This article needs to be updated.(October 2015) |
War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) | |||||||||
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Part of the Global War on Terrorism and the Afghan conflict | |||||||||
Clockwise from top-left: American troops in a firefight with Taliban insurgents in Kunar Province; An American F-15E Strike Eagle dropping 2000 pound JDAMs on a cave in eastern Afghanistan; an Afghan soldier surveying atop a Humvee; Afghan and American soldiers move through snow in Logar Province; victorious Taliban fighters after securing Kabul; an Afghan soldier surveying a valley in Parwan Province; British troops preparing to board a Chinook during Operation Black Prince | |||||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||||
Invasion (2001): Contents
Australia Italy New Zealand [5] Iran | Invasion (2001): Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan [6] Al-Qaeda 055 Brigade [7] [8] | ||||||||
ISAF/RS phase (2001–2021): Islamic State of Afghanistan (2001–2002) Afghan Transitional Authority (2002–2004) Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (2004–2021)
High Council of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (allegedly; from 2015) [11] [12] Khost Protection Force and other pro-government paramilitaries [13] | ISAF/RS phase (2001–2021): Taliban
Supported by:
RS phase (2015–2021):
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Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
List
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Strength | |||||||||
ISAF: 130,000+ (Peak Strength) [42] Afghan National Defense and Security Forces: 307,947 (Peak Strength, January 2021) [43] Resolute Support Mission: 17,178 (Peak Strength, October 2019) [44] Defence Contractors: 117,227 (Peak Strength, Q2 2012) [45] High Council of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan: 3,000–3,500 [46] Khost Protection Force: 3,000-10,000 (2018) [47] | Taliban: 58,000-100,000
HIG: 1,500–2,000+ (2014) [52] Fidai Mahaz: 8,000 (2013) [39] ISIL–KP: 3,500–4,000 (2018, in Afghanistan) [56] | ||||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||||
Afghan security forces: Coalition:
Wounded: 23,536 Contractors | Taliban insurgents: ISIL–KP: 2,400+ killed [35] | ||||||||
Civilians killed: 46,319 [58] Total killed: 176,206 (per Brown University) [70] | |||||||||
a The continued list includes nations who have contributed fewer than 200 troops as of November 2014. [72] b The continued list includes nations who have contributed fewer than 200 troops as of May 2017. [73] |
The following items form a partial timeline of the War in Afghanistan . For events prior to October 7, 2001, see 2001 in Afghanistan.
The army of the United States continues to conduct missions throughout Afghanistan, began closing forward operating bases (FOB).
The Taliban insurgency began after the group's fall from power during the 2001 War in Afghanistan. The Taliban forces fought against the Afghan government, led by President Hamid Karzai, and later by President Ashraf Ghani, and against a US-led coalition of forces that has included all members of NATO; the 2021 Taliban offensive resulted in the collapse of the government of Ashraf Ghani. The private sector in Pakistan extends financial aid to the Taliban, contributing to their financial sustenance.
Operation Mountain Fury was a NATO-led operation begun on September 16, 2006 as a follow-up operation to Operation Medusa, to clear Taliban insurgents from the eastern provinces of Afghanistan. Another focus of the operation was to enable reconstruction projects such as schools, health-care facilities, and courthouses to take place in the targeted provinces.
The following lists events that happened during 2004 in Afghanistan.
Events from the year 2007 in Afghanistan.
The War in Afghanistan was an armed conflict that took place from 2001 to 2021. Launched as a direct response to the September 11 attacks, the war began when an international military coalition led by the United States invaded Afghanistan, declaring Operation Enduring Freedom as part of the earlier-declared war on terror, toppling the Taliban-ruled Islamic Emirate, and establishing the Islamic Republic three years later. The Taliban and its allies were expelled from major population centers by US-led forces supporting the anti-Taliban Northern Alliance; Osama bin Laden, meanwhile, relocated to neighboring Pakistan. The conflict officially ended with the 2021 Taliban offensive, which overthrew the Islamic Republic, and re-established the Islamic Emirate. It was the longest war in the military history of the United States, surpassing the length of the Vietnam War (1955–1975) by approximately six months.
The following lists events that happened during 2006 in Afghanistan.
Events from the year 2011 in Afghanistan.
Events from the year 2012 in Afghanistan.
The following lists events from 2014 in Afghanistan.
The following lists events that happened in 2013 in Afghanistan.
The following lists events that happened during 2015 in Afghanistan.
The following lists events that happened during 2016 in Afghanistan.
Events in the year 2017 in Afghanistan.
Events in the year 2018 in Afghanistan.
Events from the year 2019 in Afghanistan.
This article summarizes the history of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021).
War crimes in Afghanistan covers the period of conflict from 1979 to the present. Starting with the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979, 40 years of civil war in various forms has wracked Afghanistan. War crimes have been committed by all sides.
The Battle of Lashkargah was fought between the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) and the Taliban for control of the city of Lashkargah. The United States supported Afghan forces with airstrikes. The fighting started in late July 2021, and clashes occurred around the governor's residence, NDS headquarters, police headquarters, and prison. The police headquarters was captured by the Taliban on 12 August 2021, and the last government forces evacuated or surrendered in the night from 12 to 13 August 2021. More than 40 civilians were also killed in the fortnight-long fighting.
The group had recently aligned itself with the government, and fighters were sent to Niazi as part of an uprising force to secure a number of Herat districts.
A spokesperson for China's foreign ministry, Wang Wenbin, on Thursday denied the accusation, calling it a "smear and slander against China" that was "completely nonsense" and "fake news."
RIA Novosti correspondent reports that the Taliban considers the capturing and execution of prominent Pushto field commander Abdul Haq and his 50 followers as their biggest victory.