Bombing of Kandahar (2001): Difference between revisions
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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. |
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. |
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On October 7, 2001, at 9:00 pm [[UTC+04:30|local time]], [[United States Navy]] (USN), [[United States Air Force]] (USAF), and [[Royal Navy]] (RN) forces launched several salvos of [[Tomahawk (missile)|Tomahawk]] [[cruise missile]]s against Taliban military and communications facilities, as well as suspected terrorist training camps. 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 [[Mohammed Omar|Mullah Omar]].<ref name="CNNOct7">{{cite news|url=http://archives.cnn.com/2001/US/10/07/ret.attack.pentagon/|accessdate=16 January 2011|newspaper=CNN.com|date=7 October 2001|title=Defense officials: Air operation to last 'several days'}}</ref> The attack, conducted against the cities of [[Kabul]], [[Jalalabad]] |
On October 7, 2001, at 9:00 pm [[UTC+04:30|local time]], [[United States Navy]] (USN), [[United States Air Force]] (USAF), and [[Royal Navy]] (RN) forces launched several salvos of [[Tomahawk (missile)|Tomahawk]] [[cruise missile]]s against Taliban military and communications facilities, as well as suspected terrorist training camps.<ref name=Lambeth_p80>Lambeth 2005, p. 80.</ref> 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 [[Mohammed Omar|Mullah Omar]].<ref name="CNNOct7">{{cite news|url=http://archives.cnn.com/2001/US/10/07/ret.attack.pentagon/|accessdate=16 January 2011|newspaper=CNN.com|date=7 October 2001|title=Defense officials: Air operation to last 'several days'}}</ref> The United States considered the attack, conducted against the cities of [[Kabul]], [[Jalalabad]] and [[Herat]], to be a military success. USAF general [[Richard Myers]], chairman of the U.S. [[Joint Chiefs of Staff]], stated that approximately fifty Tomahawk cruise missiles were launched by British and U.S. naval units.<ref name=Lambeth_p80/> |
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In the first wave of attack, five [[Rockwell B-1 Lancer|B-1 Lancers]] and ten [[Boeing B-52 Stratofortress|B-52 Stratofortresses]] (both from the USAF) were launched from [[Diego Garcia]] in the Indian Ocean; these were complemented by twnety-five F-14 and F/A-18 Strike aircraft from U.S. [[aircraft carrier]]s {{USS|Carl Vinson|CVN-70|6}} and {{USS|Enterprise|CVN-65|6}} in the North Arabian Sea.<ref>Lambeth 2005, p. 78–79.</ref> Two [[Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit|B-2 Spirits]], flown in from [[Whiteman Air Force Base]], [[Missouri]], also participated in the attack, so did the [[Northrop Grumman EA-6B Prowler|EA-6B Prowler]] [[electronic warfare aircraft]].<ref>Lambeth 2005, p. 79–80.</ref> |
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To court and provide relief for the Afghan people, food and supplies were dropped into the region. Two [[C-17 Globemaster]] [[Cargo aircraft|transport]] jets 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 Program]] 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=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|accessdate=11 February 2011|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=Oct 18, 2001}}</ref> Hoping to avoid a backlash by civilians, the US sent at least one Air Force EC-130E Commando Solo propeller aircraft for the purpose of broadcasting 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|accessdate=11 February 2011|newspaper=New York Daily News|date=October 8, 2001}}</ref> |
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==Aftermath== |
==Aftermath== |
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Revision as of 05:26, 9 December 2011
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| Battle of Kandahar (2001) | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of The War in Afghanistan | |||||||||
| |||||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||||
 United States United Kingdom |
 Taliban al-Qaeda | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
| Tommy Franks | Mullah Omar | ||||||||
| Strength | |||||||||
| N/A | 1,000+ (est.) | ||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
| Unknown | Unknown | ||||||||
The 2001 Battle 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
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 9:00 pm local time, United States Navy (USN), United States Air Force (USAF), and Royal Navy (RN) forces launched several salvos of Tomahawk cruise missiles against Taliban military and communications facilities, as well as suspected terrorist training camps.[1] 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.[2] The United States considered the attack, conducted against the cities of Kabul, Jalalabad and Herat, to be a military success. USAF general Richard Myers, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, stated that approximately fifty Tomahawk cruise missiles were launched by British and U.S. naval units.[1]
In the first wave of attack, five B-1 Lancers and ten B-52 Stratofortresses (both from the USAF) were launched from Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean; these were complemented by twnety-five F-14 and F/A-18 Strike aircraft from U.S. aircraft carriers USS Carl Vinson and USS Enterprise in the North Arabian Sea.[3] Two B-2 Spirits, flown in from Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, also participated in the attack, so did the EA-6B Prowler electronic warfare aircraft.[4]
To court and provide relief for the Afghan people, food and supplies were dropped into the region. Two C-17 Globemaster transport jets 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 Program storehouses in Kandahar were raided and surrendered to Taliban soldiers, who "seized about 7,000 tons of food."[5] Hoping to avoid a backlash by civilians, the US sent at least one Air Force EC-130E Commando Solo propeller aircraft for the purpose of broadcasting a message that the Taliban and its allies were the only targets of the attacks, not civilians.[6]
Aftermath
Following the successful airstrikes in 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 United States airlifted a contingent of 750 Marines from the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit to create a forward base at Camp Rhino,[7] 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.[8] These events set the stage for the taking of Kandahar and Taliban surrender on December 7.[9]
See also
References
- Notes
- ^ a b Lambeth 2005, p. 80.
- ^ "Defense officials: Air operation to last 'several days'". CNN.com. 7 October 2001. Retrieved 16 January 2011.
- ^ Lambeth 2005, p. 78–79.
- ^ Lambeth 2005, p. 79–80.
- ^ Kaufman, Marc (Oct 18, 2001). "Taliban Seizes Relief Food, Two Main U.N. Warehouses; Groups Call for Bombing Pause to Deliver Aid". The Washington Post. Retrieved 11 February 2011.
- ^ Sisk, Richard (October 8, 2001). "U.S. drops bombs, food Relief supplies mixed with attacks in new kind of war". New York Daily News. Retrieved 11 February 2011.
- ^ "The United States Army in Afghanistan: Operation Enduring Freedom". U.S. Army Center Of Military History. Retrieved 16 January 2011.
- ^ "Paras on alert for storming of Kandahar" By Sean Rayment and Joe Murphy, 12:01AM GMT 25 Nov 2001. Retrieved on January 29th, 2011.
- ^ "2001: Taleban surrender Kandahar". BBC News. 7 December 2001.
- Bibliography
- Lambeth, Benjamin S. (2005). Air Power Against Terror: America's Conduct of Operation Enduring Freedom. RAND Corporation. ISBN 0-8330--3724-2.
External links
- Conflicts in 2001
- Battles of the War in Afghanistan (2001–present)
- Military operations of the War in Afghanistan (2001–present) involving the United States
- Operations involving American special forces
- 2001 in Afghanistan
- United States Marine Corps in the War in Afghanistan (2001–present)
- History of Kandahar Province