The request was dismissed by the US as a meaningless delaying tactic, and it launched Operation Enduring Freedom on October 7, 2001, with the United Kingdom. The Taliban declined to extradite him unless given what they deemed convincing evidence of his involvement in the 9/11 attacks, and ignored demands to shut down terrorist bases and hand over other terrorist suspects apart from bin Laden. Bush demanded that the Taliban hand over Osama bin Laden and expel al-Qaeda bin Laden had already been wanted by the FBI since 1998. The US invasion of Afghanistan became the first phase of the War in Afghanistan (2001–present).

It followed the Afghan Civil War's 1996–2001 phase between the Taliban and the Northern Alliance groups, although the Taliban controlled 90% of the country by 2001. The United Kingdom was a key ally of the United States, offering support for military action from the start of preparations for the invasion. Its public aims were to dismantle al-Qaeda and deny it a safe base of operations in Afghanistan by removing the Taliban from power. The conflict is also known as the US war in Afghanistan or the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan. The United States invasion of Afghanistan occurred after the September 11 attacks in late 2001 and was supported by close US allies which had officially began the War on Terror. Gora Prai – Azizabad – Granai – Deh Bala – Sangin – Uruzgan Mountain Viper – Asbury Park – Perth – Chora – Firebase Anaconda – Shewan – Balamorghab – Derapet –

غارة كندوز – Oqab – Sahda Ehlm – Gala-e Gorg – Harekate Yolo – Karez

Takur Ghar by Leigh Neville