List of military operations in the war in Afghanistan (2001–present)

Since October 7, 2001 following the September 11, 2001 attacks, the United States has been engaged in a war in Afghanistan as a part of War on Terror.

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 submarine-based cruise missiles at these camps (Operation Infinite Reach) with limited effect on their overall operations. A follow-on plan, called Operation Infinite Resolve, was planned but not implemented.

The UN Security Council had issued Resolutions 1267 and 1333 in 1999 and 2000 directed towards the Taliban which applied financial and military hardware sanctions to encourage them to turn over bin Laden to appropriate authorities for trial in the deadly bombings of two U.S. embassies in Africa in August 1998, and close terrorist training camps.

The 9-11 attacks

After the September 11, 2001, attacks, investigators rapidly accumulated evidence implicating Osama bin Laden. In a taped statement, bin Laden publicly acknowledged his and al-Qaeda's direct involvement in the 9-11 attacks. In an audiotape posted on a website that the U.S. claims is "frequently used by al-Qaeda", on May 21, 2006, bin Laden said he had personally directed the 19 hijackers.

2001: war begins

A Marine with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) leads a column to a security position after seizing a Taliban forward-operating base.

Nov. 25, 2001.

The war in Afghanistan (2001–present) began on October 7, 2001, as Operation Enduring Freedom, a response to the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States of America (U.S.). This marked the beginning of the U.S. War on Terrorism. The stated purpose of the invasion was to capture Osama bin Laden, destroy al-Qaeda, and remove the Taliban regime which had provided support and safe harbour to al-Qaeda.

Coalition operations

• Operation River City^[2]
• Operation Crescent Wind
• Operation Relentless Strike^[3]
• Operation Rhino

Battles

• Fall of Mazar-i-Sharif
• Siege of Kunduz
• Fall of Kabul
• 2001 uprising in Herat
• Battle of Tarin Kowt
• Fall of Kandahar
• Battle of Qala-i-Jangi
• Battle of Tora Bora

2002 operations

Coalition operations

• Operation Anaconda (includes Operation Harpoon,^[4] Battle of Takur Ghar)
• Operation Glock^[5]
• Operation Polar Harpoon^[6]
• Operation Jacana (deployment of 45 Cdo RM)
  • Operation Ptarmigan
  • Operation Snipe
  • Operation Condor
  • Operation Buzzard
• Operation Mountain Lion
• Operation Mountain Sweep^[7]

Insurgent attacks

• Kabul

2003 operations

• Operation Mountain Viper
• Operation Mountain Resolve
• Operation Tsunami
• Operation Eagle Fury

2004 operations

• Operation Asbury Park

2005 operations

• Operation Archer – The Canadian Forces contribution to Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan;
• Operation Argus – Canadian Forces team of strategic military planners support the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.
• Operation Spurs
• Operation Mavericks
• Operation Celtics
• Operation Red Wings
• Operation Red Wings II
• Operation Whalers^[8]

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 would lead similar deployments in Orūzgān Province and Kandahar Province respectively. The Americans with 2,200 troops stayed in control of Zabul Province. Local Taliban figures voiced opposition to the incoming force and pledged to resist it.

Battles

• Battle of Lashkagar
• Battle of Panjwaii
• Siege of Sangin
• Battle of Now Zad

2007 operations

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

Insurgent attacks

• Operation Kamin
• Operation Nasrat
• Bagram Air Base
• Baghlan

Battles

• Battle of Musa Qala
• Battle of Chora
• Battle of Firebase Anaconda

2008 operations

US and NATO ISAF operations, alongside Afghan National Army forces, continued against the Taliban through 2008. Significant military operations in 2008 included the ongoing Helmand province campaign, Operation Karez, and Operation Eagle's Summit, amongst others.

Insurgent attacks

• Hotel Serena
• 1st Kandahar
• 1st Indian Embassy
• Uzbin Valley ambush
• Balamorghab ambush
• Sarposa Prison attack
• Spin Boldak bombing

Battles

• Battle of Arghandab
• Battle of Garmsir
• Gora Prai airstrike
• Battle of Shewan
• Battle of Shok Valley
• Battle of Wanat

2009 operations

A June 2009 grenade attack, following a collision between a MRAP and a humvee, wounding three American soldiers.^[9]

Coalition operations

• Operation Shahi Tandar
• Operation Diesel
• German combat operations in Kunduz province in 2009 (Kunduz Province Campaign)
• Operation Panchai Palang (Panther's Claw)
• Operation Oqab (Eagle)
• Operation Khanjar (Strike of the Sword)
• Operation Cobra's Anger
• Counterinsurgency in Northern Afghanistan

Insurgent attacks

• Kabul raid
• 2nd Kandahar
• 2nd Indian Embassy
• UN guest house
• Camp Chapman attack

Battles

• Battle of Dahaneh
• Battle of Alasay (Operation Dinner Out)
• Battle of COP Keating
• Battle of Ganjgal

2010 operations

Coalition operations

• Operation Dragon Strike
• Operation Moshtarak (Battle of Marja)
• Operation New Dawn
• Operation Tor Shezada
• Operation Hamkari

List of battles and operations

This is a list of military operations of the war in Afghanistan (2001–present). You can sort by any column by clicking on the hourglass in the column title.

Operation name	From date	To date	Location	Purpose/result
Battle of Chora	2007-06-15	2007-06-19	Chora	Battle: This battle has proved to be the biggest Taliban offensive of 2007 in Afghanistan, and resulted in the death of more than 100 people in just three days. The battle involved a significant number of Dutch forces
Battle of Dahaneh	2009-08-12	2009-08-15	Dahaneh in the Helmand Province
Battle of Firebase Anaconda	2007-08-08	2007-08-08	Uruzgan province	Battle: A group of roughly 75 Taliban militants mounted a rare frontal assault on a United States-led coalition base
Battle of Garmsir	2008	2011	Garmsir in the Helmand Province	Counter Insurgency: A Major U.S. 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 Qala	2007-12-07	2007-12-12	Musa Qala	Result: Coalition victory; Taliban retreat
Battle of Now Zad	2006	2014	Nowzad in the Northern Helmand Province
Battle of Panjwaii	2006-07	2006-10	Panjwaii district	Battle: Decisive Canadian victory, Panjwaii cleared of Taliban
Battle of Qala-i-Jangi	2001-11-25	2001-12-01	Qala-i-Jangi District	Battle: 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 Ghar	2002-03-03	2002-03-04	the peak of Takur Ghar	Battle: A helicopter caring a SEAL team went down and began receiving fire from hostile forces.
Battle of Tora Bora	2001-12-06	2001-12-17	Pachir Wa Agam District, Nangarhar province	Battle: Attempt and Failure to kill or capture Osama bin Laden
Operation Accius	2002-11-28	2004-06-01	throughout Afghanistan	Contingency: The Canadian military's contribution to the civilian-led United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan(UNAMA)
Operation Achilles	2007-03-06	2007-05-30	the Sangin and Kajaki districts of Helmand	Counter Insurgency: An attempt to stabilise the security situation in the province
Operation Anaconda	2002-03-01	2002-03-18	Shahi Kot Valley and Paktika Province	Counter Insurgency: Attempt to destroy al-Qaeda and Taliban forces
Operation Apollo	10/2001	10/2003	Throughout Afghanistan	Contingency: Was the codename for an operation conducted by Canadian Forces in support of the United States in its military operations in Afghanistan
Operation Archer	07/2005	2006-08-31	throughout Afghanistan	Contingency: The Canadian Forces contribution to Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan
Operation Argus	09/2005	10/2008	throughout Afghanistan	Contingency and Security: Canadian Forces team of strategic military planners to support the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
Operation Athena	10/2003	2005-10-18	Kabul and Kandahar	Security: The Canadian Forces contribution to the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan
Operation Asbury Park	2004-06-02	2004-06-17	Oruzgan Province and Zabul Province	Counter Insurgency: Was characterized by atypical fighting on the side of the tactics of the Taliban and other guerillas encountered
Operation Asbury Park II	2004	2004	the Dey Chopan region	Counter Insurgency: Army infantrymen, Afghan National Army troops, and attached Marines again sparred with ACM forces in the region, once again inflicting significant losses against the enemy
Operation Avalanche	12/2003	12/2003	the entire eastern, southeastern and southern portion	Counter Insurgency: To search out Al-Qaeda members and illegal weapons while conducting a village assessment
Operation Baawar	12/2010	ongoing (as of 09/2014)	Horn of Panjwai (HoP)	To build and hold in the HoP
Operation Buzzard	2002-05-29	2002-07-09	Khowst region	Counter Insurgency: The operation reflects the success that coalition forces have enjoyed in forcing Al Qaida and Taliban to abandon a large-scale presence in much of the region
Operation Celtics	05/2005	05/2005	Counter Insurgency and Humanitarian: to hunt down enemy fighters and provide humanitarian support
Operation Condor	2002-05-17	2002-05-22	the mountains of Paktia province	Counter Insurgency: Engaged in combat with Al Qaida and Taliban forces
Operation Counterstrike	2006-01-05	2006-01-05	Kandahar Airfield
Operation Diablo Dragnet	2007-07-19	2007-07-19	Kandahar Airfield	Humanitarian: Linked People to Government
Operation Diablo Reach Back	2005-06-07	2005-06-27	Kandahar Province	Combined Task Force Bayonet forces engaged Taliban forces in some of the fiercest fighting seen this year
Operation Dragon Tree	08/2004	08/2004	Kandahar	Counter Insurgency: Searched for weapons caches
Operation Falcon Summit	2006-12-15	2007-01-05	the Panjawi and Zhari districts of Kandahar	Counter Insurgency: Had the intention of expelling Taliban fighters
Operation Fingal	2002-01-01	2002-03-19	Kabul	Security: An international security assistance force
Operation Flashman	2004-07-16	2004-07-16	Paktika Province	Humanitarian and Security: Bring stability to the area as well as establishing voter registration sites
Operation Hammer (Chakush)	2007-07-24	2007-07-27	the Upper Gereshk Valley in Helmand province	Counter Insurgency: The operation is continuing the momentum towards expelling Taliban forces
Operation Harekate Yolo	2007-10-01	2007-11-08	North-west Afghanistan	Counter Insurgency: Targeted hostile forces in the northern provinces
Operation Haven Denial	2003-07-02	2003-07-06	the Paktika and Khost provinces	Counter Insurgency: Targeted against Taliban remnants and Al Qaeda fighters
Operation Headstrong	2003	2004	Kabul	Law enforcement: Involved the training of Afghan commandos by British special forces to seek out and destroy drug laboratories and to confiscate drug shipments
Operation Herrick	2002-06-20	2014-12-12	throughout Afghanistan	Contingency: The codename for all the British operations in Afghanistan
Operation Hoover	2007-05-24	2007-05-25	Kandahar Province district of Zhari	Counter Insurgency: Was a Canadian-led offensive against the Taliban
Operation Jacana	04/2002	07/2002	Khost province, Paktia Province
Operation Khanjar	2009-07-02	2009-08-20	Helmand Province	Counter Insurgency: A major U.S. Marine offensive to secure the province
Operation Lightning Resolve	2004	2007	towns and villages throughout Afghanistan	Security: Provide security in support of the first democratic elections ever in Afghanistan
Operation Lions Pride	2006-04-21	2006-04-21	Korengal Valley	Humanitarian: To provide medical assistance to more than 3,100 Afghans
Operation Mavericks	2004	2005	The mountains of Eastern Afghanistan	Counter Insurgency: Detained suspected terrorists and confiscating several weapons and explosives caches
Operation Medusa	2006-09-02	2006-09-17	Kandahar Province	Counter Insurgency: Was a Canadian-led offensive by major elements of the International Security Assistance Force and Afghan National Army.
Operation Moshtarak	2010-02-13	2010-12-07	Marjah in the Helmand Province "poppy-growing belt"	Counter Insurgency: 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 involves U.S. Marine units and Afghan troops along with the U.S. Special Forces and other ISAF members.
Operation Mountain Blizzard	2004/01	2004-03-12	the south, southeast, and eastern portions, Afghanistan	Counter Insurgency: 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 Fury	2006-09-16	2007-01-15	Paktika, Khost, Ghazni, Paktia, Logar	Counter Insurgency: Was a NATO-led operation as a follow up operation to Operation Medusa, to clear Taliban rebels from the eastern provinces of Afghanistan
Operation Mountain Lion	2006-04-11	2006	near the Pakistan border	Counter Insurgency: Searching along the border with Pakistan for Al Qaeda and former Taliban forces
Operation Mountain Resolve	2003-11-07	2008	Nuristan and Kunar provinces	Counter Insurgency: 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 Storm	2004-03-05	07/2004	the south, southeast, and eastern portions of Afghanistan	With the aim of cornering al-Qaeda and Taliban remnants
Operation Mountain Sweep	2002-08-18	at least 2002-08-28	mainly around Dormat and Narizah, south of Khowst and Gardez	Was designed to search out al Qaeda and Taliban forces and information about the terrorist organizations
Operation Mountain Thrust	2006/05	2006-07-31	Kandahar, Helmand, Paktika, Zabul and Uruzgan	A major offensive. Its primary objective was to quell the ongoing Taliban insurgency in the south of the country.
Operation Mountain Viper	2003/08	2003/09	the mountains of Daychopan district, Zabul province	Sought to uncover Taliban rebels. One-hundred-and-twenty-four militants, five Afghan Army personnel and one US soldier were killed in the operation.
Operation Neptune	2005-08-09	2005	Nawa District
Operation Nibbio	????/??/??	????/??/??		Italian code name for Enduring Freedom. Operation Sparviero is the Italian Army contribution to ISAF in Kabul
Operation Northern Wind	????/??/??	????/??/??
Operation Oracle	????/??/??	????/??/??
Operation Palk Mesher	08/2007	08/2007	Helmand Province	to disrupt and eliminate insurgents
Operation Panther's Claw	2009-06-19	2009-08-20	Helmand Province	350 British Troops attacked a Taliban Stronghold near Babaji
Operation Pickaxe-Handle (Pashto)	2007-05-30	2007-06-14	Helmand province	Was a British-led NATO operation
Operation Pil	2005-10-16	2005-10-23	the Watapor Valley of the Kunar Province	to improve security and assist in stabilizing the government in the troubled region
Operation Pizmah	2005	2005-12-15	Zabul Province	To reestablish a coalition presence in the districts of Dey Chopan, Argandab and Khaki-Afghan
Operation Ptarmigan	2002-04-15	????/??/??	Gardez and Khost regions	The name given to the British share of military actions with U.S. and coalition forces
Operation Red Wings	2005-06-28	2005-06-28	Kunar province	Counterterrorism mission
Operation School House	????/??/??	????/??/??	Kabul	The program, started by U.S. and coalition personnel from the Kabul Compound, receives donated school supplies from the U.S. and distributes them to needy schools
Operation Silicon	2007-04-30	????/??/??	Upper Helmand Province	A sub-operation of Operation Achilles, carried out by NATO (mostly British) and Afghan troops. Recaptured Gereshk from the Taliban.[10]
Operation Silver	2007	2007		Counter Insurgency: Was conducted to keep up the pressure on the Taliban in the hopes of blunting their expected spring offensive
Operation Sleigh Ride	12/2005	12/2005	forward operating bases at Salerno, Ghazni, Orgun-E and Sharana	Christmas-time Morale boost for the troops in Afghanistan
Operation Slipper	10/2001	Present		The Australian Defence Force's contribution to operations in Afghanistan
Operation Snipe	2002-05-02	2002-05-13	the remote Afghan mountains	A British Royal Marine search and clear operation over a significant area believed to be used as a base by Al Qaida and Taliban forces
Operation Sparviero	????/??/??	????/??/??
Operation Torii	????/??/??	????/??/??
Operation Tor Shezada	2010-07-30	Present
Operation Veritas	2001-10-07	2002-07-31	Throughout Afghanistan	The codename used for British military operations against the Taliban government of Afghanistan
Operation Vigilance	2005-04-15	04/2005	Wardak Province	Counter insurgency and Humanitarian: Targated three individuals that coalition forces were trying to kill or captureand and included humanitarian aid drops in several villages
Operation Volcano	2007-02-??	2007-02-??	near the Kajaki hydroelectric dam	Was a British operation to clear a Taliban base, consisting of 25 compounds. Was part of Operation Achilles
Operation Warrior Sweep	2003-07-20	2003-07-??	the Zormat Valley, Paktia province
Operation Wyconda Pincer	????/??/??	2006	districts of Bala Buluk and Pusht-i-Rod, in Farah province.	Italian and Spanish Task-Force 45, killed 70 Taliban.
Operation Cobra's Anger	2009-12-04	2009-12-07	Now Zad Valley
Operation New Dawn	2010-06-12	Present	Helmand Province	An extension of Operation Moshtarak, Operation New Dawn was launched on 12 June 2010 as joint ISAF / ANA operation, led by the United States Marines, to disrupt insurgents and deny them freedom of movement in the sparsely populated areas between Marjah and Nawa.[11][12]
Operation Hamkari		Present

See also

• Afghanistan War order of battle
• British forces casualties in Afghanistan
• Canadian Forces casualties in Afghanistan
• Civilian casualties in the war in Afghanistan (2001–14)
• Coalition casualties in Afghanistan
• Criticism of the War on Terrorism
• International public opinion on the war in Afghanistan
• International Security Assistance Force
• List of Coalition aircraft losses in Afghanistan
• Opposition to the war in Afghanistan (2001–14)
• Protests against the invasion of Afghanistan
• Taliban insurgency
• U.S. government response to the September 11, 2001 attacks
• Soviet war in Afghanistan
• War in Afghanistan (2001–present)
• Helmand Province campaign

References

1. Osama bin Laden Wealthy Saudi exile is a terrorist mastermind
2. Kitty Hawk
3. Charles H. Briscoe & al., Weapon of choice : U.S. Army Special Operations Forces in Afghanistan, Fort Leavenworth, Kan. : Combat Studies Institute Press, 2003, p.141-143
4. Donald P. Wright & al., A Different Kind of War : The United States Army in Operation ENDURING FREEDOM (OEF) October 2001-September 2005, Fort Leavenworth, Kan. : Combat Studies Institute Press, 2009 http://documents.nytimes.com/a-different-kind-of-war#p=1 p.173
5. Donald P. Wright & al., A Different Kind of War : The United States Army in Operation ENDURING FREEDOM (OEF) October 2001-September 2005, Fort Leavenworth, Kan. : Combat Studies Institute Press, 2009 http://documents.nytimes.com/a-different-kind-of-war#p=1 p.171
6. Donald P. Wright & al., A Different Kind of War : The United States Army in Operation ENDURING FREEDOM (OEF) October 2001-September 2005, Fort Leavenworth, Kan. : Combat Studies Institute Press, 2009 http://documents.nytimes.com/a-different-kind-of-war#p=1 p.177
7. Cawthorne, Nigel, The Mammoth Book of Inside the Elite Forces, Robinson, 2008 ISBN 1845298217 ISBN 978-1845298210
8. Ed Darack, Victory Point website
9. CBS, Grenade wounds 3 US troops, Afghan child
10. https://web.archive.org/20090713194545/http://www.army.mod.uk:80/news/army_news_archive/year_2007/operation_silicon.htm. Archived from the original on July 13, 2009. Retrieved June 28, 2007. Missing or empty |title= (help)
11. "1st Recon launches new operation near Marjah". Marine Corps Times. 5 July 2010. Retrieved 19 August 2010.
12. "ANA, ISAF Complete First Task in Operation New Dawn". ISAF. 21 June 2010. Retrieved 19 August 2010.

• DOD announces 101st Airborne deployment
• Another 1,500 British troops being sent to keep control in Afghanistan
• 10th Mountain passes torch to 82nd Airborne
• U.S. sending more troops to thwart Taliban offensive
• DOD Announces Afghanistan Force Rotation
• Details of ISAF and PRT deployments in Afghanistan - 2006
• DoD Announces Unit for Next Afghanistan Rotation
• 4th Brigade Combat Team Task Force Deploys to Afghanistan
• DoD Announces Units for Next Afghanistan Rotation
• NATO-ISAF: Allied Joint Force Command Brunssum, Netherlands
• Combined Forces Command - Afghanistan
• Combined Joint Task Force 76
• Task Force Phoenix
• Operation Enduring Freedom Rotation Adjustment Announced
• Australian Defence Force - Operation Slipper
• British Operations in Afghanistan
• Canadian Forces Operations in Afghanistan
• 1er Régiment de Parachutistes d'Infanterie de Marine
• Dutch deployment to Afghanistan
• Romanian operations in Afghanistan

Further reading

• Christopher N. Koontz, ed. (2008). Enduring Voices: Oral Histories of the U.S. Army Experience in Afghanistan, 2003-2005. Washington, D.C.: United States Army Center of Military History. CMH Pub 70-112-1. full text available online

External links

• Troop Levels in Afghanistan Since 2001 - interactive map by The New York Times