Timeline of U.S. attack on Afghanistan in November 2001

Table of contents

1 Thursday, November 8, 2001
2 Saturday, November 10, 2001
3 Wednesday, November 12, 2001
4 Wednesday, November 14, 2001
5 Sunday, November 25, 2001

Thursday, November 8, 2001

Pakistan, being the only nation that still had diplomatic ties to the Taliban, asked Afghanistan's rulers to close their consulate in the city of Karachi.

Three Japanese warships with several hundred sailors left the port for the Indian Ocean. The goal was to provide the U.S-led forces with non-combat military support. This is Japan's first mission of this kind since World War II.

The president Wim Kok of the Netherlands announced that 1000 soldiers will join the efforts of the war against terrorism.

Saturday, November 10, 2001

The Taliban and Northern Alliance fighters both claimed that the strategic northern Afghan city of Mazar-e Sharif was taken by Northern Alliance fighters.

Wednesday, November 12, 2001

Taliban forces abandon Kabul ahead of advancing Northern Alliance troops.

Wednesday, November 14, 2001

Northern Alliance fighters took over Kabul, the Afghan capital, and then controlled virtually all the north of Afghanistan.

Sunday, November 25, 2001

Northern Alliance gained control of Kunduz, the last Taliban stronghold in Northern Afganistan. The Taliban then controlled less the 25% of the country, mainly around Kandahar in the south.

U.S. Marines landed in force by helicopter at an airbase south of Kandahar and began preparing it for fixed wing aircraft. They also occupied the main road between Kandahar and Pakistan.

Forces loyal to bin Laden smuggled weapons into their prison near Mazar-e Sharif after surrendering at Kunduz. They attacked the Northern Alliance guards and storm an armory. U.S. Special Forces call in air attacks. Hundreds of prisoners are killed as well as 40 Alliance fighters and one U.S. CIA operative, Johnny Michael Spann. Spann becomes the first U.S. and Coalition combat casualty.

Four British SAS special forces troops were injured inside Afghanistan and evacuated to hospital in Great Britain although the time and location of their operation was not known.