Okay kiddo, have you ever wanted to plan a secret surprise for someone? Maybe a surprise party or just a special gift? Well, countries and governments also do secret things sometimes, but they call it a "clandestine operation".
A clandestine operation is when some people, usually from a country or organization, plan and do secret things without other people knowing.
Imagine a spy movie where the hero sneaks into a building, tucks into corners, and exchanges secret messages. That's kind of what clandestine operations are like; it's like trying to do something without anyone else noticing or finding out.
These secret things could be spying on other countries, trying to gain information, or maybe even trying to do something sneaky, like steal or sabotage. Sometimes, countries might do this when they feel threatened or think there's an important reason to keep something a secret.
Clandestine operations can be pretty dangerous for the people involved, but they're done to try and keep people safe, get important information, or achieve a goal.