Fall Of Mazari Sharif
Timeline
- 2001
- 2002
- 2003
- 2004
- 2005
- 2006
- 2007
- 2008
- 2009
- 2010
- 2011
- 2012
- 2013
Battles and operations
| Invasion | |
|---|---|
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| Helmand Province | |
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| Kandahar Province | |
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| Eastern Afghanistan | |
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| Kabul Province | |
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| Kunduz Province | |
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- Mountain Viper
- Asbury Park
- Perth
- Chora
- Firebase Anaconda
- Shewan
- Balamorghab
- Derapet
- Doan
Airstrikes
- Azizabad
- Baraki Barak
- Deh Bala
- Gora Prai
- Granai
- Hyderabad
- Kapisa
- Kunar Raid
- Kunduz
- Mano Gai
- Sayyd Alma Kalay
- Sangin
- Uruzgan
- Wech Baghtu
Insurgent attacks
- Ashura
- 2007 Bagram
- 2007 Baghlan
- Camp Chapman
- April 2012
- Camp Bastion
Massacres
- Dasht-i-Leili Massacre
- Kandahar
- Khataba
- Maywand
- Nangar
- Narang
- Shinwar
Other
- US urination incident
- 2012 Quran buring protests
- Insurgents' bodies
- U.S.-Afghan Strategic Agreement
- U.S. Withdrawal
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- For other uses, see Battles of Mazar-e-Sharif
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The fall of Mazar-e-Sharif was the result of the first major offensive of the Afghanistan War. U.S. Army Special Forces and aerial bombardment accompanied a push into the city of Mazari Sharif in the Balkh Province by the United Islamic Front for the Salvation of Afghanistan ("Northern Alliance"), resulting in the withdrawal of Taliban forces who had held the city since 1998. The fall of the city proved to be a "major shock", since the United States Central Command had originally believed that the city would remain in Taliban hands well into the following year, and any potential battle would be "a very slow advance".
After outlying villages fell, and an intensive aerial bombardment around the city, the Taliban withdrew from the city. As the city fell to the Northern Alliance, several hundred Taliban fighters were killed, and approximately 500 were captured or defected to the U.S. backed opposition.
Some media sources outside the United States were hesitant to label the fall of the city a military "victory", claiming there had been no clear battle, and the Taliban had largely withdrawn to other cities in advance of the invading force.
Mazar-e-Sharif had significant strategic importance, as its capture opened supply routes and provided an airstrip inside the country for American aircraft. It was considered the first major defeat for the Taliban, and to have precipitated a rapid loss of territory in Northern Afghanistan.
Read more about Fall Of Mazari Sharif: Leadup, Bombing Campaign, Battle, Aftermath
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