Operation Enduring Freedom

Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) was the official name used synonymously by the U.S. government for both the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) and the larger-scale Global War on Terrorism. On 7 October 2001, in response to the September 11 attacks, President George W. Bush announced that airstrikes targeting Al-Qaeda and the Taliban had begun in Afghanistan.^[10] Operation Enduring Freedom primarily refers to the War in Afghanistan,^[11][12] but it was also affiliated with counterterrorism operations in other countries, such as OEF-Philippines and OEF-Trans Sahara.^[13][14]

Operation Enduring Freedom
Part of the War on terror and War in Afghanistan
U.S. Soldiers of the Army's 10th Mountain Division deployed during Operation Enduring Freedom 2009
Date 7 October 2001 – 28 December 2014 (in Afghanistan)^[2]^[3] (13 years, 2 months and 3 weeks) Location Afghanistan, Philippines, Somalia, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Sahara Desert Result U.S.-led victory Osama bin Laden killed OEF-A concluded, succeeded by Operation Freedom's Sentinel Armed conflict continued until restoration of Taliban regime
Belligerents
In Afghanistan: (completed)  NATO ISAF  Afghanistan  Finland  Denmark  United States  United Kingdom  France  Australia  Canada  Germany  Belgium  Norway  Italy  Georgia  Spain  Portugal  Poland  Armenia  Azerbaijan  Sweden  Czech Republic  New Zealand  Netherlands  Ukraine  Turkey  Uzbekistan  Turkmenistan  Tajikistan  United Arab Emirates Former: Northern Alliance In the Philippines: (completed)  Philippines  United States  Australia^[1]  Indonesia In Somalia/Horn of Africa:  NATO  European Union  SADC  Australia  Azerbaijan  Belarus  China  Djibouti  Ethiopia  France  Georgia  Germany  Greece  India  Indonesia  Italy  Japan  Kazakhstan  Kenya  South Korea  Kyrgyzstan  Malaysia  New Zealand  Norway  Pakistan  Russia  Seychelles  Singapore  South Africa  Somalia  Spain  Tajikistan  Thailand  Turkey  Turkmenistan  Uganda  Ukraine  Uzbekistan  United Kingdom  United States In Georgia: (completed)  Georgia  United States In Kyrgyzstan: (completed)  South Korea  Kyrgyzstan  Russia  United States Other nations	In Afghanistan:  Taliban  al-Qaeda In the Philippines: Abu Sayyaf (from 2001) Jemaah Islamiyah (from 2001) Former Moro Islamic Liberation Front (until 2012) In Somalia: Al-Shabaab (from 2006) Hizbul Islam (until 2014) In Sahara: Al-Qaeda Organization in the Islamic Maghreb (until 2017)
Commanders and leaders
CIC George W Bush (2001–2009) CIC Barack Obama (2009–2014) GEN Tommy Franks (2001–2003) GEN John Abizaid (2003–2007) ADM William J. Fallon (2007–2008) GEN Martin Dempsey (2008–2015) MRAF Sir Graham Stirrup (2003–2011) GEN David Petraeus (2008–2010)	Mohammed Omar # Osama bin Laden † Ayman al-Zawahiri † Khadaffy Janjalani † Riduan Isamuddin (POW)
Casualties and losses
45,000+ killed 2,380 killed by January 2016^[4] 456 killed^[4] 158 killed^[4] 90 killed^[4] 57 killed^[4] 53 killed^[4] 43 killed^[4] 41 killed^[4] 40 killed^[4] 34 killed^[4] 32 killed^[5] Others 200+ killed^[4]	In Afghanistan: 72,000+ killed^[6] In the Philippines: 328+^[7] In Somalia: '260 to 365 killed^[8]^[9]

After 13 years, on 28 December 2014, President Barack Obama announced the end of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.^[15] Subsequent operations in Afghanistan by the United States' military forces, both non-combat and combat, occurred under the name Operation Freedom's Sentinel.^[16]

Subordinate operations

Operation Enduring Freedom most commonly referred to the U.S.-led combat mission in Afghanistan.^[11][12] The codename was also used for counter-terrorism operations in other countries targeting Al Qaeda and remnants of the Taliban, such as OEF-Philippines and OEF-Trans Sahara, primarily through government funding vehicles.^[13][14]

• Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), 7 October 2001 – 31 December 2014. Succeeded by Operation Freedom's Sentinel.^[17]
• Operation Enduring Freedom – Philippines (OEF-P, formerly Operation Freedom Eagle), 15 January 2002 – 24 February 2015^[18][19]
• Operation Enduring Freedom – Horn of Africa (OEF-HOA)
• Operation Enduring Freedom – Pankisi Gorge^[20]
• Operation Enduring Freedom – Trans Sahara (OEF-TS; see also Insurgency in the Maghreb)
• Operation Enduring Freedom – Caribbean and Central America (OEF-CCA)^[21]
• Operation Enduring Freedom – Kyrgyzstan, 18 December 2001 – 3 June 2014^[22]

Etymology

The U.S. government used the term "Operation Enduring Freedom" to officially describe the War in Afghanistan, from the period between 7 October 2001 and 31 December 2014.^[17][23] Subsequent operations in Afghanistan by the United States' military forces, both non-combat and combat, occurred under the name Operation Freedom's Sentinel.^[16]

The operation was originally called "Operation Infinite Justice", but as similar phrases have been used by adherents of several religions as an exclusive description of God, it is believed to have been changed to avoid offense to Muslims who are the majority religion in Afghanistan.^[24] In September 2001, U.S. President George W. Bush's remark that "this crusade, this war on terrorism, is going to take a while", which prompted widespread criticism from the Islamic world, may also have contributed to the renaming of the operation.^[24]

The term "OEF" typically refers to the phase of the War in Afghanistan from 2001 to 2014. Other operations, such as the Georgia Train and Equip Program, are only loosely or nominally connected, such as through government funding vehicles.^[13] All the operations, however, have a focus on counterterrorism activities.

Operation Enduring Freedom, which was a joint U.S., U.K., and Afghan operation, was separate from the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), which was an operation of North Atlantic Treaty Organization nations including the U.S. and the U.K.^[25] The two operations ran in parallel, although it had been suggested that they merge.^[26]

Overview

In response to the September 11 attacks, the early combat operations that took place on 7 October 2001 to include a mix of strikes from land-based B-1 Lancer, B-2 Spirit and B-52 Stratofortress bombers, carrier-based F-14 Tomcat and F/A-18 Hornet fighters, and Tomahawk cruise missiles launched from both U.S. and British ships and submarines signaled the start of Operation Enduring Freedom.

The initial military objectives of OEF, as articulated by President George W. Bush in his 20 September address to a Joint Session of Congress and his 7 October address to the country, included the destruction of terrorist training camps and infrastructure within Afghanistan, the capture of al-Qaeda leaders, and the cessation of terrorist activities in Afghanistan.^[27][28][29]

In January 2002, over 1,200 soldiers from the United States Special Operations Command Pacific (SOCPAC) deployed to the Philippines to support the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in their push to uproot terrorist forces on the island of Basilan. Of those groups included are Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), al-Qaeda and Jemaah Islamiyah.^[30] The operation consisted of training the AFP in counter-terrorist operations as well as supporting the local people with humanitarian aid in Operation Smiles.^[31]

In October 2002, the Combined Task Force 150 and United States military Special Forces established themselves in Djibouti at Camp Lemonnier. The stated goals of the operation were to provide humanitarian aid and patrol the Horn of Africa to reduce the abilities of terrorist organizations in the region. Similar to OEF-P, the goal of humanitarian aid was emphasized, ostensibly to prevent militant organizations from being able to take hold amongst the population as well as reemerge after being removed.

The military aspect involves coalition forces searching and boarding ships entering the region for illegal cargo as well as providing training and equipment to the armed forces in the region. The humanitarian aspect involves building schools, clinics and water wells to enforce the confidence of the local people.

Since 2001, the cumulative expenditure by the U.S. government on Operation Enduring Freedom has exceeded $150 billion.^[32]

Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) in Afghanistan

The Taliban

Seizing upon a power vacuum after the Soviets withdrew from Afghanistan after their invasion, the Taliban governed Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001. Their extreme interpretation of Islamic law prompted them to ban music, television, sports, and dancing, and enforce harsh judicial penalties (See Human rights in Afghanistan). Amputation was an accepted form of punishment for stealing,^[33][34] and public executions could often be seen at the Kabul football stadium.^[35][36] Women's rights groups around the world were frequently critical as the Taliban banned women from appearing in public or holding many jobs outside the home.^{[citation needed]} They drew further criticism^[37] when they destroyed the Buddhas of Bamyan, historical statues nearly 1,500 years old, because the Buddhas were considered idols.

In 1996, Saudi dissident Osama bin Laden moved to Afghanistan. When the Taliban came to power, bin Laden was able to forge an alliance between the Taliban and his al-Qaeda organization. It is understood that al-Qaeda-trained fighters known as the 055 Brigade were integrated with the Taliban army between 1997 and 2001. It has been suggested that the Taliban and bin Laden had very close connections.^[38]

U.S.-led coalition action

Main article: War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)

On 20 September 2001, the U.S. stated that Osama bin Laden was behind the 11 September attacks in 2001. The US made a five-point ultimatum to the Taliban:^[39]

• Deliver to the U.S. all of the leaders of al-Qaeda
• Release all imprisoned foreign nationals
• Close immediately every terrorist training camp
• Hand over every terrorist and their supporters to appropriate authorities
• Give the United States full access to terrorist training camps for inspection

On 21 September 2001, the Taliban rejected this ultimatum, stating there was no evidence in their possession linking bin Laden to the 11 September attacks.^[40]

On 22 September 2001 the United Arab Emirates and later Saudi Arabia withdrew their recognition of the Taliban as the legal government of Afghanistan, leaving neighboring Pakistan as the only remaining country with diplomatic ties.

On 4 October 2001, it was reported that the Taliban covertly offered to turn bin Laden over to Pakistan for trial in an international tribunal that operated according to Islamic shar'ia law.^[41] On 7 October 2001, the Taliban proposed to try bin Laden in Afghanistan in an Islamic court.^[42] This proposition was immediately rejected by the US.^[43]

On 14 October 2001, the Taliban proposed to hand bin Laden over to a third country for trial, but only if they were given evidence of bin Laden's involvement in the events of 11 September 2001.^[44]

The UN Security Council, on 16 January 2002, unanimously established an arms embargo and the freezing of identifiable assets belonging to bin Laden, al-Qaeda, and the remaining Taliban.

Combat operations start

 

5-country multinational fleet, during Operation Enduring Freedom in the Oman Sea. In four descending columns, from left to right: Maestrale, De Grasse; USS John C. Stennis, Charles de Gaulle, Surcouf; USS Port Royal, HMS Ocean, USS John F. Kennedy, HNLMS Van Amstel; and Luigi Durand de la Penne

On Sunday 7 October 2001, American and British warplanes began targeting Taliban forces and al-Qaeda. Cruise missiles were fired from warships.^[45]

The Northern Alliance, aided by Joint Special Operations teams consisting of Green Berets from the 5th Special Forces Group, aircrew members from the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR), and Air Force Combat Controllers, fought against the Taliban. Aided by U.S. bombing and massive defections, they captured Mazar-i-Sharif on 9 November. They then rapidly gained control of most of northern Afghanistan, and took control of Kabul on 13 November after the Taliban unexpectedly fled the city. The Taliban were restricted to a smaller and smaller region, with Kunduz, the last Taliban-held city in the north, captured on 26 November. Most of the Taliban fled to Pakistan.

The war continued in the south of the country, where the Taliban retreated to Kandahar. Whilst in Kandahar the Taliban agreed to surrender but the deal was rejected by Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld as it would have provided amnesty to Taliban leader Mullah Mohammed Omar.^[46][47] After Kandahar fell in December,^[48] remnants of the Taliban and al-Qaeda continued to mount resistance. Meanwhile, in November 2001 the U.S. military and its allied forces established their first ground base in Afghanistan to the south west of Kandahar, known as FOB Rhino.^[49]

The Battle of Tora Bora, involving U.S., British and Northern Alliance forces took place in December 2001 to further destroy the Taliban and suspected al-Qaeda in Afghanistan. In early March 2002 the United States military, along with allied Afghan military forces, conducted a large operation to destroy al-Qaeda in an operation code-named Operation Anaconda.

The operation was carried out by elements of the United States 10th Mountain Division, 101st Airborne Division, the U.S. special forces groups TF 11, TF Bowie, TF Dagger, TF K-Bar, British Royal Marines, the Norwegian Forsvarets Spesialkommando (FSK), Hærens Jegerkommando and Marinejegerkommandoen, Canada's 3rd Battalion Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, Canada's Joint Task Force 2, the German KSK, and elements of the Australian Special Air Service Regiment and of the New Zealand Special Air Service and the Afghan National Army.

After managing to evade U.S. forces throughout the summer of 2002, the remnants of the Taliban gradually began to regain their confidence. A U.S. and Canadian led operation (supported by British and Dutch forces), Operation Mountain Thrust was launched in May 2006 to counter renewed Taliban insurgency.

Since January 2006, the NATO International Security Assistance Force undertook combat duties from Operation Enduring Freedom in southern Afghanistan, the NATO force chiefly made up of British, Canadian and Dutch forces (and some smaller contributions from Denmark, Romania and Estonia and air support from Norway as well as air and artillery support from the U.S.) (see the article Coalition combat operations in Afghanistan in 2006). The United States military also conducts military operations separate from NATO as part of Operation Enduring Freedom in other parts of Afghanistan, in areas such as Kandahar, Bagram, and Kabul (including Camp Eggers and Camp Phoenix.)

International support

Main article: Participants in Operation Enduring Freedom

The United States was supported by several nations during Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) in Afghanistan in 2001–2003 and in subsequent coalition operations directly or indirectly in support of OEF. See the article Afghanistan War order of battle for the disposition of coalition forces in Afghanistan as of 2012.

Result

 

AV-8B Harrier IIs from the United States Marine Corps' VMA-231 provide close air support over Helmand Province in December 2012.

The U.S.-led coalition initially removed the Taliban from power and seriously crippled al-Qaeda and associated militants in Afghanistan. However, success in quelling the Taliban insurgency since the 2001 invasion has faltered. As the war dragged on, the Taliban demonstrated they could not be defeated also thanks to sanctuary in neighboring Pakistan.^[50]

On 9 October 2004, Afghanistan elected Hamid Karzai president in its first direct elections. The following year, Afghans conducted the 2005 Afghan parliamentary election on 18 September. Since the invasion, hundreds of schools and mosques have been constructed, millions of dollars in aid have been distributed, and the occurrence of violence has been reduced.

While military forces interdicted insurgents and assured some form of security, Provincial reconstruction teams were tasked with infrastructure building, such as constructing roads and bridges, assisting during floods, and providing food and water to refugees. Many warlords have participated in an allegiance program, formally recognizing the legitimacy of the government of Afghanistan, and formally surrendering their soldiers and weapons. Subsequent actions have led to questions about their true loyalties.

The Afghan National Army, Afghan National Police, and Afghan Border Police were being trained to assume the task of securing their nation.

On 31 December 2014, Operation Enduring Freedom concluded, and was succeeded by Operation Freedom's Sentinel on 1 January 2015.^[51][52]

In 2020, the US left Afghanistan to the Taliban under an agreement ensuring a safe passage for American forces out of the country by mid 2021.^[53][54] On 15 August 2021, all of Afghanistan, besides Kabul, was back in the hands of Taliban. By August 31st, all US and allied forces departed the Hamid Karzai International Airport, thus ending any official operations within Afghanistan.^[55][56][57]

Criticism

Main article: Criticism of the War on Terror

Hardliner newspapers in Iran and religious scholars in Lebanon suggested "Infinite Imperialism," "Infinite Arrogance," or "Infinite Injustice" might have been more appropriate name for the operation.^{[24][58][59][60][61]}

AFP, reporting on a news story in the Sunday, 3 April 2004, issue of The New Yorker,^[62] wrote that retired Army Colonel Hy Rothstein, "who served in the Army Special Forces for more than 20 years, ...commissioned by The Pentagon to examine the war in Afghanistan concluded the conflict created conditions that have given 'warlordism, banditry and opium production a new lease on life'..."

The conduct of U.S. forces was criticised in a report entitled Enduring Freedom – Abuses by U.S. Forces in Afghanistan by U.S.-based human rights group Human Rights Watch in 2004. Some Pakistani scholars, such as Masood Ashraf Raja, editor of Pakistaniaat, have also provided a more specific form of criticism that relates to the consequences of the Global War on Terrorism on the region.^[63]

Operation Enduring Freedom – Philippines (OEF-P)

Main article: Operation Enduring Freedom – Philippines

Abu Sayyaf Group

Main article: Abu Sayyaf

The Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) Al Harakat Al Islamiyya, is deemed a "foreign terrorist organization" by the United States government. Specifically, it is an Islamist separatist group based in and around the southern islands of the Republic of the Philippines, primarily Jolo, Basilan, and Mindanao.^[64]

Since inception in the early 1990s, the group has carried out bombings, assassinations, kidnappings, and extortion in their fight for an independent Islamic state in western Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago.^[64] Its claimed overarching goal is to create a Pan-Islamic superstate across the Malay portions of Southeast Asia, spanning, from east to west, the large island of Mindanao, the Sulu Archipelago (Basilan and Jolo islands), the large island of Borneo (Malaysia and Indonesia), the South China Sea, and the Malay Peninsula (Peninsular Malaysia, Thailand and Myanmar).

Jemaah Islamiyah

Main article: Jemaah Islamiyah

Jemaah Islamiyah is a militant Islamic terrorist organization dedicated to the establishment of a fundamentalist Islamic theocracy in Southeast Asia, in particular Indonesia, Singapore, Brunei, Malaysia, the south of Thailand and the Philippines. Jemaah Islamiyah originally used peaceful means to achieve its goals, but later resorted to terrorism because of its connections with al-Qaeda.^[65]

Financial links between Jemaah Islamiyah and other terrorist groups, such as Abu Sayyaf and al-Qaeda, have been found to exist.^[66] Jemaah Islamiyah means "Islamic Group" or "Islamic Community" and is often abbreviated JI.

Jemaah Islamiyah is thought to have killed hundreds of civilians. Also, it is suspected of carrying out the Bali car bombing on 12 October 2002, in which suicide bombers attacked a nightclub killing 202 people and wounding many more. Most of the casualties were Australian tourists. After this attack, the U.S. State Department designated Jemaah Islamiyah as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. Jemaah Islamiyah is also suspected of carrying out the Zamboanga bombings, the Metro Manila bombings, the 2004 Australian embassy bombing and the 2005 Bali terrorist bombing.

U.S. Actions

In January 2002, 1,200 Members of United States Special Operations Command, Pacific (SOCPAC) were deployed to the Philippines to assist the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in uprooting al-Qaeda, Jemaah Islamiyah and Abu Sayyaf. The members of SOCPAC were assigned to assist in military operations against the terrorist forces as well as humanitarian operations for the island of Basilan, where most of the conflict was expected to take place.

The United States Special Forces (SF) Unit trained and equipped special forces and scout rangers of the AFP, creating the Light Reaction Company (LRC). The LRC and elements of SOCPAC deployed to Basilan on completion of their training. The stated goals of the deployment were denying the ASG sanctuary, surveiling, controlling, and denying ASG routes, surveiling supporting villages and key personnel, conducting local training to overcome AFP weaknesses and sustain AFP strengths, supporting operations by the AFP "strike force" (LRC) in the area of responsibility (AOR), conducting and supporting civil affairs operations in the AOR.^[67]

Result

The desired result was for the AFP to gain sufficient capability to locate and destroy the ASG, to recover hostages and to enhance the legitimacy of the Philippine government. Much of the operation was a success: the ASG was driven from Basilan and one U.S. hostage was recovered.^[67] The Abu Sayyaf Group's ranks, which once counted more than 800 members, was reduced to less than 100. The humanitarian portion of the operation, Operation Smiles, created 14 schools, 7 clinics, 3 hospitals and provided medical care to over 18,000 residents of Basilan. Humanitarian groups were able to continue their work without fear of further kidnappings and terrorists attacks by the Abu Sayyaf Group.^[31][68]

Operation Enduring Freedom – Horn of Africa (OEF-HOA)

Main article: Operation Enduring Freedom – Horn of Africa

Unlike other operations contained in Operation Enduring Freedom, OEF-HOA does not have a specific terrorist organization as a target. OEF-HOA instead focuses its efforts to disrupt and detect terrorist activities in the region and to work with host nations to deny the reemergence of terrorist cells and activities. Operations began in mid-2002 at Camp Lemonnier by a Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force (CJSOTF) augmented by support forces from Fort Stewart, Fort Hood, and Fort Story. In October 2002, the Combined Joint Task Force, Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) was established at Djibouti at Camp Lemonnier, taking over responsibilities from the CJSOTF. CJTF-HOA comprised approximately 2,000 personnel including U.S. military and Special Operations Forces (SOF), and coalition force members, Combined Task Force 150 (CTF-150). The coalition force consists of ships from Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Netherlands, India, Italy, Pakistan, New Zealand, Spain, Turkey and the United Kingdom. The primary goal of the coalition forces is to monitor, inspect, board and stop suspected shipments from entering the Horn of Africa region. Since 2003, the U.S. Military also conducts operations targeting Al-Qaeda-linked fighters in Somalia, these operations had reportedly killed between 113 and 136 militants by early 2016. On 7 March 2016, a further 150 were killed in U.S. airstrikes on an al Shabaab training camp north of Mogadishu.^[69]

CJTF-HOA has devoted the majority of its efforts to train selected armed forces units of the countries of Djibouti, Kenya and Ethiopia in counterterrorism and counterinsurgency tactics. Humanitarian efforts conducted by CJTF-HOA include the rebuilding of schools and medical clinics, as well as providing medical services to those countries whose forces are being trained. The program expands as part of the Trans-Saharan Counter Terrorism Initiative as CJTF personnel also assist in training the forces of Chad, Niger, Mauritania and Mali.^[70]

U.S. action

"Operation Enduring Freedom"

 

International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) patch

• 7 October 2001 – 28 December 2014
• Casualties U.S. Coalition: 3,486 Dead
• Taliban/Al-Qaeda:25,500–40,500 Dead

Anti-piracy operations were undertaken by the coalition throughout 2006 with a battle fought in March when US vessels were attacked by pirates. In January 2007, during the war in Somalia, an AC-130 airstrike was conducted against al-Qaeda members embedded with forces of the Islamic Courts Union (ICU) operating in southern Somalia near Ras Kamboni. US naval forces, including the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, were positioned off the coast of Somalia to provide support and to prevent any al-Qaeda forces escaping by sea. Actions against pirates also occurred in June and October 2007 with varying amounts of success.

"Operation Resolute Support/Freedom's Sentinel"

• 1 January 2015 – Present
• Casualties U.S. Coalition: 1 January 2015 – Present | 70 Dead* – Subject to change^[71]
• Taliban/Al-Qaeda:

Effective 1 January 2015, Secretary of Defense Hagel announced that the new U.S. mission in Afghanistan will focus on training, advising, and assisting Afghan security forces and designated as Operation Freedom's Sentinel. 19 About 13,500 U.S. troops are expected in Afghanistan through 2015 and will be assisted by troops from NATO allies.

Military decorations

Since 2002, the United States military has created military awards and decorations related to Operation Enduring Freedom

• Afghanistan Campaign Medal

NATO also created a military decoration related to Operation Enduring Freedom:

• Non-Article 5 ISAF NATO Medal

See also

• Operation Herrick
• Coalition casualties in Afghanistan

References

1. Philippines, Australia: Embassy, from the original on 2 November 2013, retrieved 7 October 2013.
2. Torreon, Barbara Salazar (2017). U.S. Periods of War and Dates of Recent Conflicts (PDF). Washington, D.C.: Congressional Research Service. p. 7. (PDF) from the original on 28 March 2015. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
3. "Operation Enduring Freedom". Naval History and Heritage Command, United States Navy. from the original on 15 November 2018. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
4. . ICasualties.org. Archived from the original on 26 January 2016. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
5. "Civil.Ge | Georgian Soldier Killed in Afghanistan". from the original on 14 February 2018. Retrieved 8 March 2018.
6. "How many terrorists has President Obama actually 'taken out'? Probably over 30,000". the Washington post. 7 December 2015. from the original on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
7. 300 killed (2002–2007)[1] 7 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine 15 killed (February 2012)[2] Archived 29 February 2012 at the Library of Congress Web Archives
8. "The Bureau of Investigative Journalism" 8 June 2015 at the Wayback Machine, Somalia Datasheet. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
9. Cooper, Helene. ""US Strikes Kill 150 Shabab fighters in Somalia, officials say". Washington Post. 7 March 2016. "American warplanes on Saturday struck a training camp in Somalia belonging to the Islamist militant group the Shabab, the Pentagon said, killing about 150 fighters who United States officials said were preparing an attack against American troops and their regional allies in East Africa." 17 February 2017 at the Wayback Machine
10. "Operation Enduring Freedom Fast Facts". CNN. from the original on 22 August 2017. Retrieved 17 August 2017.
11. Philipps, Dave (31 December 2014). "Mission Ends in Afghanistan, but Sacrifices Are Not Over for U.S. Soldiers". The New York Times. from the original on 18 August 2017. Retrieved 17 August 2017.
12. Dempsey, Judy (20 July 2005). "NATO to add to Afghanistan troops". The New York Times. from the original on 18 August 2017. Retrieved 17 August 2017.
13. "Helping Georgia?". Boston University Institute for the Study of Conflict, Ideology and Policy. March–April 2002. from the original on 7 September 2006. Retrieved 14 February 2007.
14. Lamothe, Dan (29 December 2014). "Meet Operation Freedom's Sentinel, the Pentagon's new mission in Afghanistan". The Washington Post. from the original on 20 October 2017. Retrieved 17 August 2017.
15. DOD News, Defense Media Activity (29 December 2014). "Operation Enduring Freedom comes to an end". U.S. Army. from the original on 18 August 2017. Retrieved 17 August 2017.
16. Tilghman, Andrew (19 February 2015). "Despite war's end, Pentagon extends Afghanistan campaign medal". MilitaryTimes. from the original on 21 February 2015. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
    Sisk, Richard (29 December 2014). "Amid Confusion, DoD Names New Mission 'Operation Freedom's Sentinel'". Military.com. from the original on 28 February 2015. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
    Rosenberg, Matthew; Scmitt, Eric; Mazzetti, Mark (12 February 2015). "U.S. Is Escalating a Secretive War in Afghanistan". The New York Times. from the original on 17 February 2015. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
17. United States Department of Defense (December 2014). "Obama, Hagel Mark End of Operation Enduring Freedom". Defense. United States of America: United States Department of Defense. from the original on 14 March 2015. Retrieved 21 March 2015.
18. Robinson, Linda; Johnston, Patrick B.; Oak, Gillian S. (6 April 2016), U.S. Special Operations Forces in the Philippines, 2001–2014 (PDF), Santa Monica, California: RAND Corporation, ISBN 978-0-8330-9210-6, (PDF) from the original on 19 August 2017, retrieved 17 August 2017
19. Turse, Nick (20 January 2015). "US Special Operations Forces Are in More Countries Than You Can Imagine". The Nation. from the original on 18 August 2017. Retrieved 17 August 2017.
20. Spencer C. Tucker (8 October 2010). The Encyclopedia of Middle East Wars: The United States in the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan, and Iraq Conflicts [5 volumes]: The United States in the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan, and Iraq Conflicts. ABC-CLIO. p. 415. ISBN 978-1-85109-948-1. from the original on 1 January 2016. Retrieved 17 November 2015.
    Raymond Monsour Scurfield; Katherine Theresa Platoni (10 September 2012). War Trauma and Its Wake: Expanding the Circle of Healing. Routledge. p. 268. ISBN 978-1-136-45788-3. from the original on 11 June 2016. Retrieved 17 November 2015.
21. (PDF), United States Southern Command, 5 March 2008, archived from the original (PDF) on 1 January 2016
22. Bolger, Daniel P. (2014). Why We Lost: A General's Inside Account of the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. p. xiii, 415. ISBN 9780544370487.
23. "Operation Enduring Freedom comes to an end". United States Army. 29 December 2014. from the original on 24 February 2015. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
24. "Infinite Justice, out – Enduring Freedom". BBC News. 25 September 2001. from the original on 14 October 2007. Retrieved 30 November 2006.
25. Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Defence Committee (2006). The UK Deployment to Afghanistan: Fifth Report of Session 2005–06; Report, Together with Formal Minutes, Oral and Written Evidence. The Stationery Office. p. 39. ISBN 978-0-215-02828-0. from the original on 1 January 2016. Retrieved 17 November 2015.
26. David T. Zabecki PhD (28 October 2014). Germany at War: 400 Years of Military History [4 volumes]. ABC-CLIO. p. 6. ISBN 978-1-59884-981-3. from the original on 1 January 2016. Retrieved 17 November 2015.
27. "Bush Announces Start of a 'War on Terror'". Global security. 20 September 2001. from the original on 22 July 2004. Retrieved 23 July 2004.
28. "President Bush Announces Military Strikes in Afghanistan". Global security. 7 October 2001. from the original on 22 July 2004. Retrieved 23 July 2004.
29. "Operation Enduring Freedom – Afghanistan". Global security. from the original on 21 July 2004. Retrieved 23 July 2004.
30. Fargo, Tom (10 February 2003). . Speeches and Transcripts. U.S. Pacific Command. Archived from the original on 13 May 2008.
31. (PDF). U.S. Pacific Command. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 March 2009.
32. FAS (PDF), (PDF) from the original on 1 May 2015, retrieved 17 November 2015.
33. "Taliban publicly execute murderer, amputate two robbers". Rawa. 14 August 1998. from the original on 7 June 2011. Retrieved 27 March 2011.
34. "The Afghan Taliban: Like It or Not, It Occupies Two-Thirds of Afghanistan and Shows No Sign of Weakening". Washington report. Archived from the original on 8 January 2010. Retrieved 27 March 2011.
35. "Filmed by RAWA: Taliban publicly execute an Afghan woman". Rawa. from the original on 10 May 2011. Retrieved 27 March 2011.
36. , United Kingdom: BBC, archived from the original on 24 January 2004
37. "U.N. Confirms Destruction of Afghan Buddhas". ABC News.
38. "5" (PDF), Report, US: 9/11 commission.
39. "Transcript of President Bush's address". CNN. 21 September 2001. from the original on 19 August 2010. Retrieved 27 March 2011.
40. "Taliban Won't Turn Over Bin Laden". CBS News. 21 September 2001. from the original on 15 April 2011. Retrieved 27 March 2011.
41. "Briefing 05: The Smoking Gun". J-n-v.org. 8 October 2001. from the original on 25 February 2011. Retrieved 27 March 2011.
42. . CNN. 7 October 2001. Archived from the original on 15 April 2011. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
43. . CNN. 7 October 2001. Archived from the original on 16 September 2010. Retrieved 27 March 2011.
44. "Bush rejects Taliban offer to hand Bin Laden over". The Guardian. UK. 14 October 2001. Retrieved 27 March 2011.
45. "CNN.com – Bush announces opening of attacks – October 7, 2001". CNN. from the original on 28 October 2018. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
46. Knowlton, Brian (7 December 2001). "Rumsfeld Rejects PlanTo Allow Mullah Omar 'To Live in Dignity' : Taliban Fighters Agree to Surrender Kandahar". The New York Times.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
47. "Taliban leader to surrender Kandahar". TheGuardian.com. 6 December 2001.
48. Kellner, Douglas (2003). From 9/11 to terror war : the dangers of the Bush legacy. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield. p. 145. ISBN 0585463255. OCLC 52802017.
49. "MEU(SOC)s in OEF-A – Special Operations Forces and Operation Enduring Freedom | Defense Media Network". Defense Media Network. from the original on 20 June 2018. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
50. Brigitte L Nacos, 'Terrorism and Counterterrorism': Chapter 11, p.188
51. United States Department of Defense (19 February 2015). "Operation Freedom's Sentinel Qualifies for Campaign Medal". Defense. United States of America: United States Department of Defense. from the original on 20 February 2015. Retrieved 19 March 2015.
52. "Trump Calls Biden's Afghanistan Exit the 'Greatest Embarrassment'". Bloomberg.com. 18 August 2021.
53. Mashal, Mujib (29 February 2020). "Taliban and U.S. Strike Deal to Withdraw American Troops from Afghanistan". The New York Times.
54. "Historian: Trump's deal with Taliban created a 'roadmap toward a surrender' - CNN Video". 17 August 2021.
55. Gall, Carlotta; Khapalwak, Ruhullah (16 August 2021). "Chaos Ensues at Kabul Airport as Americans Abandon Afghanistan". The New York Times.
56. "Chaos, desperation at Kabul airport as Biden defends withdrawal from Afghanistan". Reuters. 17 August 2021.
57. "Trump Calls Biden's Afghanistan Exit the 'Greatest Embarrassment'". Bloomberg.com. 18 August 2021.
58. "Analysis: Straw's visit divides Iran". 24 September 2001. from the original on 19 February 2019. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
59. Williams, Paul L. (2004). Osama's revenge : the next 9-11 : what the media and the government haven't told you. Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books. pp. 68. ISBN 1591022525. OCLC 54823028.
60. Dower, John W. (2010). Cultures of War: Pearl Harbor / Hiroshima / 9-11 / Iraq. W. W. Norton & Company. p. 466. ISBN 9780393080476.
61. Moaveni, Azadeh (27 September – 3 October 2001). "As the British Foreign Secretary courts Iran to aid a US-led coalition against terrorism, Tehran struggles for consensus and considers the incentives for cooperation". Al-Ahram Weekly. from the original on 19 February 2019. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
62. , Channel NewsAsia, archived from the original on 5 April 2004.
63. "The Rhetoric of Democracy and War on Terror: The Case of Pakistan". Pakistaniaat: A Journal of Pakistan Studies. 1 (2): 60–65. 2009.
64. "Abu Sayyaf Group (Philippines, Islamist separatists)". Council on Foreign Relations. from the original on 22 May 2018. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
65. "Profile: Jemaah Islamiah". BBC News. 2 February 2012. from the original on 19 July 2018. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
66. (PDF). Nbr.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 September 2006. Retrieved 27 March 2011.
67. Maxwell, Colonel David S. . Army. Archived from the original on 12 April 2010. Retrieved 27 March 2011.
68. , Israel: ICT, archived from the original on 25 May 2008
69. "US strike kills at least 150 al Shebab fighters in Somalia". Yahoo news. 8 March 2016. from the original on 5 November 2018. Retrieved 15 January 2017.
70. (PDF), Washington, DC: Senate, archived from the original (PDF) on 11 October 2006
71. "iCasualties: Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom Casualties". icasualties.org. from the original on 4 February 2016. Retrieved 29 October 2018.

Further reading

• Maloney, Sean M (2005), Enduring the Freedom: A Rogue Historian in Afghanistan, Washington, DC: Potomac Books, ISBN 1-57488-953-2.

External links

 

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Operation Enduring Freedom.

• The Enduring Freedom Foundation
• Moorthy, Neelesh (6 July 2016). "Obama increases U.S. troops to remain in Afghanistan past 2016". Politifact.
• Koontz, Christopher N, ed. (2008). Enduring Voices: Oral Histories of the US Army Experience in Afghanistan, 2003–2005. Washington, DC: United States Army Center of Military History. CMH Pub 70-112-1. full text available online