In response to the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people, Operation Enduring Freedom officially began 7 October 2001 with American and British bombing strikes against al-Qaeda and Taliban forces in Afghanistan. Initially, the Taliban was removed from power and al-Qaeda was seriously crippled, but forces continually dealt with a stubborn Taliban insurgency, infrastructure rebuilding, and corruption among the Afghan National Army, Afghan National Police, and Afghan Border Police.
On 2 May 2011, U.S. Navy SEALS (Sea, Air, Land) launched a raid on Osama Bin Laden’s compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, during Operation Neptune Spear, killing the al-Qaeda leader and mastermind of the September 11th terrorist attacks. Operation Enduring Freedom officially ended on 28 December 2014, although coalition forces remained on the ground to assist with training Afghan security forces. The United States Armed Forces completed its withdrawal from Afghanistan on 30 August 2021, marking the end of the 2001-2021 war.
Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF)
On 20 March 2003, Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) began with preemptive airstrikes on former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein’s presidential palace and selected military targets. OIF was authorized when Iraq was found to be in breach of UN Security Council adopted Resolution 1441, which “prohibits stockpiling and importing weapons of mass destruction (WMDs).”
Iraqi forces were overwhelmed and Baghdad fell five weeks after the invasion began. With the invasion complete, an insurgency and influx of al Qaeda inspired fighters poured into the country that sparked guerilla warfare tactics against U.S. troops and civil war between the Sunni and Shia tribes. On 15 December 2011, “The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and other top U.S. military leaders observed the official end of U.S. Forces Iraq’s mission after nearly nine years of conflict that claimed the lives of nearly 4,500 troops (Torreon).”
Statistics – Operation Enduring Freedom
- October 7, 2001 – August 30, 2021
- Total who served in all Armed Forces: 775,000
- Battle Deaths: 1,845
- Other Deaths (In Theatre): 505
- Wounded: 20,149
- Medals of Honor: 3
Statistics – Operation Iraqi Freedom
- March 20, 2003 – December 15, 2011
- Total who served in all Armed Forces: 1,500,000
- Battle Deaths: 3,481
- Other Deaths (In Theatre): 937
- Wounded: 31,994
- Medals of Honor: 7
Unique Health Risks
- Infectious Disease
- Cold Injury
- High Altitude illnesses
- Environmental Hazards:
- Exposure to sewage
- Exposure to agricultural and industrial contamination of water and food
- Air pollution
- Severe sand and dust storms
- Combined penetrating, blunt trauma, and burn injuries (blast injuries)
- Traumatic Brain or Spinal Cord Injury
- Vision Loss
- Traumatic Amputation
- Multi-drug Resistant Acinetobacter
- Leishmaniasis (sand fly-transmitted infection of the skin)
- Depleted Uranium (DU)
- Mental Health Issues including Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
