On 7 October 2001, the United States began its military invasion of Afghanistan in response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks, marking the start of Operation Enduring Freedom.
The initial phase of the campaign saw coordinated air assaults, including precision bombings of Taliban and Al-Qaeda strongholds, coupled with covert ground operations led by US Special Forces.
These actions aimed to dismantle terrorist networks and topple the Taliban regime, which had provided safe haven to Osama bin Laden and his operatives.
The invasion set the stage for what would become America’s longest-running war, reshaping the geopolitical landscape of the region.