Operation Crescent Wind

Operation Crescent Wind
Part of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)
Date 7 October 2001 – 17 December 2001 Location Afghanistan Result US-UK victory
Belligerents
United States  United Kingdom	Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan
Commanders and leaders
Tommy Franks Charles F. Wald	Muhammad Omar
Units involved
United States Air Force 509th Bomb Wing 28th Bomb Wing United States Navy CVW-11 VF-213 VAW-117 CVW-8 VF-41 VF-102 VAQ-141  Royal Navy Royal Air Force
Casualties and losses
3 killed (friendly fire)	6,000+ killed total from Oct–Nov. 2001 (including casualties from the ground war)[1]
3,100–3,600 civilian deaths[2]

Operation Crescent Wind was the codename for the American and British air campaign over Afghanistan in October and November 2001. The bombing campaign was aided by British special forces troops on the ground to provide targeting information for airstrikes. The campaign significantly weakened the Taliban, paving the way for offensives by the Northern Alliance to take place in November which quickly overran Taliban-controlled regions of Afghanistan.