On October 7, 2001, the Operation Enduring Freedom commences with an aerial bombing campaign involving American and British assets in support of US Special Forces personnel and the Northern Alliance (a major force in the country opposed to the Taliban). The initial campaign was successful in ousting the Taliban (who were supported by Al-Qaeda) from power in Afghanistan, these organizations regrouped on the Pakistan border and within Pakistan. From there a lengthy insurgency was launched and continues to be waged to this day. Operation Enduring Freedom-Afghanistan officially ended in December of 2014; however, operation continue to conducted in Afghanistan under the name of Operation Freedom's Sentinel.

Countries from around the world participated in the campaign against the Taliban and Al-Qaeda, including Afghan and American troops. Personnel from the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Georgia, the Czech Republic, Ukraine, Turkey, Poland, and many more served as part of the International Security Assistance Force, the security mission formed by the United Nations and tasked with training Afghan forces and rebuilding key government institutions