27 Iconic Photos From The Longest War In American History

In the wake of the devastating terrorist attacks on Sep. 11, 2001, the U.S. vowed to hunt down those responsible and bring them to justice.

That hunt immediately led to Afghanistan, the home of the Taliban government harboring the Al Qaeda terror group that carried out the attacks.

Less than a month after 9/11, U.S. Special Forces and CIA operatives were on the ground to link up with Northern Alliance fighters. Dubbed Operation Enduring Freedom, the Afghan campaign would initially be hailed as a rousing success, with the Taliban driven out of power just two months after American boots were on the ground.

But that success morphed into a hard slog for NATO troops, who endured heavy combat, roadside bombs, and an insurgency that enjoyed relative safety in Pakistani tribal lands. Now more than a decade after the war began, the U.S. cannot claim "victory," but the combat mission will come to an end later this year.