Afghanistan
2001 – 2014
On 11 September 2001, terrorists hijacked four planes in the United States. They crashed two planes into the World Trade Center towers, one into the Pentagon, and another in rural Pennsylvania. Almost 3,000 people died. Evidence suggested the terrorist group al-Qaeda, led by Osama bin Laden, was responsible. An extremist regime, the Taliban, had provided sanctuary for al-Qaeda in Afghanistan. The Afghan government refused to extradite bin Laden and his militants. The US formed an international coalition to use force against the Taliban. Its goal was to end this safe haven for terrorists, stabilize the country and help the Afghan people after years of conflict. More than 40,000 Canadians would serve in the region. This was the largest deployment of our troops since the Second World War. The conflict lasted more than 12 years— the longest in Canada's history.
Afghanistan stages
ORDER OF EVENTS
11 September 2001
Deadly Al-Qaeda terrorist attacks take place in the United States
7 October 2001
Canada pledges support to international efforts to combat terrorism. The CAF launches Operation APOLLO
December 2001
Canadian special forces soldiers arrive in Afghanistan
Mid-2003
Canada begins contributions to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's (NATO) International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) as part of Operation ATHENA
9 February 2004
Canada's Lieutenant-General Rick Hillier assumes command of the ISAF in Afghanistan
August 2005
Canada assumes leadership of the Kandahar Provincial Reconstruction Team
September 2006
Canada leads Operation MEDUSA, the largest Canadian combat operation since the Korean War
May 2011
Operation ATTENTION begins as Canadians start to train the national security forces in Afghanistan
March 2014
Canada's military mission in Afghanistan ends
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