War in Afghanistan: Assault on Tora Bora

Fought in early December 2001, the Battle of Tora Bora saw Coalition and Afghan forces attacking the Tora Bora cave complex in the White Mountains near the Pakistani border. Retreating before Coalition and Afghan forces, Taliban and al-Qaeda fighters, including Osama bin Laden, took refuge in the Tora Bora cave system in late 2001. Confronted by Afghan militias, they defended the area in the face of attacks and Coalition air strikes. Arriving on the scene, Special Forces troops sought to assault the caves through the mountains to the south but were denied by headquarters. A similar request to mine the passes south to Pakistan was also denied. Forced to conduct a frontal attack, the Special Forces were delayed when their Afghan allies negotiated a ceasefire with the enemy. This delay most likely allowed bin Laden to shift to a new position. Special Forces later thought they had killed bin Laden when the al-Qaeda leader was seen entering a cave which was subsequently pummeled with air strikes. The Tora Bora complex was cleared by December 17, but Coalition troops were unable to find bin Laden's body. It is believed that he escaped over the border into Pakistan on or around December 16.