Key Facts
- Date
- November 14, 2001
- Taliban force size
- 50–500 men
- Karzai's peak force after battle
- ~800 men
- US Special Forces unit
- ODA 574, 5th Special Forces Group
- Insertion method
- 4 MH-60K helicopters
Strategic Narrative Overview
Upon Karzai's arrival in Uruzgan, the inhabitants of Tarinkot rose up and expelled their Taliban administrators. The Taliban responded by marshaling a column of 50 to 500 fighters to retake the town. Karzai's small guerrilla band and ODA 574 deployed outside Tarinkot to block the advance. US Air Force Combat Controller Tech Sergeant Alex Yoshimoto directed sustained close air support that halted and repelled the Taliban force.
01 / The Origins
Following the September 11 attacks, the United States launched Operation Enduring Freedom to dismantle al-Qaeda and remove the Taliban regime in Afghanistan. Hamid Karzai, a Pashtun tribal leader, worked with US Special Forces to organize anti-Taliban resistance in southern Afghanistan. ODA 574 and Karzai inserted into Uruzgan Province on November 14, 2001, seeking to rally local support and open a southern front against Taliban control.
03 / The Outcome
The Taliban were driven from the area, and the victory allowed Karzai to recruit fighters, growing his force to around 800 men. On November 30, this enlarged force departed Tarinkot and began an advance toward Kandahar. The battle demonstrated the effectiveness of combining small Special Forces teams with local allies and air power, a model that shaped subsequent operations in Afghanistan.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Side B
1 belligerent
Hamid Karzai, Tech Sergeant Alex Yoshimoto.
Kinetic Engagement Axis
Scroll horizontally to view full axis. Events plotted relatively.