Bombing of Kandahar (2001): Difference between revisions
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|combatant2={{flagdeco|Afghanistan|Taliban}} [[Taliban]]<br/>{{flagicon image|Flag of al-Qaeda.svg}} [[al-Qaeda]] |
|combatant2={{flagdeco|Afghanistan|Taliban}} [[Taliban]]<br/>{{flagicon image|Flag of al-Qaeda.svg}} [[al-Qaeda]] |
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|commander1=[[Tommy Franks]] |
|commander1=[[Tommy Franks]] |
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|commander2=[[ |
|commander2=[[Mullah Omar]] |
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|strength1=Unknown |
|strength1=Unknown |
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|strength2=1,000+ (est.) |
|strength2=1,000+ (est.) |
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On October 7, 2001, at 6:30 pm [[UTC+04:30|local time]], the first wave of attack against the Taliban was launched. A group of [[United States Air Force]] (USAF) [[bomber]]s consisting of five [[Rockwell B-1 Lancer|B-1s]] and ten [[Boeing B-52 Stratofortress|B-52s]] took off from [[Diego Garcia]] in the Indian Ocean. They were complemented by twenty-five [[United States Navy]] (USN) [[Grumman F-14 Tomcat|F-14s]] and [[McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet|F/A-18s]] [[Ground-attack aircraft|strike aircraft]] from the [[aircraft carrier]]s {{USS|Carl Vinson|CVN-70|6}} and {{USS|Enterprise|CVN-65|6}} in the North Arabian Sea.<ref>{{harvnb|Lambeth|2005|pp=78–79.}}</ref> The [[Royal Air Force]] (RAF) and USAF provided [[Lockheed L-1011 TriStar|L-1011s]], [[Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker|KC-135]] and [[McDonnell Douglas KC-10 Extender|KC-10s]] to supply en route [[aerial refueling]]s to the USN aircraft.<ref name=Lambeth_p80>{{harvnb|Lambeth|2005|p=80.}}</ref> Flown in from [[Whiteman Air Force Base]], [[Missouri]], two [[Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit|B-2 Spirits]] also participated in the attack, as did the [[Northrop Grumman EA-6B Prowler|EA-6B Prowler]] [[electronic warfare aircraft]].<ref>{{harvnb|Lambeth|2005|pp=79–80.}}</ref> |
On October 7, 2001, at 6:30 pm [[UTC+04:30|local time]], the first wave of attack against the Taliban was launched. A group of [[United States Air Force]] (USAF) [[bomber]]s consisting of five [[Rockwell B-1 Lancer|B-1s]] and ten [[Boeing B-52 Stratofortress|B-52s]] took off from [[Diego Garcia]] in the Indian Ocean. They were complemented by twenty-five [[United States Navy]] (USN) [[Grumman F-14 Tomcat|F-14s]] and [[McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet|F/A-18s]] [[Ground-attack aircraft|strike aircraft]] from the [[aircraft carrier]]s {{USS|Carl Vinson|CVN-70|6}} and {{USS|Enterprise|CVN-65|6}} in the North Arabian Sea.<ref>{{harvnb|Lambeth|2005|pp=78–79.}}</ref> The [[Royal Air Force]] (RAF) and USAF provided [[Lockheed L-1011 TriStar|L-1011s]], [[Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker|KC-135]] and [[McDonnell Douglas KC-10 Extender|KC-10s]] to supply en route [[aerial refueling]]s to the USN aircraft.<ref name=Lambeth_p80>{{harvnb|Lambeth|2005|p=80.}}</ref> Flown in from [[Whiteman Air Force Base]], [[Missouri]], two [[Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit|B-2 Spirits]] also participated in the attack, as did the [[Northrop Grumman EA-6B Prowler|EA-6B Prowler]] [[electronic warfare aircraft]].<ref>{{harvnb|Lambeth|2005|pp=79–80.}}</ref> |
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At 9:00 pm, USN, USAF, and [[Royal Navy]] (RN) forces launched several salvos totaling fifty [[Tomahawk (missile)|Tomahawk]] [[cruise missile]]s against Taliban military and communications facilities and suspected terrorist training camps.<ref name=Lambeth_p80/> The timing was chosen to coincide with the arrival of the strike aircraft, which dropped a variety of bombs including [[Mark 82 bomb|Mk 82]]s, [[Joint Direct Attack Munition|JDAMs]], [[Harpoon (missile)|AGM-84s]], [[AGM-154 Joint Standoff Weapon|AGM-154]]s and [[laser-guided bomb]]s.<ref name=Lambeth_p80/> According to in-country sources reporting to [[CNN]], targets within Kandahar included Taliban strongholds, as well as the houses of [[Arab people|Arab]] foreigners who worked with the Taliban regime. One of the primary targets for the airstrike in Kandahar was [[ |
At 9:00 pm, USN, USAF, and [[Royal Navy]] (RN) forces launched several salvos totaling fifty [[Tomahawk (missile)|Tomahawk]] [[cruise missile]]s against Taliban military and communications facilities and suspected terrorist training camps.<ref name=Lambeth_p80/> The timing was chosen to coincide with the arrival of the strike aircraft, which dropped a variety of bombs including [[Mark 82 bomb|Mk 82]]s, [[Joint Direct Attack Munition|JDAMs]], [[Harpoon (missile)|AGM-84s]], [[AGM-154 Joint Standoff Weapon|AGM-154]]s and [[laser-guided bomb]]s.<ref name=Lambeth_p80/> According to in-country sources reporting to [[CNN]], targets within Kandahar included Taliban strongholds, as well as the houses of [[Arab people|Arab]] foreigners who worked with the Taliban regime. One of the primary targets for the airstrike in Kandahar was [[Mullah Omar]].<ref name="CNNOct7">{{cite news|url=http://archives.cnn.com/2001/US/10/07/ret.attack.pentagon/|access-date=January 16, 2011|work=CNN|date=October 7, 2001|title=Defense officials: Air operation to last "several days"|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070308164900/http://archives.cnn.com/2001/US/10/07/ret.attack.pentagon/|archive-date=March 8, 2007|df=mdy-all}}</ref> The attacking aircraft were met with sporadic fire from Taliban [[Anti-aircraft warfare|anti-aircraft artillery]] batteries and [[surface-to-air missile]]s.<ref>{{harvnb|Lambeth|2005|p=84.}}</ref> The U.S. considered the attacks, conducted against the cities of [[Kabul]], [[Jalalabad]] and [[Herat]], to be successful as the goal of neutralizing the Taliban's air defense was met.<ref>{{harvnb|Lambeth|2005|pp=55, 82, 85.}}</ref> |
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To court and provide relief for the Afghan people, food and supplies were dropped into the region. Two [[Boeing C-17 Globemaster III|C-17]] [[ |
To court and provide relief for the Afghan people, food and supplies were dropped into the region. Two [[Boeing C-17 Globemaster III|C-17]] [[Military transport aircraft|transports]] delivered 37,500 daily rations by airdrop to [[refugee]]s inside Afghanistan on the first day of the attack. Relief efforts faced setback, however, from Taliban interference. [[World Food Programme]] storehouses in Kandahar were raided and surrendered to Taliban soldiers, who "seized about 7,000 tons of food."<ref name=Kaufman>{{cite news|last=Kaufman|first=Marc|title=Taliban Seizes Relief Food, Two Main U.N. Warehouses; Groups Call for Bombing Pause to Deliver Aid|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/84764918.html?dids=84764918:84764918&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Oct+18,+2001&author=Marc+Kaufman&pub=The+Washington+Post&desc=Taliban+Seizes+Relief+Food,+Two+Main+U.N.+Warehouses;+Groups+Call+for+Bombing+Pause+to+Deliver+Aid&pqatl=google|access-date=February 11, 2011|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=October 18, 2001|archive-date=November 5, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105133158/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/84764918.html?dids=84764918:84764918&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Oct+18,+2001&author=Marc+Kaufman&pub=The+Washington+Post&desc=Taliban+Seizes+Relief+Food,+Two+Main+U.N.+Warehouses;+Groups+Call+for+Bombing+Pause+to+Deliver+Aid&pqatl=google|url-status=dead}}</ref> Hoping to avoid a backlash by civilians, the USAF deployed an [[EC-130E]] propeller aircraft to broadcast a message that the Taliban and its allies were the only targets of the attacks, not civilians.<ref name=Sisk>{{cite news|last=Sisk |first=Richard |title=U.S. drops bombs, food Relief supplies mixed with attacks in new kind of war |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/news/2001/10/08/2001-10-08_u_s__drops_bombs__food_relie.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20070811131644/http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/news/2001/10/08/2001-10-08_u_s__drops_bombs__food_relie.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 11, 2007 |access-date=February 11, 2011 |newspaper=[[Daily News (New York)|Daily News]] |date=October 8, 2001 }}</ref> |
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==Aftermath== |
==Aftermath== |
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{{Main article|Fall of Kandahar}} |
{{Main article|Fall of Kandahar}} |
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Following the successful airstrikes against the city, and after rapid setbacks experienced by Taliban forces across the country, much of the military might held directly and indirectly by [[ |
Following the successful airstrikes against the city, and after rapid setbacks experienced by Taliban forces across the country, much of the military might held directly and indirectly by [[Mullah Omar]] was consolidated in the city of Kandahar. On November 18, the United States enlisted the help of [[Gul Agha Sherzai]], an anti-Taliban commander and previous Governor of [[Kandahar Province]]. On November 25, the U.S. airlifted a contingent of 750 Marines from the [[15th Marine Expeditionary Unit]] to create a [[forward base]] at [[Camp Rhino]],<ref name="ArmyCMH">{{cite web|title=The United States Army in Afghanistan: Operation Enduring Freedom|url=http://www.history.army.mil/brochures/Afghanistan/Operation%20Enduring%20Freedom.htm#p14a|publisher=U.S. Army Center Of Military History|access-date=January 16, 2011|archive-date=June 23, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150623130454/http://www.history.army.mil/brochures/Afghanistan/Operation%20Enduring%20Freedom.htm#p14a|url-status=dead}}</ref> located {{convert|100|mi|km}} south of Kandahar. At this time, the allied commanders were also finalizing the decision to send British [[paratroopers]] from the [[2nd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/afghanistan/1363451/Paras-on-alert-for-storming-of-Kandahar.html |title=Paras on alert for storming of Kandahar|author1=Rayment, Sean|author2=Murphy, Joe|date= November 25, 2001|work=The Daily Telegraph |access-date=January 29, 2011}}</ref> These events set the stage for the [[Fall of Kandahar|taking of Kandahar]] and Taliban surrender on December 7.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/december/7/newsid_4031000/4031711.stm |work=BBC | title=2001: Taleban surrender Kandahar | date=December 7, 2001}}</ref> |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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;Bibliography |
;Bibliography |
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*{{Cite book|last=Lambeth|first=Benjamin S.|title=Air Power Against Terror: America's Conduct of Operation Enduring Freedom|publisher=RAND Corporation|year=2005|ISBN=0-8330-3724-2 |
*{{Cite book|last=Lambeth|first=Benjamin S.|title=Air Power Against Terror: America's Conduct of Operation Enduring Freedom|publisher=RAND Corporation|year=2005|ISBN=0-8330-3724-2}} |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Kandahar (2001), Battle of}} |
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kandahar (2001), Battle of}} |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:United States invasion of Afghanistan]] |
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[[Category:Military operations of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2014) involving the United States]] |
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[[Category:Operations involving American special forces]] |
[[Category:Operations involving American special forces]] |
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[[Category:United States Marine Corps in the War in Afghanistan ( |
[[Category:United States Marine Corps in the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)]] |
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[[Category:History of Kandahar Province]] |
[[Category:History of Kandahar Province]] |
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[[Category:October 2001 events]] |
[[Category:October 2001 events in Afghanistan]] |
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Latest revision as of 04:32, 2 July 2024
| Bombing of Kandahar | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the War in Afghanistan | |||||||||
| |||||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||||
 United States United Kingdom |
 Taliban al-Qaeda | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
| Tommy Franks | Mullah Omar | ||||||||
| Strength | |||||||||
| Unknown | 1,000+ (est.) | ||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
| Unknown | Unknown | ||||||||
The 2001 Bombing of Kandahar was a series of military operations conducted in and around Kandahar, Afghanistan, during October 2001, as part of the start of the United States' military operations in Afghanistan.
Chronology[edit]
Following the 2001 September 11 attacks, the United States and its allies launched the global War on Terror, starting with assaults on key Taliban positions within Afghanistan.
On October 7, 2001, at 6:30 pm local time, the first wave of attack against the Taliban was launched. A group of United States Air Force (USAF) bombers consisting of five B-1s and ten B-52s took off from Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean. They were complemented by twenty-five United States Navy (USN) F-14s and F/A-18s strike aircraft from the aircraft carriers USS Carl Vinson and USS Enterprise in the North Arabian Sea.[1] The Royal Air Force (RAF) and USAF provided L-1011s, KC-135 and KC-10s to supply en route aerial refuelings to the USN aircraft.[2] Flown in from Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, two B-2 Spirits also participated in the attack, as did the EA-6B Prowler electronic warfare aircraft.[3]
At 9:00 pm, USN, USAF, and Royal Navy (RN) forces launched several salvos totaling fifty Tomahawk cruise missiles against Taliban military and communications facilities and suspected terrorist training camps.[2] The timing was chosen to coincide with the arrival of the strike aircraft, which dropped a variety of bombs including Mk 82s, JDAMs, AGM-84s, AGM-154s and laser-guided bombs.[2] According to in-country sources reporting to CNN, targets within Kandahar included Taliban strongholds, as well as the houses of Arab foreigners who worked with the Taliban regime. One of the primary targets for the airstrike in Kandahar was Mullah Omar.[4] The attacking aircraft were met with sporadic fire from Taliban anti-aircraft artillery batteries and surface-to-air missiles.[5] The U.S. considered the attacks, conducted against the cities of Kabul, Jalalabad and Herat, to be successful as the goal of neutralizing the Taliban's air defense was met.[6]
To court and provide relief for the Afghan people, food and supplies were dropped into the region. Two C-17 transports delivered 37,500 daily rations by airdrop to refugees inside Afghanistan on the first day of the attack. Relief efforts faced setback, however, from Taliban interference. World Food Programme storehouses in Kandahar were raided and surrendered to Taliban soldiers, who "seized about 7,000 tons of food."[7] Hoping to avoid a backlash by civilians, the USAF deployed an EC-130E propeller aircraft to broadcast a message that the Taliban and its allies were the only targets of the attacks, not civilians.[8]
Aftermath[edit]
Following the successful airstrikes against the city, and after rapid setbacks experienced by Taliban forces across the country, much of the military might held directly and indirectly by Mullah Omar was consolidated in the city of Kandahar. On November 18, the United States enlisted the help of Gul Agha Sherzai, an anti-Taliban commander and previous Governor of Kandahar Province. On November 25, the U.S. airlifted a contingent of 750 Marines from the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit to create a forward base at Camp Rhino,[9] located 100 miles (160 km) south of Kandahar. At this time, the allied commanders were also finalizing the decision to send British paratroopers from the 2nd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment.[10] These events set the stage for the taking of Kandahar and Taliban surrender on December 7.[11]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- Notes
- ^ Lambeth 2005, pp. 78–79.
- ^ a b c Lambeth 2005, p. 80.
- ^ Lambeth 2005, pp. 79–80.
- ^ "Defense officials: Air operation to last "several days"". CNN. October 7, 2001. Archived from the original on March 8, 2007. Retrieved January 16, 2011.
- ^ Lambeth 2005, p. 84.
- ^ Lambeth 2005, pp. 55, 82, 85.
- ^ Kaufman, Marc (October 18, 2001). "Taliban Seizes Relief Food, Two Main U.N. Warehouses; Groups Call for Bombing Pause to Deliver Aid". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on November 5, 2012. Retrieved February 11, 2011.
- ^ Sisk, Richard (October 8, 2001). "U.S. drops bombs, food Relief supplies mixed with attacks in new kind of war". Daily News. Archived from the original on August 11, 2007. Retrieved February 11, 2011.
- ^ "The United States Army in Afghanistan: Operation Enduring Freedom". U.S. Army Center Of Military History. Archived from the original on June 23, 2015. Retrieved January 16, 2011.
- ^ Rayment, Sean; Murphy, Joe (November 25, 2001). "Paras on alert for storming of Kandahar". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved January 29, 2011.
- ^ "2001: Taleban surrender Kandahar". BBC. December 7, 2001.
- Bibliography
- Lambeth, Benjamin S. (2005). Air Power Against Terror: America's Conduct of Operation Enduring Freedom. RAND Corporation. ISBN 0-8330-3724-2.