The war in Afghanistan, which began on October 7, 2001, stands as one of the most consequential and enduring chapters in modern American and global history. Launched less than a month after the September 11 terrorist attacks, the invasion marked the opening campaign of the United States’ “war on terror.” Backed by a coalition of allies including the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Germany, and France, the operation sought to dismantle al-Qaeda, the terrorist organization responsible for 9/11, and to remove the Taliban regime that had harbored its leaders.
Known militarily as Operation Enduring Freedom, the campaign began with an intense aerial bombardment targeting Taliban and al-Qaeda positions across Afghanistan. Strikes hit key cities such as Kabul, Kandahar, Jalalabad, and Mazar-e-Sharif, paving the way for a ground offensive led by anti-Taliban Afghan fighters from the Northern Alliance, supported by U.S. and British forces. Within weeks, the Taliban’s grip on power began to crumble. By mid-November, Kabul had fallen; by December, the Taliban’s last stronghold in Kandahar had been captured. Yet, even as the regime collapsed, its leaders and al-Qaeda operatives—including Osama bin Laden—evaded capture, retreating into Afghanistan’s rugged mountains and across the border into Pakistan.
The war’s early phase was marked by swift victories but also by enduring challenges. Despite the establishment of an interim Afghan government under Hamid Karzai and the gradual introduction of democratic reforms, the conflict soon evolved into a prolonged insurgency. Taliban and al-Qaeda forces regrouped in remote regions, launching guerilla attacks that destabilized efforts to rebuild the nation. Over the following two decades, the war claimed tens of thousands of lives—both military and civilian—and displaced millions of Afghans.
The human toll was immense. More than 3,500 coalition soldiers lost their lives, including over 2,400 Americans, while tens of thousands more were wounded. Afghan casualties were far higher: an estimated 69,000 security forces, 51,000 civilians, and a comparable number of militants were killed. The conflict’s impact rippled far beyond the battlefield, reshaping global security policies, international relations, and perceptions of U.S. military intervention.
Despite years of combat, peace proved elusive. Negotiations between the United States and the Taliban eventually led to a 2020 agreement aimed at ending hostilities, yet violence persisted. In April 2021, President Joe Biden announced that all U.S. forces would withdraw by September 11, 2021, marking the twentieth anniversary of the attacks that had sparked the war. As the withdrawal unfolded, Taliban forces rapidly regained territory. On August 15, 2021, the Afghan capital, Kabul, fell once again to the Taliban, and the country returned to their control. Two weeks later, on August 31, President Biden declared the war officially over, ending America’s longest military engagement.
Today, the legacy of the war in Afghanistan remains deeply complex. It was a mission born of grief, resolve, and the pursuit of justice, yet it became a cautionary tale about the limits of military power and the enduring challenges of nation-building. The conflict reshaped global geopolitics, redefined counterterrorism strategy, and left an indelible mark on the lives of millions.
Each year, as October 7 arrives, the world reflects on the beginning of that long and difficult war. A moment born from tragedy and resolve, whose consequences continue to echo through history. It serves as a solemn reminder of the cost of war, the fragility of peace, and the enduring human hope for stability in the face of turmoil.
The war in Afghanistan, which began on October 7, 2001, stands as one of the most consequential and enduring chapters in modern American and global history. Launched less than a month after the September 11 terrorist attacks, the invasion marked the opening campaign of the United States’ “war on terror.” Backed by a coalition of allies including the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Germany, and France, the operation sought to dismantle al-Qaeda, the terrorist organization responsible for 9/11, and to remove the Taliban regime that had harbored its leaders.
Known militarily as Operation Enduring Freedom, the campaign began with an intense aerial bombardment targeting Taliban and al-Qaeda positions across Afghanistan. Strikes hit key cities such as Kabul, Kandahar, Jalalabad, and Mazar-e-Sharif, paving the way for a ground offensive led by anti-Taliban Afghan fighters from the Northern Alliance, supported by U.S. and British forces. Within weeks, the Taliban’s grip on power began to crumble. By mid-November, Kabul had fallen; by December, the Taliban’s last stronghold in Kandahar had been captured. Yet, even as the regime collapsed, its leaders and al-Qaeda operatives—including Osama bin Laden—evaded capture, retreating into Afghanistan’s rugged mountains and across the border into Pakistan.
The war’s early phase was marked by swift victories but also by enduring challenges. Despite the establishment of an interim Afghan government under Hamid Karzai and the gradual introduction of democratic reforms, the conflict soon evolved into a prolonged insurgency. Taliban and al-Qaeda forces regrouped in remote regions, launching guerilla attacks that destabilized efforts to rebuild the nation. Over the following two decades, the war claimed tens of thousands of lives—both military and civilian—and displaced millions of Afghans.
The human toll was immense. More than 3,500 coalition soldiers lost their lives, including over 2,400 Americans, while tens of thousands more were wounded. Afghan casualties were far higher: an estimated 69,000 security forces, 51,000 civilians, and a comparable number of militants were killed. The conflict’s impact rippled far beyond the battlefield, reshaping global security policies, international relations, and perceptions of U.S. military intervention.
Despite years of combat, peace proved elusive. Negotiations between the United States and the Taliban eventually led to a 2020 agreement aimed at ending hostilities, yet violence persisted. In April 2021, President Joe Biden announced that all U.S. forces would withdraw by September 11, 2021, marking the twentieth anniversary of the attacks that had sparked the war. As the withdrawal unfolded, Taliban forces rapidly regained territory. On August 15, 2021, the Afghan capital, Kabul, fell once again to the Taliban, and the country returned to their control. Two weeks later, on August 31, President Biden declared the war officially over, ending America’s longest military engagement.
Today, the legacy of the war in Afghanistan remains deeply complex. It was a mission born of grief, resolve, and the pursuit of justice, yet it became a cautionary tale about the limits of military power and the enduring challenges of nation-building. The conflict reshaped global geopolitics, redefined counterterrorism strategy, and left an indelible mark on the lives of millions.
Each year, as October 7 arrives, the world reflects on the beginning of that long and difficult war. A moment born from tragedy and resolve, whose consequences continue to echo through history. It serves as a solemn reminder of the cost of war, the fragility of peace, and the enduring human hope for stability in the face of turmoil.