United States invasion of Afghanistan marks 25-year milestone

The 25th anniversary of the US-led invasion of Afghanistan marks a significant milestone in modern military history. The conflict began on October 7, 2001, following the September 11 terrorist attacks, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 3,000 civilians. In response to the attacks orchestrated by Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda, President George W. Bush ordered airstrikes against al-Qaeda training camps and Taliban military facilities.

The invasion was initiated after NATO invoked Article 5 of the treaty for the first time. What was initially intended to be a rapid campaign evolved into the longest war in American history. The conflict eventually concluded under the administration of President Joe Biden, who announced the necessity of bringing troops home on April 14, 2021. Over the course of the nearly 20-year war, more than 46,000 civilians were killed.