The war on terror, which began following the 9/11 attacks, concluded with the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021, marking a shift in U.S. foreign policy priorities.
Key facts
- •The war on terror officially lasted from September 11, 2001, to the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021.
- •The 2020 Doha Agreement between the U.S. and the Taliban established a 14-month timeline for the withdrawal of U.S. troops.
- •In late 2009, President Barack Obama ordered an additional 30,000 troops to Afghanistan to conduct counterinsurgency operations.
- •The 'Freedom Agenda' was a U.S. policy initiative aimed at democratizing the Middle East to resolve the root causes of terrorism.
- •The Islamic State's seizure of territory in 2014 forced the U.S. to re-engage with a 'by, with, and through' military strategy.
The war on terror spanned from September 11, 2001, until the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021. This period was defined by the U.S. viewing terrorism as a strategic war, seeking to reform international systems to address root causes, and focusing on global jihadism. As the 25th anniversary of 9/11 approaches, the era in which terrorism served as the primary lodestar for U.S. strategy has ended, replaced by other priorities like great-power competition.
By the numbers
The Radical Phase: 2001–2006
The initial phase of the conflict, led by the George W. Bush administration, was characterized by ambitious projects including regime change and nation-building. Policymakers sought to transform Middle Eastern politics, believing that a lack of democracy and modernity fueled terrorism. This period included the Iraq War and pressure on Arab allies to reform their political systems, though these efforts faced setbacks such as the collapse of Iraq into civil war and the 2006 Hamas victory in Gaza elections.
Consolidation and Strategy Shifts: 2007–2018
The second phase focused on consolidation, aiming to lower strategic expectations and create sustainable counterterrorism policies. Under Barack Obama, the U.S. shifted toward a 'light footprint' strategy, utilizing special forces, drones, and intelligence to target specific extremist networks rather than engaging in boundless war. This phase was disrupted in 2014 by the Islamic State’s territorial gains, leading to a re-escalation of military support in Iraq and Syria.
The Extraction Phase and Conclusion
The final phase, extraction, began under Donald Trump following the 2017–2018 defeat of the Islamic State as a territorial entity. Trump initiated talks with the Taliban, resulting in the 2020 Doha Agreement, which set terms for a U.S. troop withdrawal. Joe Biden continued this policy, completing the removal of all U.S. forces from Afghanistan in August 2021. Following this withdrawal, terrorism was relegated to a lower position in the U.S. strategic hierarchy.
Timeline
- September 11, 2001The war on terror begins following the terrorist attacks on the United States.
- 2007The U.S. initiates a troop surge in Iraq to address the country's civil war.
- 2014The Islamic State seizes territory in Iraq and Syria, disrupting U.S. consolidation efforts.
- 2020The U.S. and the Taliban sign the Doha Agreement to facilitate troop withdrawal.
- August 2021The U.S. completes its withdrawal from Afghanistan, marking the end of the war on terror.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by Foreign Policy.
