Operation Torch was the code name for the Allied invasion of North Africa during World War II, which began on November 8, 1942. The operation aimed to gain control of North Africa, secure shipping routes in the Mediterranean, and prepare for an eventual invasion of Italy. It involved American and British forces landing in Morocco and Algeria. The operation was significant as it marked the first major American military action in the European theater. It faced initial resistance from Vichy France forces but ultimately succeeded, leading to the eventual defeat of Axis powers in North Africa by May 1943.