War on Terror

A U.S.-led international campaign against terrorist groups launched after the September 11, 2001 attacks, encompassing military operations, intelligence efforts, and domestic security measures.

Authorization for Use of Military Force of 2001: A U.S. law authorizing force against those responsible for the September 11 attacks and their supporters. It became the principal congressional basis for U.S. military action against al-Qaeda and associated forces.
War in Afghanistan: The armed conflict that began with the U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001 and continued until the Taliban returned to power in 2021. It became the campaign’s longest war and ended with the collapse of the U.S.-backed Afghan government.
September 11 attacks: A coordinated terrorist attack by al-Qaeda against the United States on September 11, 2001. The attacks triggered the campaign and shaped its initial focus on al-Qaeda and its Taliban hosts.
Iraq and al-Qaeda relationship: The historical question of whether Saddam Hussein’s Iraq cooperated with al-Qaeda or supported the September 11 attacks. The Bush administration’s case for war invoked terrorism, but investigations found no Iraqi role in the September 11 attacks.
Drone warfare: The use of remotely piloted aircraft to conduct surveillance or attacks. Its expansion raised continuing questions about civilian harm, sovereignty, transparency, and long-term effectiveness.
Operation Enduring Freedom: The U.S.-led military operation begun in Afghanistan in October 2001. It opened the campaign’s first major war by targeting al-Qaeda and the Taliban government sheltering it.
Iraq War: The 2003 invasion of Iraq and the subsequent conflict involving occupation forces, Iraqi factions, and insurgent groups. Its aftermath destabilized Iraq and produced consequences distinct from the campaign’s original focus on al-Qaeda.
Al-Qaeda: A transnational jihadist organization founded by Osama bin Laden and responsible for the September 11 attacks. Its attack on the United States supplied the campaign’s central adversary and stated initial objective.
Iraq War rationale: The public and official arguments used to justify the 2003 invasion of Iraq. The invasion’s weapons-of-mass-destruction claims and terrorism arguments differed from the response to September 11.
Civilian casualties in the War on Terror: The deaths and injuries of noncombatants during military operations associated with the post-September 11 campaign. Their measurement and accountability remain disputed across Afghanistan, Iraq, and other theaters.

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