War in Afghanistan (2001-2021)

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An US-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001 and a phase of the wider Afghan Civil War. The invasion's goals were to capture or kill Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda militants, as well as replace the Taliban with a U.S.-friendly government. With support of the US the Talibans were initially defeated and the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan was established. However, the Talibans started a counteroffensive and in 2021 recaptured whole Afghanistan and established again the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.

Chronology

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January 2002: In the early stage of the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan, when the Taliban started fleeing into Pakistan, the local leaders, or Maliks, began a campaign among their locals to host the foreigners. Since then, around 200 Maliks have been assassinated by local Taliban through targeted killings.
July 2002: In 2002 the Afghan Interim Administration was succeeded by the Transitional Islamic State of Afghanistan.
January 2004: The Transitional Islamic State of Afghanistan was succeeded by the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.

1. US/Northern Alliance Offensive

Was a military offensive by the Northern Alliance with US support during the War in Afghanistan (2001-2021).

December 2001: The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is overthrown by the US and Northern Alliance during the Battle of Tora Bora.
November 2001: Mazari Sharif was taken by Northern Alliance fighters.
December 2001: Fall of Kandahar.
November 2001: The inhabitants of the town of Tarinkot revolted and expelled their Taliban administrators.
November 2001: Northern Alliance fighters took over Kabul.
November 2001: The Northern Alliance gained control of Kunduz.
November 2001: After the fall of Mazar-i-Sharif, Kabul and Herat were conquered by the Northern Alliance.
December 2001: Fall of Kandahar.
November 2001: The inhabitants of the town of Tarinkot revolted and expelled their Taliban administrators.
November 2001: Northern Alliance fighters took over Kabul.
November 2001: The Northern Alliance gained control of Kunduz.
December 2001: In December 2001, after the Taliban government was overthrown, the Afghan Interim Administration under Hamid Karzai was formed.

2. Taliban Insurgency

Was the slow reconquest of the Talibans in 2003-2007 during the War in Afghanistan (2001-2021) that eventually developed in a full-scale offensive.

January 2007: Expansion of the Talibans in 2005-2006.
January 2004: Expansion of the Talibans in 2003.
April 2003: In May 2003, the Taliban Supreme Court's chief justice, Abdul Salam, proclaimed that the Talibans were back.
January 2005: Expansion of the Talibans in 2004.

3. Operation Moshtarak

Was a US-led pacification offensive in the town of Marjah, Helmand Province, Afghanistan during the War in Afghanistan (2001-2021).

March 2010: Talibans losing control of Marjah.
January 2011: Shortly after the withdrawal of NATO soldiers from Marja, it was reported the Taliban had regained control of the town.
February 2010: The town of Showal was captured by Islamic Republic of Afghanistan forces.

4. Kunduz offensive

Was a Taliban offensive for the control of the city of Kunduz in the northern Kunduz Province.

October 2015: The Taliban fought for the city of Kunduz in the northern Kunduz Province with them capturing the city by September.
November 2015: Afghan Armed Forces recaptured Kunduz in October.

5. Helmand offensive

Was a Taliban military campaign in the Afghan province of Helmand.

January 2016: By late December, most of Sangin was captured by the Taliban.

6. 2021 Taliban offensive

A military offensive by the Taliban insurgent group and allied militants led to the fall of the Kabul-based Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the end of the nearly 20-year War in Afghanistan that had begun following the United States invasion of the country.

July 2021: Spin Boldak conquered by the Talibans.
August 2021: Zaranj, a provincial Capital, is conquered by the Talibans.
August 2021: Mazar-i-Sharif, a provincial Capital, is conquered by the Talibans.
August 2021: Aqina conquered by the Talibans.
August 2021: Torkham conquered by the Talibans.
August 2021: Jalalabad, a provincial Capital, is conquered by the Talibans.
August 2021: Kunduz, a provincial Capital, is conquered by the Talibans.
June 2021: On 22 June, the Taliban captured Sher Khan Bandar, Afghanistan's main Tajikistan border crossing.
June 2021: On 25 June, the Taliban took control of the Shinwari District and the Ghorband District.
June 2021: On the same day Rustaq District, Shortepa District and the Arghistan District fell to the Taliban.
July 2021: In June, the Taliban captured 69 districts from the Afghan government.
August 2021: Zaranj, a provincial Capital, is conquered by the Talibans.
July 2021: Ishkashim falls to the Talibans
August 2021: Kabul, the capital city of Afghanistan, fell to the Taliban on August 15, 2021, leading to the restoration of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.
August 2021: Tarinkot, a provincial Capital, is conquered by the Talibans.
August 2021: Sar-e Pol, a provincial Capital, is conquered by the Talibans.
August 2021: Taloqan, a provincial Capital, is conquered by the Talibans.
August 2021: Samangan, a provincial Capital, is conquered by the Talibans.
August 2021: Farah, a provincial Capital, is conquered by the Talibans.
August 2021: Fayzabad, a provincial Capital, is conquered by the Talibans.
August 2021: Ghazni, a provincial Capital, is conquered by the Talibans.
August 2021: Qala e Naw, a provincial Capital, is conquered by the Talibans.
August 2021: Kandahar, a provincial Capital, is conquered by the Talibans.
August 2021: Lashkargah, a provincial Capital, is conquered by the Talibans.
August 2021: Chaghcharan, a provincial Capital, is conquered by the Talibans.
August 2021: Puli Alam, a provincial Capital, is conquered by the Talibans.
August 2021: Asadabad, a provincial Capital, is conquered by the Talibans.
August 2021: Mihtarlam, a provincial Capital, is conquered by the Talibans.
August 2021: Nili, a provincial Capital, is conquered by the Talibans.
August 2021: Hairatan conquered by the Talibans.
August 2021: Khost, a provincial Capital, is conquered by the Talibans.
August 2021: Bamyan, a provincial Capital, is conquered by the Talibans.
August 2021: Parun, a provincial Capital, is conquered by the Talibans.
August 2021: Sharana, a provincial Capital, is conquered by the Talibans.
August 2021: Mahmud-i-Raqi, a provincial Capital, is conquered by the Talibans.
July 2021: Torghundi falls to the Talibans
July 2021: On 10 July, the Taliban captured Panjwayi District in Kandahar Province.
August 2021: Sheberghan, a provincial Capital, is conquered by the Talibans.
July 2021: Wakhjir Pass falls to the Talibans
June 2021: In May, the Taliban captured 15 districts from the Afghan government, including Nirkh and Jalrez districts.
August 2021: Gardez, a provincial Capital, is conquered by the Talibans.
June 2021: On 16 June, Taliban fighters executed 22 surrendering Afghan Army commandoes in the town of Dawlat Abad.
August 2021: Qalati Ghilji, a provincial Capital, is conquered by the Talibans.
August 2021: Herat, a provincial Capital, is conquered by the Talibans.
July 2021: Pro-government forces gained victories in Bamyan Province, as local militias and the police retook the districts of Sayghan and Kahmard from the Taliban.
July 2021: Islam Qala falls to the Talibans
August 2021: Charikar, a provincial Capital, is conquered by the Talibans.
August 2021: Maymana, a provincial Capital, is conquered by the Talibans.
June 2021: On 27 June, Chaki Wardak District and Saydabad District fell to the Taliban.
June 2021: Taliban forces took control of Balkh and encircled Mazar-i-Sharif, the capital of Balkh Province.
July 2021: On 8 July, the Taliban captured the strategically important Karukh District in Herat Province.
July 2021: The government recaptured Karakh District.
August 2021: Puli Khumri, a provincial Capital, is conquered by the Talibans.
August 2021: Kabul, the capital city of Afghanistan, fell to the Taliban on August 15, 2021, leading to the restoration of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.
August 2021: In July, the Taliban captured 64 districts from the Afghan government.