Before the War
What country invaded Afghanistan in 1979?
The Soviet Union
What group controlled most of Afghanistan by 2001?
The Taliban
What was the name of the U.S. mission launched in October 2001?
Operation Enduring Freedom
What type of warfare did the Taliban use after regrouping?
Guerrilla warfare
In what year did the U.S. officially end the Afghanistan War?
2021
What were Afghan fighters resisting the Soviets called?
The Mujahideen
What city did the Taliban capture in 1996?
Kabul
What alliance helped the U.S. fight the Taliban in 2001?
The Northern Alliance
What does IED stand for?
Improvised Explosive Device
What agreement planned the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan?
The Doha Agreement
What happened after the Soviet Union withdrew in 1989?
Political instability and civil war
What terrorist organization operated freely in Afghanistan under Taliban rule?
Al-Qaeda
Name one major Afghan city captured early in the invasion.
Kabul or Kandahar
Name one major problem Afghan civilians faced during the war.
Refugees, poverty, violence, trauma, displacement, casualties
What happened to Kabul in August 2021?
It fell to the Taliban
Name one major effect the war had on Afghanistan’s population before 2001.
Millions became refugees / infrastructure was damaged / economy collapsed
What event on September 11, 2001 triggered the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan?
The 9/11 terrorist attacks
What international organization took command of security missions in Afghanistan in 2003?
NATO
In what country was Osama bin Laden found in 2011?
Pakistan
What happened to Afghan women’s rights after the Taliban returned to power?
Many rights and freedoms declined/restrictions increased
Why were extremist groups able to gain influence in Afghanistan after the Soviet withdrawal?
Because the country was unstable and divided by civil war
Why did the United States decide to invade Afghanistan after 9/11?
Because the Taliban refused to hand over Osama bin Laden and protected Al-Qaeda
What were NATO’s two main goals in Afghanistan?
Stabilize Afghanistan and stop terrorism / train Afghan forces
Why was the killing of Osama bin Laden considered a major victory for the United States?
Because he was the leader of Al-Qaeda and responsible for the 9/11 attacks
Why is the Afghanistan War considered historically important?
It was the longest war in U.S. history and changed global views on terrorism, intervention, and nation-building