Operation Enduring Freedom
The U.S.-led combat mission in Afghanistan and related counterterrorism operations worldwide.
Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) was the official name used by the U.S. government for both the first stage (2001–2014) of the war in Afghanistan (2001–2021) and related military operations during the broader-scale global war on terrorism. On 7 October 2001, in response to the September 11 attacks, President George W. Bush announced that airstrikes against al-Qaeda and the Taliban had begun in Afghanistan. Beyond the military activities in Afghanistan, a number of U.S military command structures operating under the Operation Enduring Freedom banner were also affiliated with several counterterrorism missions in other countries, such as OEF-Philippines and OEF-Trans Sahara. After 13 years, on 28 December 2014, the Department of Defense announced the end of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. Subsequent operations in Afghanistan by the United States' military forces, both non-combat and combat, occurred under the name Operation Freedom's Sentinel.
Quick Facts
- Game
- Medal of Honor: Warfighter
- Setting
- Afghanistan (modern)
- Player role
- Delta Force operator
- Developer
- Danger Close Games
- Publisher
- Electronic Arts
- Release year
- 2013
Lore & Background
The operation was originally called "Operation Infinite Justice", but as similar phrases have been used by adherents of several religions as an exclusive description of God, it is believed to have been changed to avoid offense to Muslims who are the majority religion in Afghanistan. In September 2001, U.S. President George W. Bush's remark that "this crusade, this war on terrorism, is going to take a while," which prompted widespread criticism from the Islamic world, may also have contributed to the renaming of the operation. The term "OEF" typically refers to the phase of the War in Afghanistan from 2001 to 2014. Other operations, such as the Georgia Train and Equip Program, are only loosely or nominally connected, such as through government funding vehicles. All the operations, however, have a focus on counterterrorism activities. Operation Enduring Freedom, which was a joint U.S., U.K., and Afghan operation, was separate from the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), which was an operation of North Atlantic Treaty Organization nations including the U.S. and the U.K. The two operations ran in parallel, although it had been suggested that they merge.
Reader's Guide
Subordinate operations include: Operation Enduring Freedom – Philippines (OEF-P, formerly Operation Freedom Eagle), 15 January 2002 – 24 February 2015; Operation Enduring Freedom – Horn of Africa (OEF-HOA); Operation Juniper Shield, formerly known as Operation Enduring Freedom – Trans Sahara (OEF-TS); Operation Enduring Freedom – Caribbean and Central America (OEF-CCA). Operation Enduring Freedom – Kyrgyzstan, 18 December 2001 – 3 June 2014, but notes it is not a widely recognized official subordinate operation.
Did You Know?
- The U.S. government used the term 'Operation Enduring Freedom' to officially describe the War in Afghanistan from 7 October 2001 to 28 December 2014.
- The cumulative expenditure by the U.S. government on Operation Enduring Freedom since 2001 has exceeded $1 trillion.
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