Operation Enduring Freedom

Overview

Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) was the official name used by the U.S. government for both the first stage (2001–2014) of the war in Afghanistan (2001–2021) and related military operations during the broader-scale global war on terrorism. On 7 October 2001, in response to the September 11 attacks, President George W. Bush announced that airstrikes against al-Qaeda and the Taliban had begun in Afghanistan. Beyond the military activities in Afghanistan, a number of U.S military command structures operating under the Operation Enduring Freedom banner were also affiliated with several counterterrorism missions in other countries, such as OEF-Philippines and OEF-Trans Sahara.

Overview adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Significance

Operation Enduring Freedom was launched on 7 October 2001 as the direct U.S. military response to the September 11 attacks. President George W. Bush announced the commencement of airstrikes against al-Qaeda and Taliban targets in Afghanistan, opening what became the first stage of the Afghanistan War and the principal military expression of the broader global war on terrorism. The operation ran through 2014, encompassing a succession of U.S. commanders including Tommy Franks, David Petraeus, and others, while facing Taliban leadership under Mohammad Omar and al-Qaeda figures including Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri. Recorded casualties reached 66,000 on the coalition side and 72,000 for Taliban forces over the course of the conflict. Beyond Afghanistan, the OEF designation served as an umbrella for affiliated counterterrorism missions in other theaters, including OEF-Philippines and OEF-Trans Sahara, making it one of the most geographically expansive operational frameworks in modern U.S. military history.

Forces & casualties

Commanders (14)