The Tet Offensive was a massive surprise attack launched by the North Vietnamese Army and the Viet Cong during the lunar new year (Tet) holiday. Attacks occurred simultaneously in over 100 cities and towns across South Vietnam, including the U.S. Embassy in Saigon. While the offensive was a tactical military failure for the communists—as they suffered heavy losses and failed to hold any major cities—it was a decisive strategic victory. Television footage of the intense fighting shocked the American public, who had been told the war was nearly won. This event shattered the 'credibility gap' between the U.S. government and its citizens, fueling the anti-war movement and leading President Lyndon B. Johnson to announce he would not seek re-election. It marked the beginning of the slow U.S. withdrawal from Vietnam and a major turning point in the Cold War's most divisive conflict.