Fall of Kabul (2001)

Fall of Kabul
	Part of the War on terror, the United States invasion of Afghanistan and the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)
	; Kabul in December 2003
Date	12–13 November 2001 (1 day)
Location	Kabul, Afghanistan
Result	Northern Alliance and American victory Re-establishment of the Islamic State of Afghanistan as the dominant power in Afghanistan; Taliban and Al-Qaeda forces, including Osama bin Laden, withdraw to Kandahar and Tora Bora.;
Belligerents
Islamic State of Afghanistan; United States	Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan; Al-Qaeda
Commanders and leaders
Mohammed Fahim; Atiqullah Baryalai; Tommy Franks	Mullah Omar; Osama bin Laden; Mohammed Atef †
Units involved
Northern Alliance; ODA 555	Afghan Armed Forces; 055 Brigade

Kabul, capital of Afghanistan, fell in November 2001 to the Northern Alliance forces during the War in Afghanistan. Northern Alliance forces began their attack on the city on 13 November and made swift progress against Taliban and Al-Qaeda forces that were heavily weakened by American and British air strikes. The advance moved ahead of plans, and the next day the Northern Alliance forces (supported by Operational Detachment Alpha 555 of the U.S. Army Special Forces) entered Kabul and met no resistance inside the city. Taliban forces retreated to Kandahar in the south.

Coupled with the fall of Mazar-i-Sharif five days earlier, the capture of Kabul was a significant blow to Taliban control of Afghanistan. As a result of all the losses, surviving members of the Taliban and al-Qaeda, including Osama bin Laden, retreated toward Kandahar, the spiritual birthplace and home of the Taliban movement, and Tora Bora.