On 9 September 2001 , Massoud was assassinated by two Arab suicide attackers in Panjshir province . Two days later , the September 11 attacks were carried out in the United States . The US government suspected Osama bin Laden as the perpetrator of the attacks , and demanded that the Taliban hand him over . The Taliban offered to hand over Bin Laden to a third country for trial , but not directly to the US . Washington refused that offer . Instead , the US launched the October 2001 Operation Enduring Freedom . The majority of Afghans supported the American invasion of their country . During the initial invasion , US and UK forces bombed al-Qaeda training camps . Working with the Northern Alliance , the US removed the Taliban from power
September 11 attacks
September 11 attacks
Afghanistan