U.S.-Led Strikes Begin in Afghanistan

Context

Following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people, the United States identified al-Qaeda, led by Osama bin Laden and operating from bases in Afghanistan, as the perpetrator. The Taliban regime, which had controlled most of the country since 1996, had long provided safe haven to bin Laden and other militants despite repeated international pressure. In the days after the attacks, President George W. Bush demanded that the Taliban surrender bin Laden and dismantle terrorist infrastructure; the regime refused, setting the stage for military action as part of a broader Global War on Terror.

What Happened

On the evening of October 7, U.S. and British forces initiated airstrikes across Afghanistan. Land-based bombers including B-52s, B-1s, and B-2s struck Taliban command centers, air defenses, and training facilities, while carrier-based aircraft and Tomahawk cruise missiles launched from U.S. and British naval vessels targeted additional sites near Kabul, Kandahar, and other cities. The initial wave focused on degrading the Taliban's ability to resist and on disrupting al-Qaeda networks. U.S. special operations teams soon linked up with the Northern Alliance, an Afghan opposition force, to coordinate strikes and prepare for ground advances.

Aftermath

Within days the Taliban government began to fracture under the combined pressure of precision airstrikes and Northern Alliance offensives. Major cities fell rapidly: Mazar-i-Sharif on November 9 and Kabul on November 13. The Taliban regime collapsed in most urban centers by early December, though pockets of resistance and al-Qaeda fighters remained, notably around Tora Bora. The swift military outcome removed the Taliban from power and scattered much of al-Qaeda's Afghan infrastructure.

Legacy

Operation Enduring Freedom initiated America's longest war, spanning two decades of counterterrorism operations, nation-building efforts, and shifting alliances. It reshaped U.S. foreign policy priorities, expanded NATO's role beyond Europe, and influenced global counterterrorism doctrines. The conflict's ultimate trajectory, including the Taliban's return to power in 2021, continues to frame debates over the limits of military intervention and the challenges of stabilizing fragile states.