On October 7, 2001, the United States and the United Kingdom began airstrikes in Afghanistan in Operation Enduring Freedom. The campaign was launched in response to the September 11 terrorist attacks and targeted al-Qaeda and the Taliban government that sheltered it. Initial strikes focused on command centers, training camps, and air defenses. Ground operations followed with U.S. special forces working alongside Afghan opposition groups. The Taliban regime quickly lost control of major cities, but fighting and instability continued for many years. The operation marked the start of a long U.S. military engagement in Afghanistan and reshaped American foreign and security policy.
