The Afghan War

Began in October the 7th 2001

The armed forces of the United States of America, the United Kingdom,
the Commonwealth of Australia, and the Afghan United Front (Northern
Alliance) launched Operation Enduring Freedom.
The catalyst of the invasion was the September 11 attacks on the United
States.
The goal is to dismantle the al-Qaeda terrorist organization and ending its
use of Afghanistan as a base. The United States aimed to remove the
Taliban regime and replace it with a democratic state.
The stated aim of the invasion was to find Osama bin Laden and other
high-ranking al-Qaeda members to be put on trial, to destroy the
organization of al-Qaeda, and to remove the Taliban regime which
supported and gave safe harbor to it.
In the first phase ground forces of the Afghan United Front working with
U.S., British Special Forces and with massive U.S. air support, pushed out
the Taliban regime from power in Kabul and most of Afghanistan in a few
weeks.
On June 22, 2011, President Obama announced that 10,000 U.S. troops
would be withdrawn by the end of 2011. An additional 23,000 troops will
leave the country by the summer of 2012. After the withdrawal of 10,000
U.S. troops, 80,000 are left participating in the war.
The War in Afghanistan is the United States second longest military
conflict; only the Vietnam War (1959-1975) lasted longer.

Losses and Casualties

Coalition:
Killed: 2,841
USA 1,824
UK 405
CAN 158
FRA 82
DEU 53
Others 320
Wounded: 22,618+
US 14,793

UK 5,312
Canada 859+
German 245
Australia 218
Netherlands 140
Denmark 100+
Poland 100
Estonia 60+
Contractors:
Killed: 981
Wounded & injured: 12,272
Afghan Security Forces 10,086+ killed
Afghan Northern Alliance 200 Killed
Total Killed 14,007+
Taliban and insurgents:
Killed: 36,806-40,982+
Civilian Deaths: 14,00034,000 approx.