• A global anti-terrorism military campaign initiated by the United States in the Middle East, following al-Qaeda’s 9/11 attacks, which caused concern over the strength of NSAs and global security

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Actors:

• United States of America: The primary actor in the War on Terror, leading military operations in various countries to combat terrorism and promote stability

• NATO: Intergovernmental Organisation that provided key support through their military resources and strategic partnerships => formed part of the coalition forces

• Al-Qaeda and ISIS: Violent non-state actors, which have posed significant threats to international security and have been primary targets of military and intelligence operations

• Taliban: A militant group that regained power in Afghanistan, complicating efforts to stabilize the region and posing ongoing challenges to counter-terrorism efforts

• Pakistan: Faced internal security challenges due to extremist groups operating within its borders, while also serving as a strategic ally for the United States in counter-terrorism operations

• UN: An intergovernmental Organisation who’s security council permitted the USA to invade Afghanistan, it did not however, issue a resolution for the invasion of Iraq

Timeline:

• 2001 - 9/11

• 2003 - US-led coalition invades Iraq

• 2004 - Madrid train bombings

• 2005 - London bombings

• 2011 - Osama bin Laden killed by the USA in Pakistan

• 2014 - ISIS declares a caliphate in captured territories in Syria and Iraq

• 2015 - ISIS attacks in Paris

• 2021 - US and NATO withdraw from Afghanistan, Taliban retakes control

Summary:

Afghanistan:

• Operation Enduring Freedom collapsed the Taliban regime, establishing a new interim government

• NATO ended its combat regime in 2014, transitioning to a training and advisory role, but Taliban insurgency persisted

• US withdrew troops in 2021, allowing the Taliban to capture Kabul, collapsing the Afghan government, and re-establishing control over Afghanistan

• In the present day, there is a humanitarian crisis with food shortages, sanitation issues and economic instability

Iraq:

• The USA believed Saddam Hussein was developing WMDs and invaded Iraq without the UNSC’s authorisation, deeming it illegitimate

• The USA implemented a democratic government in Iraq

• Obama withdrew troops in 2011, resulting in the rise of ISIS, which declared a caliphate in Iraq. The US then began airstrikes, to support Iraqi forces

• In the present day, ISIS has lost territory but remains a threat, there is political instability and still a US presence