Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) was the official name used by the U.S. government for the first stage of the War in Afghanistan, spanning from 2001 to 2014, as well as for broader counterterrorism operations globally during the Global War on Terrorism. It began on October 7, 2001, shortly after the September 11 terrorist attacks, when President George W. Bush announced the start of airstrikes against Al-Qaeda and the Taliban in Afghanistan

. The primary objectives of Operation Enduring Freedom were to dismantle terrorist training camps and infrastructure in Afghanistan, capture Al-Qaeda leaders including Osama bin Laden, and remove the Taliban regime that harbored them

. The operation involved a combination of airstrikes, special operations forces, and support to the Afghan Northern Alliance to overthrow the Taliban government

. Operation Enduring Freedom was not limited to Afghanistan; it also included counterterrorism efforts in other regions such as the Philippines, the Horn of Africa, and the Trans-Sahara. The combat mission in Afghanistan under OEF officially ended on December 31, 2014, after which U.S. military operations continued under the name Operation Freedom's Sentinel

. In summary:

• Operation Enduring Freedom was the U.S.-led military campaign against terrorism, primarily in Afghanistan.
• It began on October 7, 2001, in response to the 9/11 attacks.
• Its goals included destroying Al-Qaeda, capturing its leaders, and removing the Taliban regime.
• The operation officially ended in Afghanistan on December 31, 2014, transitioning to subsequent missions under new names