The United States launched an invasion of Afghanistan following the September 11 attacks from October 7, 2001, to August 31, 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. 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

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

Coalition operations

Insurgent attacks

Battles

2004 operations

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.

Coalition Operations

Insurgent attacks

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.

Coalition operations

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

Insurgent attacks

Battles

2009 operations

Coalition operations

Insurgent attacks

Battles

2010 operations

Coalition operations

Insurgent attacks

Battles

2011 operations

Coalition operations

Insurgent attacks

Battles

2012 operations

Coalition Operations

Insurgent attacks

Battles

2013 operations

Coalition opearations

insurgent attacks

Battles

2014 operations

Coalition opearations

insurgent attacks

Battles

2015 operations

Coalition opearations

insurgent attacks

Battle

2016 operations

Coalition opearations

insurgent attacks

Battles

2017 operations

Coalition opearations

insurgent attacks

Battles

2018 operations

Coalition opearations

insurgent attacks

Battles

2019 operations

Coalition opearations

insurgent attacks

Battles

2020 operations

Coalition opearations

insurgent attacks

Battles

2021 operations

Coalition opearations

insurgent attacks

Battles

List of battles and operations

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