The United States was engaged in a war in Afghanistan following the September 11, 2001 attacks from October 7, 2001, to August 30, 2021, as a part of the war on terror. Participants in the initial American operation, Operation Enduring Freedom, included a NATO coalition whose initial goals were to train the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) and assist Afghanistan in rebuilding key government institutions after the fall of the Taliban regime in December 2001. However, coalition forces were gradually involved in the broader war as well, as Taliban resistance continued until 2021, when they regained control of the country and formed a new government. This is a list of known code names and related information for military operations associated with the war, including operations to airlift citizens of coalition countries and at-risk Afghan civilians from Afghanistan as the war drew to a close.

Background

From May 1996, Osama bin Laden had been living in Afghanistan along with other members of al-Qaeda, operating terrorist training camps in a loose alliance with the Taliban.[1] Following the 1998 US embassy bombings in Africa, the US military launched cruise missiles at these camps with limited effect on their overall operations. A follow-on plan, Operation Infinite Resolve, was planned but not implemented. The UN Security Council issued Resolutions 1267 and 1333 in 1999 and 2000, respectively, applying financial and military hardware sanctions to encourage the Taliban to turn over bin Laden to appropriate authorities for trial in the embassy bombings, as well as to close terrorist training camps.

After the September 11, 2001, attacks, investigators rapidly accumulated evidence implicating bin Laden. In a taped statement released in 2004, bin Laden publicly acknowledged his and al-Qaeda's direct involvement in the attacks. In an audiotape posted on a website that the US claims is "frequently used by al-Qaeda," on May 21, 2006, bin Laden said that he had personally directed the 19 hijackers.

2001: War begins

A Marine with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit leads a column to a security position after seizing a Taliban forward-operating base in November 2001.

The war in Afghanistan began on October 7, 2001, as Operation Enduring Freedom, in response to the 9/11 attacks. This conflict marked the beginning of the US war on terror. The stated purpose of the invasion was to capture Osama bin Laden, destroy al-Qaeda, and remove the Taliban regime, which had provided them support and safe harbor. In December, the Taliban government fell and a transitional government was established.

Coalition operations

Battles

2002 operations

Coalition operations

Insurgent attacks

2003 operations

2004 operations

  • Operation Asbury Park
  • Operation Asbury Park II
  • Operation Flashman
  • Operation Headstrong
  • Operation Lightning Resolve
  • Operation Mountain Blizzard
  • Operation Mountain Storm

2005 operations

2006 operations

In January 2006, NATO's focus in southern Afghanistan was to form Provincial Reconstruction Teams with the British leading in Helmand Province and the Netherlands and Canada leading similar deployments in Orūzgān Province and Kandahar Province, respectively. The Americans remained in control of Zabul Province. Local Taliban figures voiced opposition to the incoming force and pledged to resist it.

Battles

2007 operations

US and NATO ISAF operations, alongside Afghan National Army forces, continued against the Taliban in 2007. Significant military operations in 2007 included operations around Sangin, Operation Achilles, the Battle of Chora, Operation Harekate Yolo and the Battle of Musa Qala, among others.

Insurgent attacks

Battles

2008 operations

Significant military operations in 2008 included the Helmand province campaign, Operation Karez, and Operation Eagle's Summit, among others.

Coalition operations

  • Operation Sohil Laram III during March and April around Hutal[8]
  • Operation Sur Kor (Red House) during April in Zari District[9]
  • Operation Karez during May in Badghis Province
  • Operation Oqab Sterga (Eagle's Eye) during May around Grishk[10]
  • Operation Janub Zilzila (Southern Edge) during June in Mizan District, Zabul Province[11]
  • Operation Eagle's Summit (Oqab Tsuka) during August and September in Kandahar and Helmand Provinces
  • Operation Sond Chara (Red Dagger) during December in Helmand Province

Insurgent attacks

Battles

2009 operations

Coalition operations

Insurgent attacks

Battles

2010 operations

Coalition operations

2011 operations

Battles

2012 operations

2013 operations

2014 operations

2015 operations

2016 operations

2017 operations

2018 operations

2019 operations

2020 operations

2021 operations

List of battles and operations

The following table lists known military operations of the war in Afghanistan (2001–2021).

Operation nameFrom dateTo dateLocationPurpose/result
Battle of Alasay14 March 200923 March 2009AlasayBattle: A coalition victory enabled the construction of two bases for the Afghan National Army in the valley near the village, which had been guerrilla control since 2006
Battle of Chora15 June 200719 June 2007ChoraBattle: This battle, which involved a significant number of Dutch forces, resulted in the deaths of more than 100 people
Battle of Dahaneh12 August 200915 August 2009Dahaneh in the Helmand Province
Battle of Firebase Anaconda8 August 20078 August 2007Uruzgan provinceBattle: A group of roughly 75 Taliban militants mounted a frontal assault on a United States-led coalition base
Battle of GarmsirApril 20088 September 2008Garmsir in the Helmand ProvinceCounterinsurgency: A Major US Marine offensive on the Taliban-held town killing more than 400 insurgents. Taliban forces withdrew from the town as a result of the assault and took up a position further south
Battle of Musa Qala7 December 200712 December 2007Musa QalaBattle: A British-led operation involving the Afghan National Army that resulted in a coalition victory and a Taliban retreat into the nearby mountains
Battle of Nawzad20062014Nawzad District in the Northern Helmand Province
Battle of PanjwaiiJuly 2006October 2006Panjwayi DistrictBattle: Decisive Canadian victory, Panjwayi cleared of Taliban
Battle of Qala-i-Jangi25 November 20011 December 2001Qala-i-Jangi DistrictBattle: It began with the uprising of Taliban prisoners held at Qala-i-Jangi fortress and escalated into one of the bloodiest engagements of the war in Afghanistan
Battle of Takur Ghar4 March 20025 March 2002The peak of Takur GharBattle: A helicopter caring a SEAL team went down and began receiving fire from hostile forces
Battle of Tora Bora6 December 200117 December 2001Pachir Wa Agam District, Nangarhar provinceBattle: Attempt and failure to kill or capture Osama bin Laden
Operation Accius28 November 20021 June 2004Throughout AfghanistanContingency: The Canadian military's contribution to the civilian-led United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA)
Operation Achilles6 March 200730 May 2007The Sangin and Kajaki districts of HelmandCounterinsurgency: An attempt to stabilize the security situation in the province
Operation Allies Refuge14 July 202130 August 2021Throughout AfghanistanEvacuation: To evacuate US nationals, embassy staff, and allied Afghan nationals from the country during and after the 2021 Taliban offensive
Operation Anaconda1 March 200218 March 2002Shah-i-Kot Valley and Paktika ProvinceCounterinsurgency: Attempt to destroy al-Qaeda and Taliban forces
Operation ApolloOctober 2001October 2003Throughout AfghanistanContingency: The codename for an operation conducted by Canadian Forces in support of the United States in its military operations in Afghanistan
Operation ArcherJuly 200531 August 2006Throughout AfghanistanContingency: The Canadian Forces contribution to Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan
Operation ArgusSeptember 2005October 2008Throughout AfghanistanContingency and Security: Canadian Forces team of strategic military planners to support the government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
Operation Asbury Park2 June 200417 June 2004Oruzgan Province and Zabul ProvinceCounterinsurgency: Was characterized by atypical fighting on the side of the tactics of the Taliban and other guerrillas encountered
Operation Asbury Park II20042004The Dey Chopan DistrictCounterinsurgency: Army infantrymen, Afghan National Army troops, and attached Marines again sparred with ACM forces in the region, inflicting significant losses against the enemy
Operation Athena17 July 2003December 2011Kabul and KandaharSecurity: The Canadian Forces contribution to the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan
Operation AvalancheDecember 2003December 2003Southeast AfghanistanCounterinsurgency: To search out al-Qaeda members while conducting assessments to establish conditions for the provision of humanitarian aid
Operation Baawar (Assurance)5 December 2010The Horn of Panjwayi in Kandahar ProvinceTo take a Taliban stronghold and build roads in the district
Operation Bulldog Bite12 November 201025 November 2010Kunar ProvinceCounterinsurgency: Destroyed two Taliban camps in the Watapur District
Operation Buzzard29 May 20029 July 2002Khowst regionCounterinsurgency: Forced al-Qaeda and the Taliban to abandon a large-scale presence in much of the region
Operation CelticsMay 2005May 2005Counterinsurgency and Humanitarian: To hunt down enemy fighters and provide humanitarian support
Operation Cobra's Anger4 December 200912 December 2009A valley in the Nawzad District
Operation Condor17 May 200222 May 2002The mountains of Paktia provinceCounterinsurgency: British forces engaged in combat with al-Qaeda and Taliban forces
Operation Counterstrike5 January 20065 January 2006Kandahar Airfield
Operation Crescent Wind7 October 2001December 2001Throughout AfghanistanThe codename for an American and British bombing campaign
Operation Devi Shakti16 August 202121 August 2021Throughout AfghanistanEvacuation: An operation of the Indian Armed Forces to evacuate Indian citizens and foreign nationals from the country after the fall of Kabul
Operation Diablo Dragnet19 July 200719 July 2007Kandahar Airfield
Operation Diablo Reach Back7 June 200527 June 2005Kandahar ProvinceCombined Task Force Bayonet forces engaged Taliban forces
Operation Diesel6 February 20097 February 2009Sangin, Helmand ProvinceA raid by British troops on a Taliban drug factory and arms stronghold
Operation Dragon StrikeSeptember 15, 2010December 31, 2010Kandahar ProvinceCounterinsurgency: To reclaim the province from the Taliban
Operation Dragon TreeAugust 2004August 2004KandaharCounterinsurgency: Searched for weapons caches
Operation Eagle's Summit (Oqab Tsuka)August 20085 September 2008Kandahar and Helmand ProvincesWith the objective of transporting a 220-tonne turbine to the Kajaki Dam in Helmand Province through Taliban-controlled territory. Cited by the Permanent Mission of Afghanistan to the United Nations as one of the largest logistical operations carried out by the British Army since World War II[15]
Operation Falcon Summit15 December 2006January 2007The Panjwayi and Zhari districts of KandaharCounterinsurgency: Had the intention of expelling Taliban fighters
Operation Flashman16 July 200416 July 2004Paktika ProvinceHumanitarian and Security: To bring stability to the area and establish voter registration sites
Operation Hamkari
Operation Hammer (Chakush)24 July 200727 July 2007The Upper Grishk Valley in Helmand province
Operation Harekate Yolo (Front Straightening)1 October 20078 November 2007Northwest AfghanistanCounterinsurgency: Targeted hostile forces in the northern provinces
Operation Haven Denial2 July 20036 July 2003The Paktika and Khost provincesCounterinsurgency: Targeted against Taliban remnants and al-Qaeda fighters
Operation Headstrong2 January 20042004KabulLaw enforcement: Involved the training of Afghan commandos by British special forces to seek out and destroy drug laboratories and to confiscate drug shipments
Operation Herrick20 June 200212 December 2014Throughout AfghanistanContingency: The codename for all British combat operations in Afghanistan from 2002 until 2014
Operation Highroad1 January 201518 June 2021The second phase of the Australian Defence Force's operation in Afghanistan
Operation Hoover24 May 200725 May 2007Kandahar Province district of ZhariCounterinsurgency: Was a Canadian-led offensive against the Taliban
Operation Jacana16 April 20029 July 2002Khost province, Paktia ProvinceWith the aim of capturing or killing al-Qaeda and Taliban remnants
Operation JawsJanuary 2012August 2012Helmand province
Operation Karez13 May 200823 May 2008Badghis ProvinceCounterinsurgency: To eliminate Taliban presence in the region after insurgents regrouped following Operation Harekate Yolo
Operation Khanjar (Strike of the Sword)2 July 200920 August 2009Helmand ProvinceCounterinsurgency: A major US Marine offensive to secure the province
Operation Lastay Kulang (Pickaxe Handle)30 May 200714 June 2007Helmand provinceA British-led NATO operation
Operation Lightning Resolve20042007Throughout AfghanistanSecurity: Provide security in support of the first democratic elections ever in Afghanistan
Operation Lions Pride21 April 200621 April 2006Korangal ValleyHumanitarian: To provide medical assistance to more than 3,100 Afghans
Operation Mavericks20042005The mountains of Eastern AfghanistanCounterinsurgency: Detained suspected terrorists and confiscating several weapons and explosives caches
Operation Medusa2 September 200617 September 2006Kandahar ProvinceCounterinsurgency: A Canadian-led offensive by major elements of the International Security Assistance Force and Afghan National Army
Operation Miracle24 August 202127 August 2021Throughout AfghanistanEvacuation: An operation of the Republic of Korea Armed Forces to evacuate Afghan nationals from the country after the fall of Kabul
Operation Moshtarak (Together, Joint)13 February 20107 December 2010Marjah in the Helmand Province "poppy-growing belt"Counterinsurgency: The largest military offensive ever launched by NATO troops in Afghanistan to clear the city of Taliban militants and drug traffickers eliminating the last Taliban stronghold in Helmand. It involved US Marine units and Afghan troops along with the US Special Forces and other ISAF members[16]
Operation Mountain BlizzardJanuary 200412 March 2004The south, southeast, and eastern portions of AfghanistanCounterinsurgency: Killed 22 enemy combatants and discovered caches with 3,648 rockets, 3,202 mortar rounds, 2,944 rocket-propelled grenades, 3,000 rifle rounds, 2,232 mines and tens of thousands of rounds of small-arms ammunition
Operation Mountain Fury16 September 200615 January 2007Paktika, Khost, Ghazni, Paktia, and Logar ProvincesCounterinsurgency: A NATO-led operation as a follow-up operation to Operation Medusa, to clear Taliban rebels from the eastern provinces of Afghanistan
Operation Mountain Lion11 April 20062006Near the Pakistan borderCounterinsurgency: Searching along the border with Pakistan for al-Qaeda and former Taliban forces
Operation Mountain Reach IIMay 2010May 2010Kunar ProvinceUS Army, Theatre Assets, ANSF, ANP, ANA were ambushed by 150+ Taliban for 8.5 hours along the route from Marawara District Center to Daridam Village area. 60-80 Taliban killed; three US soldiers wounded
Operation Mountain Resolve7 November 20032003Nuristan and Kunar ProvincesCounterinsurgency: The operation involved an airdrop into the Hindu Kush Mountains by the US 10th Mountain Division and resulted in the killing of Hezbi commander Ghulam Sakhee
Operation Mountain Storm5 March 2004July 2004The south, southeast, and eastern portions of AfghanistanWith the aim of cornering al-Qaeda and Taliban remnants
Operation Mountain Sweep18 August 200228 August 2002Mainly around Dormat and Narizah, south of Khowst and GardezWas designed to search out al-Qaeda and Taliban forces and information about the terrorist organizations
Operation Mountain Thrust15 May 200631 July 2006Kandahar, Helmand, Paktika, Zabul and Uruzgan ProvincesA major offensive, the primary objective of which was to quell the Taliban insurgency in southern Afghanistan
Operation Mountain Viper30 August 2003September 2003The mountains of the Dey Chopan District, Zabul provinceSought to uncover Taliban rebels. Deaths included 124 militants, five Afghan Army personnel and one US soldier
Operation Neptune9 August 20052005Nawa District
Operation New Dawn12 June 2010Helmand ProvinceAn extension of Operation Moshtarak, a joint ISAF / ANA operation, led by the United States Marines, to disrupt insurgents and deny them freedom of movement in areas between Marjah and Nawa[17][18]
Operation Northern Wind
Operation Oracle
Operation Oqab (Eagle)18 July 200928 July 2009Kunduz ProvinceTo force the Taliban out of the province
Operation Palk MesherAugust 2007August 2007Helmand ProvinceTo disrupt and eliminate insurgents
Operation Panther's Claw (Panchai Palang)19 June 200920 August 2009Helmand Province350 British Troops attacked a Taliban Stronghold near Babaji
Operation Pil16 October 200523 October 2005The Watapor Valley of the Kunar ProvinceTo improve security and assist in stabilizing the government in the region
Operation Pitting13 August 202128 August 2021Throughout AfghanistanEvacuation: To evacuate British nationals, embassy staff, and allied Afghan nationals from the country during and after the 2021 Taliban offensive
Operation Pizmah200515 December 2005Zabul ProvinceTo reestablish a coalition presence in the districts of Dey Chopan, Argandab and Khaki-Afghan
Operation Ptarmigan15 April 2002Gardez and Khost regionsThe name given to the British share of military actions with US and coalition forces
Operation Red Wings27 June 2005July 2005Kunar ProvinceCounterterrorism mission
Operation Rhino19 October 200120 October 2001KandaharUS troops seized an airstrip from the Taliban that would eventually become Camp Rhino
Operation Shahi Tandar7 January 200931 January 2009Kandahar ProvinceA series of raids and operations against Taliban insurgents
Operation Silicon30 April 2007Upper Helmand ProvinceA sub-operation of Operation Achilles, carried out by NATO (mostly British) and Afghan troops. Recaptured Grishk from the Taliban
Operation Silver20072007Counterinsurgency: Conducted to keep up the pressure on the Taliban in the hopes of blunting an expected spring offensive
Operation Sleigh RideDecember 2005December 2005Forward operating bases at Salerno, Ghazni, Orgun-E and SharanaChristmas-time morale boost for troops
Operation Slipper22 October 200131 December 2014The first phase of the Australian Defence Force's operation in Afghanistan
Operation Snipe2 May 200213 May 2002The remote Afghan mountainsA British Royal Marine search and clear operation over a significant area believed to be used as a base by al-Qaeda and Taliban forces
Operation Sond Chara (Red Dagger)11 December 200826 December 2008Taliban strongholds near the town of Nad-e-Ali in Helmand ProvinceTo secure the area around the provincial capital of Lashkar Gah after an increase in insurgent attacks there, as well as to safeguard a planned voter registration program
Operation SparvieroCodename for the Italian Army's contributions to the ISAF
Operation Toral1 January 20158 July 2021Throughout AfghanistanContingency: The codename for all British combat operations in Afghanistan from 2015 until the end of the war in 2021
Operation Torii
Operation Tor Shezada30 July 20102014The operation was planned and executed by the International Security Assistance Force forces and Afghan army whose mission was to clear insurgents from Seyyedabad to the south of Nad-e Ali in Helmand province, in parallel to similar operations by the U.S. Marine Corps in Northern Marjah. Enabled by the UK Joint Aviation Group - UK Apache Attack Helicopters from 664 Squadron AAC alongside UK Chinook and Merlin heavy lift aircraft and USMC CH-53s, Osprey V-22s, Cobra Attack Helicopters and numerous other international Fixed Wing air assets.
Operation Veritas7 October 20012002Throughout AfghanistanContingency: The codename for all British combat operations in Afghanistan from the start of the war in 2001 until 2002
Operation Vigilance15 April 2005April 2005Wardak ProvinceCounterinsurgency and Humanitarian: Targeted three individuals that coalition forces were trying to kill or capture, and included humanitarian aid drops in several villages
Operation VolcanoFebruary 2007February 2007Near the Kajaki hydroelectric damWas a British operation to clear a Taliban base, consisting of 25 compounds. Was part of Operation Achilles
Operation Warrior Sweep20 July 2003September 2003The Zormat Valley, Paktia province
Operation Wyconda Pincer2006Districts of Bala Buluk and Pusht-i-Rod, in Farah provinceItalian and Spanish Task-Force 45, killed 70 Taliban
Operation Solace23 August 202126 August 2021Districts of Kabul, in Kabul provinceNoncombatant Evacuation Operation (NEO): Portuguese evacuate allied Afghan nationals from the country after the 2021 Taliban offensiven [19]

See also

References

  1. Osama bin Laden Wealthy Saudi exile is a terrorist mastermind
  2. Briscoe, Charles H.; et al. (2003). Weapon of Choice: U.S. Army Special Operations Forces in Afghanistan. Fort Leavenworth, Kansas: Combat Studies Institute Press. pp. 141–143. ISBN 9781944961763.
  3. Wright et al. 2009, p. 173.
  4. Wright et al. 2009, p. 171.
  5. Wright et al. 2009, p. 177.
  6. Cawthorne, Nigel (2008). The Mammoth Book of Inside the Elite Forces. Running Press. ISBN 9780762433827.
  7. Ed Darack, Victory Point website
  8. Bishop 2009, p. 41.
  9. Bishop 2009, p. 63.
  10. Bishop 2009, p. 78.
  11. Bishop 2009, p. 103.
  12. "Grenade Wounds 3 U.S. Troops, Afghan Child". CBS News. 9 June 2009. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
  13. 1 2 Southby-Tailyour, Ewen (2010). 3 Commando Brigade: Helmand Assault. UK: Ebury Press. p. 10. ISBN 9780091937768.
  14. Hughes, Kim (2018). Painting The Sand. UK: Simon & Schuster UK. p. 9. ISBN 9781471156724.
  15. "Triumph for British forces in Boy's Own-style Kajaki mission". afghanistan-un.org. 4 August 2008. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
  16. Gal Perl Finkel, Back to the ground?, Israel Hayom, November 8, 2015.
  17. "1st Recon launches new operation near Marjah". Marine Corps Times. 5 July 2010. Archived from the original on 12 September 2010. Retrieved 19 August 2010.
  18. "ANA, ISAF Complete First Task in Operation New Dawn". ISAF. 21 June 2010. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 19 August 2010.
  19. Portaria nº399/2021,24 August (2021), Participação nacional na operação SOLACE — Afghan Staff Relocation — célula de coordenação local, Diário da República 2ª Série, 182, pp29-30, Lisboa: Ministério da Defesa Nacional

Further reading

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