List of military operations in the war in Afghanistan (2001–2021)

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

Main articles: September 11 attacks and 9/11 Commission

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.[citation needed] 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,"[citation needed] 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.
Main articles: 2001 in Afghanistan, United States invasion of Afghanistan, and Taliban insurgency

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

See also: War in North-West Pakistan
  • Operation Asbury Park
  • Operation Asbury Park II
  • Operation Flashman
  • Operation Headstrong
  • Operation Lightning Resolve
  • Operation Mountain Blizzard
  • Operation Mountain Storm

2005 operations

2006 operations

Main article: Coalition combat operations in Afghanistan in 2006

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

Main article: Coalition combat operations in Afghanistan in 2007

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

Main article: Coalition combat operations in Afghanistan in 2008

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

Main article: Coalition combat operations in Afghanistan in 2009
A June 2009 grenade attack, following a collision between a MRAP and a humvee, wounding three American soldiers.[12]

Coalition operations

Insurgent attacks

Battles

2010 operations

Coalition operations

2011 operations

Coalition operations

Insurgent attacks

Battles

2012 operations

Coalition Operations

Insurgent attacks

Battles

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 name From date To date Location Purpose/result
Battle of Alasay 14 March 2009 23 March 2009 Alasay Battle: 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 Chora 15 June 2007 19 June 2007 Chora Battle: This battle, which involved a significant number of Dutch forces, resulted in the deaths of more than 100 people
Battle of Dahaneh 12 August 2009 15 August 2009 Dahaneh in the Helmand Province
Battle of Firebase Anaconda 8 August 2007 8 August 2007 Uruzgan province Battle: A group of roughly 75 Taliban militants mounted a frontal assault on a United States-led coalition base
Battle of Garmsir April 2008 8 September 2008 Garmsir in the Helmand Province Counterinsurgency: 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 Qala 7 December 2007 12 December 2007 Musa Qala Battle: 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 Nawzad 2006 2014 Nawzad District in the Northern Helmand Province
Battle of Panjwaii July 2006 October 2006 Panjwayi District Battle: Decisive Canadian victory, Panjwayi cleared of Taliban
Battle of Qala-i-Jangi 25 November 2001 1 December 2001 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 4 March 2002 5 March 2002 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 6 December 2001 17 December 2001 Pachir Wa Agam District, Nangarhar province Battle: Attempt and failure to kill or capture Osama bin Laden
Operation Accius 28 November 2002 1 June 2004 Throughout Afghanistan Contingency: The Canadian military's contribution to the civilian-led United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA)
Operation Achilles 6 March 2007 30 May 2007 The Sangin and Kajaki districts of Helmand Counterinsurgency: An attempt to stabilize the security situation in the province
Operation Allies Refuge 14 July 2021 30 August 2021 Throughout Afghanistan Evacuation: To evacuate US nationals, embassy staff, and allied Afghan nationals from the country during and after the 2021 Taliban offensive
Operation Anaconda 1 March 2002 18 March 2002 Shah-i-Kot Valley and Paktika Province Counterinsurgency: Attempt to destroy al-Qaeda and Taliban forces
Operation Apollo October 2001 October 2003 Throughout Afghanistan Contingency: The codename for an operation conducted by Canadian Forces in support of the United States in its military operations in Afghanistan
Operation Archer July 2005 31 August 2006 Throughout Afghanistan Contingency: The Canadian Forces contribution to Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan
Operation Argus September 2005 October 2008 Throughout Afghanistan Contingency and Security: Canadian Forces team of strategic military planners to support the government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
Operation Asbury Park 2 June 2004 17 June 2004 Oruzgan Province and Zabul Province Counterinsurgency: Was characterized by atypical fighting on the side of the tactics of the Taliban and other guerrillas encountered
Operation Asbury Park II 2004 2004 The Dey Chopan District Counterinsurgency: Army infantrymen, Afghan National Army troops, and attached Marines again sparred with ACM forces in the region, inflicting significant losses against the enemy
Operation Athena 17 July 2003 December 2011 Kabul and Kandahar Security: The Canadian Forces contribution to the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan
Operation Avalanche December 2003 December 2003 Southeast Afghanistan Counterinsurgency: To search out al-Qaeda members while conducting assessments to establish conditions for the provision of humanitarian aid
Operation Baawar (Assurance) 5 December 2010 The Horn of Panjwayi in Kandahar Province To take a Taliban stronghold and build roads in the district
Operation Bulldog Bite 12 November 2010 25 November 2010 Kunar Province Counterinsurgency: Destroyed two Taliban camps in the Watapur District
Operation Buzzard 29 May 2002 9 July 2002 Khowst region Counterinsurgency: Forced al-Qaeda and the Taliban to abandon a large-scale presence in much of the region[citation needed]
Operation Celtics May 2005 May 2005 Counterinsurgency and Humanitarian: To hunt down enemy fighters and provide humanitarian support
Operation Cobra's Anger 4 December 2009 12 December 2009 A valley in the Nawzad District
Operation Condor 17 May 2002 22 May 2002 The mountains of Paktia province Counterinsurgency: British forces engaged in combat with al-Qaeda and Taliban forces
Operation Counterstrike 5 January 2006 5 January 2006 Kandahar Airfield
Operation Crescent Wind 7 October 2001 December 2001 Throughout Afghanistan The codename for an American and British bombing campaign
Operation Devi Shakti 16 August 2021 21 August 2021 Throughout Afghanistan Evacuation: An operation of the Indian Armed Forces to evacuate Indian citizens and foreign nationals from the country after the fall of Kabul
Operation Diablo Dragnet 19 July 2007 19 July 2007 Kandahar Airfield
Operation Diablo Reach Back 7 June 2005 27 June 2005 Kandahar Province Combined Task Force Bayonet forces engaged Taliban forces
Operation Diesel 6 February 2009 7 February 2009 Sangin, Helmand Province A raid by British troops on a Taliban drug factory and arms stronghold
Operation Dragon Strike September 15, 2010 December 31, 2010 Kandahar Province Counterinsurgency: To reclaim the province from the Taliban
Operation Dragon Tree August 2004 August 2004 Kandahar Counterinsurgency: Searched for weapons caches
Operation Eagle's Summit (Oqab Tsuka) August 2008 5 September 2008 Kandahar and Helmand Provinces With 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 Summit 15 December 2006 January 2007 The Panjwayi and Zhari districts of Kandahar Counterinsurgency: Had the intention of expelling Taliban fighters
Operation Flashman 16 July 2004 16 July 2004 Paktika Province Humanitarian and Security: To bring stability to the area and establish voter registration sites
Operation Hamkari 2010
Operation Hammer (Chakush) 24 July 2007 27 July 2007 The Upper Grishk Valley in Helmand province
Operation Harekate Yolo (Front Straightening) 1 October 2007 8 November 2007 Northwest Afghanistan Counterinsurgency: Targeted hostile forces in the northern provinces
Operation Haven Denial 2 July 2003 6 July 2003 The Paktika and Khost provinces Counterinsurgency: Targeted against Taliban remnants and al-Qaeda fighters
Operation Headstrong 2 January 2004 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 20 June 2002 12 December 2014 Throughout Afghanistan Contingency: The codename for all British combat operations in Afghanistan from 2002 until 2014
Operation Highroad 1 January 2015 18 June 2021 The second phase of the Australian Defence Force's operation in Afghanistan
Operation Hoover 24 May 2007 25 May 2007 Kandahar Province district of Zhari Counterinsurgency: Was a Canadian-led offensive against the Taliban
Operation Jacana 16 April 2002 9 July 2002 Khost province, Paktia Province With the aim of capturing or killing al-Qaeda and Taliban remnants
Operation Jaws January 2012 August 2012 Helmand province
Operation Karez 13 May 2008 23 May 2008 Badghis Province Counterinsurgency: To eliminate Taliban presence in the region after insurgents regrouped following Operation Harekate Yolo
Operation Khanjar (Strike of the Sword) 2 July 2009 20 August 2009 Helmand Province Counterinsurgency: A major US Marine offensive to secure the province
Operation Lastay Kulang (Pickaxe Handle) 30 May 2007 14 June 2007 Helmand province A British-led NATO operation
Operation Lightning Resolve 2004 2007 Throughout Afghanistan Security: Provide security in support of the first democratic elections ever in Afghanistan
Operation Lions Pride 21 April 2006 21 April 2006 Korangal Valley Humanitarian: To provide medical assistance to more than 3,100 Afghans
Operation Mavericks 2004 2005 The mountains of Eastern Afghanistan Counterinsurgency: Detained suspected terrorists and confiscating several weapons and explosives caches
Operation Medusa 2 September 2006 17 September 2006 Kandahar Province Counterinsurgency: A Canadian-led offensive by major elements of the International Security Assistance Force and Afghan National Army
Operation Miracle 24 August 2021 27 August 2021 Throughout Afghanistan Evacuation: 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 2010 7 December 2010 Marjah 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 Blizzard January 2004 12 March 2004 The south, southeast, and eastern portions of Afghanistan Counterinsurgency: 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[citation needed]
Operation Mountain Fury 16 September 2006 15 January 2007 Paktika, Khost, Ghazni, Paktia, and Logar Provinces Counterinsurgency: 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 11 April 2006 2006 Near the Pakistan border Counterinsurgency: Searching along the border with Pakistan for al-Qaeda and former Taliban forces
Operation Mountain Reach II May 2010 May 2010 Kunar Province US 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[citation needed]
Operation Mountain Resolve 7 November 2003 2003 Nuristan and Kunar Provinces Counterinsurgency: 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 5 March 2004 July 2004 The south, southeast, and eastern portions of Afghanistan With the aim of cornering al-Qaeda and Taliban remnants
Operation Mountain Sweep 18 August 2002 28 August 2002 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 15 May 2006 31 July 2006 Kandahar, Helmand, Paktika, Zabul and Uruzgan Provinces A major offensive, the primary objective of which was to quell the Taliban insurgency in southern Afghanistan
Operation Mountain Viper 30 August 2003 September 2003 The mountains of the Dey Chopan District, Zabul province Sought to uncover Taliban rebels. Deaths included 124 militants, five Afghan Army personnel and one US soldier
Operation Neptune 9 August 2005 2005 Nawa District
Operation New Dawn 12 June 2010 Helmand Province An 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 2009 28 July 2009 Kunduz Province To force the Taliban out of the province
Operation Palk Mesher August 2007 August 2007 Helmand Province To disrupt and eliminate insurgents
Operation Panther's Claw (Panchai Palang) 19 June 2009 20 August 2009 Helmand Province 350 British Troops attacked a Taliban Stronghold near Babaji
Operation Pil 16 October 2005 23 October 2005 The Watapor Valley of the Kunar Province To improve security and assist in stabilizing the government in the region
Operation Pitting 13 August 2021 28 August 2021 Throughout Afghanistan Evacuation: To evacuate British nationals, embassy staff, and allied Afghan nationals from the country during and after the 2021 Taliban offensive
Operation Pizmah 2005 15 December 2005 Zabul Province To reestablish a coalition presence in the districts of Dey Chopan, Argandab and Khaki-Afghan
Operation Ptarmigan 15 April 2002 Gardez and Khost regions The name given to the British share of military actions with US and coalition forces
Operation Red Wings 27 June 2005 July 2005 Kunar Province Counterterrorism mission
Operation Rhino 19 October 2001 20 October 2001 Kandahar US troops seized an airstrip from the Taliban that would eventually become Camp Rhino
Operation Shahi Tandar 7 January 2009 31 January 2009 Kandahar Province A series of raids and operations against Taliban insurgents
Operation Silicon 30 April 2007 Upper Helmand Province A sub-operation of Operation Achilles, carried out by NATO (mostly British) and Afghan troops. Recaptured Grishk from the Taliban[citation needed]
Operation Silver 2007 2007 Counterinsurgency: Conducted to keep up the pressure on the Taliban in the hopes of blunting an expected spring offensive
Operation Sleigh Ride December 2005 December 2005 Forward operating bases at Salerno, Ghazni, Orgun-E and Sharana Christmas-time morale boost for troops
Operation Slipper 22 October 2001 31 December 2014 The first phase of the Australian Defence Force's operation in Afghanistan
Operation Snipe 2 May 2002 13 May 2002 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-Qaeda and Taliban forces
Operation Sond Chara (Red Dagger) 11 December 2008 26 December 2008 Taliban strongholds near the town of Nad-e-Ali in Helmand Province To 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 Sparviero Codename for the Italian Army's contributions to the ISAF
Operation Toral 1 January 2015 8 July 2021 Throughout Afghanistan Contingency: The codename for all British combat operations in Afghanistan from 2015 until the end of the war in 2021
Operation Torii
Operation Tor Shezada 30 July 2010 2014 The 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 Veritas 7 October 2001 2002 Throughout Afghanistan Contingency: The codename for all British combat operations in Afghanistan from the start of the war in 2001 until 2002
Operation Vigilance 15 April 2005 April 2005 Wardak Province Counterinsurgency and Humanitarian: Targeted three individuals that coalition forces were trying to kill or capture, and included humanitarian aid drops in several villages
Operation Volcano February 2007 February 2007 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 20 July 2003 September 2003 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[citation needed]
Operation Solace 23 August 2021 26 August 2021 Districts of Kabul, in Kabul province Noncombatant Evacuation Operation (NEO): Portuguese evacuate allied Afghan nationals from the country after the 2021 Taliban offensiven [19]

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to War in Afghanistan (2001-present).

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. ^ a b 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. Archived from the original on 25 October 2021. 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