Invasion of Afghanistan SS7H2d – The student will analyze continuity and change in Southwest Asia (Middle East) leading to the 21st century. Explain U.S. Presence and interest in Southwest Asia; include the Persian Gulf Conflict and invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq.

September 11, 2001 Terrorist hijacked four commercial airplanes and planned to fly them into several American targets. 8:50 a.m. the first plane flew into the Tower One of the World Trade Center in New York City. 9:04 a second plane flew into Tower Two. By 10:30 both towers had crashed to the ground causing the death of over 3,000 men, women and children.

A third plane crashed into the Pentagon at 9:38 a.m. A fourth plane crashed in a field in Pennsylvania after the passenger’s overtook the terrorist.

Who was responsible for the attacks? The United States began a military operation in Afghanistan to capture the people responsible. An organization known a Al-Qaeda (the force) were identified as the group who planned and carried out the attacks.

Al-Qaeda’s leader as named Osama bin-Laden. Al-Qaeda main goal was to bring an end to the western influence in the Middle East. The radical Muslim government of Afghanistan (the Taliban) allowed Al-Qaeda and bin-Laden to hide in the mountain of their country.

U.S. Invades October 2001 – the United States launched a series of attacks on these mountain hideouts. The Taliban government collapsed. The United States is still working with Afghanistan to reorganize their government.

U.S. Forces Kill bin-Laden May 2, 2011 – U.S. forces located and killed bin-Laden in the compound in Pakistan.