Battle of Tora Bora was a military engagement that took place in the cave complex of Tora Bora , eastern Afghanistan , from December 6-17 , 2001 , during the opening stages of the United States invasion of Afghanistan . It was launched by the United States and its allies with the objective to capture or kill Osama bin Laden , the founder and leader of the militant organization al-Qaeda . al-Qaeda and bin Laden were suspected of being responsible for the September 11 attacks three months prior . Tora Bora ( ; '' black cave '' ) is located in the White Mountains near the Khyber Pass . The U.S. stated that al-Qaeda had its headquarters there and that it was bin Laden 's location at the time
September 11 attacks
September 11 attacks
Battle of Tora Bora