Timeline: Afghanistan War

Sep 11, 2001

Terrorist attacks on the U.S.

al-Queda members attacked the World Trade Center and the Pentagon

Period: Sep 11, 2001 to Jan 31, 2012

Afghanistan War

War between the United States and Afghanistan

Oct 7, 2001

U.S. invades Afghanistan

After the Taliban refuses to turn over Bin Laden, the U.S. and its allies began daily air strikes against Afghan military installations

Dec 5, 2001

New Interim Leader

Hamid Karzai is named interim leader at an UN-backed conference of Afghan factions

Dec 9, 2001

The Taliban Collapes

The Taliban surrenders Kandahar and Taliban leader Mullah Omar flees to the city. Shorty after, Osama bin Laden is tracked to the Tora Borah cave complex where a fierce two-week battle occurs. Several hundred are killed, but bin Laden escapes.

Oct 9, 2004

Karzai becomes head

Hamid Karzai becomes the first democratically elected head of Afghanistan.

Feb 17, 2009

New President, More Troops

Newly elected President Obama, says he willsend 17,000 more troops in to Afghanistan

Dec 1, 2009

Obama orders Troop Surge

Obama announces his plans to speed the deployment 30,000 additional troops to Afghanistan in coming months.

Jun 22, 2011

Obama orders Troop Reduction

President Obama announces his plan to pull 10,000 troops from Afghanistan by the end of the year. The remaining 20,000 troops from the surge in 2009 would leave by the summer of 2012.