Key Facts
- Date of attack
- 13 November 2001
- Date city fell
- 14 November 2001
- Days after fall of Mazar-i-Sharif
- 5 days
- Taliban retreat destination
- Kandahar and Tora Bora
- U.S. Special Forces unit
- Operational Detachment Alpha 555
Strategic Narrative Overview
American and British air strikes severely weakened Taliban and al-Qaeda defenses around Kabul. On 13 November 2001, Northern Alliance forces launched their assault on the city, advancing faster than planners anticipated. Supported by U.S. Army Special Forces Operational Detachment Alpha 555, they entered Kabul on 14 November and encountered no resistance, having also captured Mazar-i-Sharif five days earlier in a coordinated offensive that collapsed Taliban control across northern Afghanistan.
01 / The Origins
Following the September 11, 2001 attacks, the United States launched Operation Enduring Freedom targeting al-Qaeda and the Taliban government that harbored them in Afghanistan. A U.S.-led coalition combined intensive air strikes with support for the Afghan Northern Alliance, which opposed Taliban rule. The campaign aimed to dismantle al-Qaeda's operational base and remove the Taliban regime from power in Kabul and across the country.
03 / The Outcome
Taliban forces abandoned Kabul and retreated south to Kandahar, their spiritual stronghold, while senior al-Qaeda figures including Osama bin Laden fled toward Tora Bora. The loss of Kabul and Mazar-i-Sharif constituted a decisive blow to Taliban governance. The Northern Alliance took control of the capital, paving the way for the establishment of an interim Afghan administration, though Taliban and al-Qaeda forces regrouped and conflict continued for years.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
2 belligerents
Side B
2 belligerents
Osama bin Laden.
Kinetic Engagement Axis
Scroll horizontally to view full axis. Events plotted relatively.