Why did the United States military invade Afghanistan in 2001?

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Taliban Taliban fighters sitting atop a Russian-made tank during a patrol in Kabul, Afghanistan, October 2, 2001.

The United States military invaded Afghanistan in 2001 in response to the September 11 attacks. The attacks were orchestrated by al-Qaeda, an Islamic militant group headquartered in Afghanistan. The ruling Taliban militia refused U.S. demands to extradite al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden and cease the group's activities within their territory. This refusal led to the U.S. and its allies launching Operation Enduring Freedom on October 7, 2001, aiming to oust the Taliban and dismantle al-Qaeda.123