War in Afghanistan Timeline

  • Period: to

    Years

  • Terror Attacks of September 11th

    Terror Attacks of September 11th
    Al Qaeda hijacked 3 comercial airplanes in the U.S. They flew two planes into the World Trade Center in New York City and the other into the Pentagon.
  • Operation Enduring Freedom

    Operation Enduring Freedom
    The U.S. begins to bomb Afghanistan and commits to get the Taliban and Al Qaeda out of the country.
  • Operation Anaconda

    Operation Anaconda
    The U.S. begins Operation Anaconda which is the first large scale battle of the war. Soldiers go into Shah-i-Kot valley and try and “surround and capture" Al Qaeda hideouts.
  • New Constitution

    New Constitution
    Many religious, tribal leaders, and delagates from all over the country meet, develope, and approve a new constitution.
  • New Leader

    New Leader
    Hamid Karzai is elected as first democratic head of state in Afghanistan.
  • Free Elections

    Free Elections
    Afghanistan holds first free legislative elections in more than 25 years.
  • New Strategy

    New Strategy
    President Obama launches risky new strategy on the war. Is not fully committing or backing out of the war but is trying to measure our progress and then decide his actions.
  • NATO Steps In

    NATO Steps In
    NATO leads an offensive into the Helmand province to try and rid it of recent Taliban and drug trafficing insurgents.
  • Comin' Home

    Comin' Home
    President Obama announces he will bring home 10,000 troops by the end of the year and 30,000 by next summer.
  • Gen. David H. Petraeus

    Gen. David H. Petraeus
    Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal is fired from control of forces in Afghanistan. Replaced by Gen. David H. Petraeus.