Timeline of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)

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War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)
Part of the war on terror and the Afghan conflict
U.S. Army firefight in Kunar.jpg
F-15E drops 2,000-pound munitions Afghanistan 2009.jpg
An Afghan National Army soldier surveys a valley for suspicious activity during an operation in Ghorband district, Parwan province, Afghanistan, Jan. 15, 2014 140115-A-CL980-187 (cropped).jpg
Soldiers of Somme Company, 1st Lancs Board a Chinook in Afghanistan During Op Tor Shezada MOD 45151695.jpg
Afghan soldiers train with airpower DVIDS247921 (cropped 2).jpg
Taliban Humvee in Kabul, August 2021 (cropped).png
Defense.gov News Photo 110212-A-1782C-002 - U.S. and Afghan soldiers move through Kherwar district to prevent Taliban freedom of movement in Logar province Afghanistan on Feb.12 2011. The.jpg

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
Date7 October 2001 – 30 August 2021
(19 years, 10 months, 3 weeks and 2 days)
Location
Result Taliban victory [1]
Territorial
changes
Taliban control over Afghanistan increases compared to pre-intervention territory
Belligerents
Invasion (2001):Invasion (2001):
ISAF/RS phase (2001–2021):
ISAF/RS phase (2001–2021):

RS phase (2015–2021):

Islamic State flag.svg ISIL–KP (from 2015) [31]
  • Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (since 2015) [32]
Commanders and leaders
Strength


Flag placeholder.svg ISIL–KP: 3,500–4,000 (2018, in Afghanistan) [52]
Casualties and losses

Taliban insurgents:
80,000+ killed [67] (2,000+ al-Qaeda fighters) [49]

Contents


ISIL–KP:
2,400+ killed [31]
  • a The continued list includes nations who have contributed fewer than 200 troops as of November 2014. [70]
  • b The continued list includes nations who have contributed fewer than 200 troops as of May 2017. [71]

The following items form a partial timeline of the War in Afghanistan . For events prior to October 7, 2001, see 2001 in Afghanistan.

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

The army of the United States continues to conduct missions throughout Afghanistan, began closing forward operating bases (FOB).

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2020

2021

Taliban militants patrolling Kabul in September 2021 Daily Life in Afghanistan's Capital 18.jpg
Taliban militants patrolling Kabul in September 2021

See also

Notes

  1. Bordering areas of Pakistan were also affected (War in North-West Pakistan), and was considered for some time to be a single theater of operations by the United States (AfPak).
  2. Per figures released by Canadian Department of National Defence in June 2013, 635 were listed as WIA (wounded in action) while 1,436 were listed as NBI (non-battle injuries). [63]

References

  1. Multiple sources:
  2. "Uzbek Militancy in Pakistan's Tribal Region" (PDF). Institute for the Study of War. 27 January 2011. Retrieved 2023-11-30.
  3. "Inside rebel Pakistan cleric's domain - USATODAY.com". USA Today . 2009-05-01. Archived from the original on May 1, 2009. Retrieved 2023-11-30.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  4. "Top Pakistani militant released". BBC News. 2008-04-21. Archived from the original on 2009-05-22. Retrieved 2023-11-30.
  5. Whitlock, Craig (June 8, 2006). "Al-Zarqawi's Biography". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on October 20, 2012. Retrieved 2023-11-30.
  6. Bergen, Peter. " The Osama bin Laden I Know, 2006
  7. "ISAF's mission in Afghanistan (2001–2014)". NATO. 30 May 2022. Retrieved 19 March 2025.
  8. "Resolute Support Mission (RSM): Key Facts and Figures" (PDF). NATO.
  9. Multiple sources:
  10. 1 2 "Local Officials Criticized for Silence on Shindand Strike". TOLOnews. 11 January 2020.
  11. Raghavan, Sudarsan (December 3, 2015). "CIA runs shadow war with Afghan militia implicated in civilian killings". The Washington Post. Retrieved 19 March 2025.
  12. Joscelyn, Thomas; Roggio, Bill (31 July 2015). "The Taliban's new leadership is allied with al Qaeda". The Long War Journal. Retrieved 19 March 2025.
  13. Hardaha, Rashi (2021-07-24). "Al-Qaeda operates under Taliban protection: UN report". India TV News. Retrieved 2021-09-14.
  14. Nordland, Rod (19 May 2012). "In Afghanistan, New Group Begins Campaign of Terror". The New York Times . Retrieved 25 June 2021.
  15. "Taliban storm Kunduz city". The Long War Journal. Retrieved 30 September 2015.
  16. "Central Asian groups split over leadership of global jihad". The Long War Journal. 24 August 2015. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  17. "Who is Lashkar-e-Jhangvi?". Voice of America. 25 October 2016. Retrieved 2 June 2017.
  18. "ISIS 'Outsources' Terror Attacks to the Pakistani Taliban in Afghanistan: U.N. Report". Newsweek . 15 August 2017.
  19. Multiple sources:
  20. Jamal, Umair (23 May 2020). "Understanding Pakistan's Take on India-Taliban Talks". The Diplomat.
  21. Farmer, Ben (26 August 2020). "Pakistan urges Taliban to get on with Afghan government talks". The National.
  22. Multiple sources:
  23. Noorzai, Roshan; Sahinkaya, Ezel; Gul Sarwan, Rahim (3 July 2020). "Afghan Lawmakers: Russian Support to Taliban No Secret". Voice of America.
  24. "Russian ambassador denies Moscow supporting Taliban". Reuters. 25 April 2016.
  25. "Saudis Bankroll Taliban, Even as King Officially Supports Afghan Government". The New York Times. 12 June 2016.
  26. Ramani, Samuel (7 September 2017). "What's Behind Saudi Arabia's Turn Away From the Taliban?". The Diplomat.
  27. "Qatar's Dirty Hands". National Review . 3 August 2017.
  28. "Saudi has evidence Qatar supports Taliban: Envoy". Pajhwok Afghan News . 7 August 2017.
  29. "China offered Afghan militants bounties to attack US soldiers: reports". Deutsche Welle. 31 December 2020.
  30. Gittleson, Ben (1 January 2021). "US investigating unconfirmed intel that China offered bounties on American troops". ABC7 San Francisco. 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'.
  31. 1 2 Seldin, Jeff (18 November 2017). "Afghan Officials: Islamic State Fighters Finding Sanctuary in Afghanistan". Voice of America. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 18 November 2017.
  32. "A look at the Islamic State affiliate's rise in Afghanistan". AP News. 19 August 2019.
  33. Khan, Tahir (16 May 2021). "Rebel Taliban leader dies of injuries days after attack". Daily Times.
  34. "Taliban leader Mullah Omar died in a Karachi hospital in 2013, says Afghanistan". The Express Tribune. 29 July 2015. Retrieved 29 July 2015.
  35. 1 2 "Mullah Najibullah: Too Radical for the Taliban". Newsweek. 30 August 2013. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
  36. "Who Is the New Leader of Islamic State-Khorasan Province?". Lawfare. September 2, 2020.
  37. Shalizi, Hamid (April 7, 2018). "Afghan air strike kills Islamic State commander". Reuters.
  38. "ISAF's mission in Afghanistan (2001-2014)". NATO. May 30, 2022. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  39. "July 30, 2021 Quarterly Report to Congress" (PDF). Sigar. 30 July 2021. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  40. "NATO and Afghanistan RSM Placemats Archive". NATO. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  41. Peters, Heidi (February 22, 2021). "Department of Defense Contractor and Troop Levels in Afghanistan and Iraq: 2007–2020" (PDF). United States: Congressional Research Service. CRS Report R44116. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  42. DuPée, Matthew (January 2018). "Red on Red: Analyzing Afghanistan's Intra-Insurgency Violence". Combating Terrorism Center . Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  43. Mashal, Mujib (December 31, 2018). "C.I.A.'s Afghan Forces Leave a Trail of Abuse and Anger". The New York Times.
  44. Hollingsworth, Julia. "Who are the Taliban and how did they take control of Afghanistan so swiftly?". CNN. Retrieved 16 July 2023.
  45. Rassler, Don; Brown, Vahid (14 July 2011). "The Haqqani Nexus and the Evolution of al-Qaida" (PDF). Harmony Program. Combating Terrorism Center . Retrieved 2 August 2011.
  46. "Sirajuddin Haqqani dares US to attack N Waziristan". The Express Tribune. Reuters. September 24, 2011. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
  47. Perlez, Jane (14 December 2009). "Rebuffing U.S., Pakistan Balks at Crackdown". The New York Times.
  48. Gunaratna, Rohan; Woodall, Douglas, eds. (16 January 2015). Afghanistan after the Western Drawdown. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN   9781442245068 . Retrieved 13 August 2015.
  49. 1 2 3 "In Afghanistan, al-Qaeda is working more closely with the Taliban, Pentagon says". The Washington Post. 6 May 2016.
  50. Roggio, Bill (26 April 2011). "How many al Qaeda operatives are now left in Afghanistan? – Threat Matrix". Long War Journal. Archived from the original on 6 July 2014. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
  51. "Al Qaeda in Afghanistan Is Attempting A Comeback". The Huffington Post. 21 October 2012. Archived from the original on 10 December 2013. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
  52. "S/2018/705 - E - S/2018/705 -Desktop". UNDOCS.
  53. "Exhausted and abandoned: why Afghanistan's army collapsed". The Express Tribune. September 7, 2021.
  54. 1 2 3 4 "Human and Budgetary Costs to Date of the U.S. War in Afghanistan, 2001–2022". The Costs of War. August 2021. Retrieved 2021-09-02.
  55. "Scores Killed in Fresh Kunduz Fighting". Fox News. 26 November 2001. Retrieved 2 October 2008.
  56. Morello, Carol; Loeb, Vernon (6 December 2001). "Friendly fire kills 3 GIs". Post-Gazette. Retrieved 2 October 2008.
  57. McCarthy, Terry (18 November 2001). "A Volatile State of Siege After a Taliban Ambush". Time. Archived from the original on 30 May 2012. Retrieved 2 October 2008.
  58. Gul, Ayaz (9 December 2001). "Afghan/Fighting (L-O)". Globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 9 February 2010.
  59. "US Bombs Wipe Out Farming Village". Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan . Retrieved 9 February 2010.
  60. "Afghanistan statistics: UK deaths, casualties, mission costs and refugees" (PDF). United Kingdom: House of Commons. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
  61. "Casualty Status" (PDF). United States: Department of Defense.
  62. "Number of Afghanistan UK Military and Civilian casualties (7 October 2001 to 30 November 2014)" (PDF). GOV.UK. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
  63. "Canadian Forces' Casualty Statistics (Afghanistan)". Canada News Center. 10 June 2013. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  64. "Over 2,000 Canadians were wounded in Afghan mission: report". National Post. Retrieved 1 February 2012.
  65. 1 2 "Defense Base Act Case Summary by Nation". United States: Office of Workers' Compensation Programs, Department of Labor. Retrieved 2 August 2011.
  66. 1 2 Miller, T. Christian (23 September 2009). "U.S. Government Private Contract Worker Deaths and Injuries". Pro Publica. Retrieved 2 August 2011.
  67. "Human Cost of Post-9/11 Wars: Direct War Deaths in Major War Zones, Afghanistan & Pakistan (Oct. 2001 – Aug. 2021); Iraq (March 2003 – March 2023); Syria (Sept. 2014 – March 2023); Yemen (Oct. 2002 – Aug. 2021) and Other Post-9/11 War Zones". Watson Institute, Brown University. March 2023.
  68. "Afghanistan". Uppsala Conflict Data Program. Archived from the original on 2024-12-03.
  69. "International Security Assistance Force (ISAF): Key Facts and Figures" (PDF). NATO. 7 November 2014.
  70. "Resolute Support Mission (RSM): Key Facts and Figures" (PDF). NATO.
  71. "Taliban Claims Its Troops Pursuing American Advisor Who Arrived In Afghanistan With Abdul Haq". Pravda . 2001-10-27. Archived from the original on 2012-10-05. Retrieved 27 September 2010. 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.
  72. "Pakistan Arrests Alleged Killer of Afghan Leader Abdul Haq". Voice of America. October 28, 2009. Archived from the original on April 23, 2021. Retrieved 2021-08-21.
  73. Independent Online, Taliban commander captured in Rebel victory, November 6, 2001
  74. Hersh, Seymour M. (2009-01-07). "Annals of National Security: The Getaway". The New Yorker. Retrieved 2010-08-14.
  75. "Breaking News, Weather, Business, Health, Entertainment, Sports, Politics, Travel, Science, Technology, Local, US & World News". MSNBC. Archived from the original on December 16, 2005. Retrieved 2010-08-14.
  76. "South Asia | Former king urges Afghan unity". BBC News. 2002-06-11. Retrieved 2010-08-14.
  77. Matthias Gebauer (6 August 2010). "Germany to Pay $500,000 for Civilian Bombing Victims". Der Spiegel. Retrieved 9 August 2010.
  78. "French troops spearhead assault in Afghanistan". BBC News. 2009-12-17. Retrieved 2012-01-21.
  79. "French Afghan assault concludes". BBC News. 2009-12-18. Retrieved 2012-01-21.
  80. "French troops lead Afghan attack on Taliban". The Seattle Times. Associated Press. 2009-12-17. Archived from the original on January 29, 2010. Retrieved 2012-01-21.
  81. Karim Talbi (2009-12-18). "Afghanistan: démonstration de force de la Légion, cinq Américains blessés". AFP. Archived from the original on December 23, 2009. Retrieved 2012-01-21.
  82. Rivera, Ray (January 26, 2011). "After Months of Turmoil, Karzai Opens Parliament". The New York Times via NYTimes.com.
  83. Sennott, Charles M. (May 5, 2015). "The First Battle of the 21st Century". The Atlantic. Archived from the original on July 30, 2019. Retrieved May 15, 2015. Even after 14 years of war in Afghanistan, the U.S. military has not fully succeeded in restoring security to the country or defeating the Taliban. Now, at the request of the new Afghan government, the United States has delayed the completion of its troop withdrawal from the country until 2016 at the earliest.
  84. "American forces keep up airlift under high threat warnings". AP News. 2021-08-28. Retrieved 2024-11-12.