affected countries.