→Background: Adding relevant reference.
Tags: Mobile edit Mobile web edit
|
−Category:Battles involving Afghanistan; +Category:History of Nangarhar Province; ±Category:Battles of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) involving the United Kingdom→Category:Battles of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) involving the United States using HotCat
|
||
(35 intermediate revisions by 24 users not shown) | |||
Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{Short description|2017 military engagement in Afghanistan}} |
|||
{{distinguish|Battle of Tora Bora}} |
{{distinguish|Battle of Tora Bora}} |
||
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}} |
|||
{{Infobox military conflict |
{{Infobox military conflict |
||
|conflict=Battle of Tora Bora |
|conflict=Battle of Tora Bora |
||
|width= |
|width= |
||
|partof=the [[War in Afghanistan ( |
|partof=the [[War in Afghanistan (2015–2021)|War in Afghanistan]] |
||
|image=Kabul, Peshawar, and some cities in Nangarhar, Afghanistan 6.png |
|image=Kabul, Peshawar, and some cities in Nangarhar, Afghanistan 6.png |
||
|image_size=300px |
|image_size=300px |
||
|caption = [[Tora Bora]] in the wider region. |
|caption = [[Tora Bora]] in the wider region. |
||
|date= 6{{ndash}}25 June 2017<ref name="driven">{{cite web|url=https://www.voanews.com/a/afghan-locals-taliban-drive-islamic-state-from-tora-bora-region/3894244.html|title=Afghan Locals, Taliban Drive Islamic State From Tora Bora Region |work=[[Voice of America]]|author=Noor Zahid|date=9 June 1017| |
|date= 6{{ndash}}25 June 2017<ref name="driven">{{cite web|url=https://www.voanews.com/a/afghan-locals-taliban-drive-islamic-state-from-tora-bora-region/3894244.html|title=Afghan Locals, Taliban Drive Islamic State From Tora Bora Region |work=[[Voice of America]]|author=Noor Zahid|date=9 June 1017|access-date=20 June 2017}}</ref><ref name="cleared">{{cite web|url=http://www.tolonews.com/afghanistan/tora-bora-completely-cleared-daesh-mod|title=Tora Bora Completely Cleared of Daesh: MoD |work=[[TOLOnews]]|author=Ziar Yaad|date=25 June 1017|access-date=30 June 2017}}</ref><br/>({{Age in months, weeks and days|year1=2017|month1=06|day1=06|year2=2017|month2=06|day2=25}}) |
||
|place=[[Pachir Aw Agam District]], [[Nangarhar Province]], [[Afghanistan]] |
|place=[[Pachir Aw Agam District]], [[Nangarhar Province]], [[Afghanistan]] |
||
|result= Afghan government victory |
|result= Afghan government victory |
||
|territory = The Afghan government captures [[Tora Bora]].<ref name="recapture">{{cite web|url=http://www.tolonews.com/afghanistan/security-forces-re-capture-tora-bora-mod|title=Security Forces Re-Capture Tora Bora: MoD |work=[[TOLOnews]] |
|territory = The Afghan government captures [[Tora Bora]].<ref name="recapture">{{cite web|url=http://www.tolonews.com/afghanistan/security-forces-re-capture-tora-bora-mod|title=Security Forces Re-Capture Tora Bora: MoD |work=[[TOLOnews]]|date=17 June 1017|access-date=21 June 2017}}</ref> |
||
|combatant1={{flagicon|ISIL}} [[Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant – Khorasan Province|ISIL-K]] |
|combatant1={{flagicon|ISIL}} [[Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant – Khorasan Province|ISIL-K]]<br/>'''Supported by:'''<br/>{{flag|Pakistan}} <small>([[Nangarhar Province|Nangarhar]] [[National Directorate of Security|NDS]] claim)</small><ref name="Pakistan">{{cite web|url=http://www.tolonews.com/node/48341|title=Pakistani Militia Backed Daesh in Tora Bora Offensive: NDS |work=[[TOLOnews]]|author=Ziar Yaad|date=15 June 1017|access-date=20 June 2017}}</ref> |
||
|combatant2={{flagicon image|Flag of Taliban.svg}} [[Taliban]] |
|combatant2={{flagicon image|Flag of Taliban.svg}} [[Taliban]] |
||
---- |
---- |
||
{{ |
{{flagdeco|Afghanistan|2013}} [[Islamic Republic of Afghanistan]]<br/>'''Supported by:'''<br>{{Flagicon image|Flag of the Resolute Support Mission.svg}} [[Resolute Support Mission|RS]] |
||
* {{flag|United States}}<ref name="arms villagers">{{cite web|url=https://www.voanews.com/a/afghan-government-arms-villagers-to-fight-islamic-state-in-tora-bora/3933150.html|title=Afghan Government Arms Villagers to Fight IS in Tora Bora|author1=Noor Zahid |author2=Zia-U-Rahman Hasrat |work=[[Voice of America]]|date=7 July 2017| |
* {{flag|United States}}<ref name="arms villagers">{{cite web|url=https://www.voanews.com/a/afghan-government-arms-villagers-to-fight-islamic-state-in-tora-bora/3933150.html|title=Afghan Government Arms Villagers to Fight IS in Tora Bora|author1=Noor Zahid |author2=Zia-U-Rahman Hasrat |work=[[Voice of America]]|date=7 July 2017|access-date=11 July 2017}}</ref> |
||
|commander1= {{flagicon|ISIL}} Abu Omar Khorasani<ref name="say">{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-afghanistan-islamic-state-idUSKBN1960Z6|title=Islamic State say they have captured Afghanistan's Tora Bora caves |work=[[Reuters]]|author=Ahmad Sultan|date=15 June 1017| |
|commander1= {{flagicon|ISIL}} Abu Omar Khorasani<ref name="say">{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-afghanistan-islamic-state-idUSKBN1960Z6|title=Islamic State say they have captured Afghanistan's Tora Bora caves |work=[[Reuters]]|author=Ahmad Sultan|date=15 June 1017|access-date=20 June 2017}}</ref> |
||
|commander2={{flagicon image|Flag of Taliban.svg}} Unknown |
|commander2={{flagicon image|Flag of Taliban.svg}} Unknown |
||
---- |
---- |
||
{{ |
{{flagdeco|Afghanistan|2013}} Local tribal elders<br/>{{flagdeco|Afghanistan|2013}} Maj. Gen. Mohammad Zaman Waziri<ref name="Pakistan" /> |
||
|units1= Unknown |
|units1= Unknown |
||
|units2= {{flagicon image|Flag of Taliban.svg}} Tora Bora garrison |
|units2= {{flagicon image|Flag of Taliban.svg}} Tora Bora garrison |
||
---- |
---- |
||
{{ |
{{flagdeco|Afghanistan|2013}} Local pro-government militias<ref name="voa captures">{{cite web|url=https://www.voanews.com/a/islamic-state-capiture-tora-bora/3899908.html|title=Islamic State Militants Capture Tora Bora |work=[[Voice of America]]|author=Ayesha Tanzeem|date=14 June 1017|access-date=20 June 2017}}</ref><br/>{{flagdeco|Afghanistan|2013}} [[Afghan National Army]] <small>(from 14 June)</small> |
||
* [[201st Corps (Afghanistan)|201st Corps]]<ref name="nyt captures" /> |
* [[201st Corps (Afghanistan)|201st Corps]]<ref name="nyt captures" /> |
||
* |
* [[Commandos (Afghanistan)|Commandos]]<ref name="onto">{{cite web|url=http://afghanistantimes.af/afghan-forces-descended-onto-tora-bora/|title=Afghan forces descended onto Tora Bora |work=Afghanistan Times|date=17 June 1017|access-date=20 June 2017}}</ref> |
||
Afghan forces descended onto Tora Bora |work=Afghanistan Times|author=|date=17 June 1017|accessdate=20 June 2017}}</ref> |
|||
{{flagicon image|Flag of the United States Air Force.svg}} [[United States Air Force]]<ref name="arms villagers" /> |
{{flagicon image|Flag of the United States Air Force.svg}} [[United States Air Force]]<ref name="arms villagers" /> |
||
|strength1= "Hundreds"<ref name="guardian captures">{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jun/14/isis-afghanistan-taliban-tora-bora-osama-bin-laden|title=Isis captures territory around former Bin Laden stronghold in Afghanistan |work=[[The Guardian]]| |
|strength1= "Hundreds"<ref name="guardian captures">{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jun/14/isis-afghanistan-taliban-tora-bora-osama-bin-laden|title=Isis captures territory around former Bin Laden stronghold in Afghanistan |work=[[The Guardian]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]|date=14 June 1017|access-date=20 June 2017}}</ref>{{ndash}}1,000<ref name="nyt captures">{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/14/world/asia/isis-captures-tora-bora-afghanistan.html|title=ISIS Captures Tora Bora, Once Bin Laden's Afghan Fortress |work=[[The New York Times]]|author1=Rod Nordland|author2=Fahim Abed|date=14 June 1017|access-date=20 June 2017}}</ref> |
||
|strength2=Unknown |
|strength2=Unknown |
||
|casualties1="Dozens" killed <small>(ISIL-K offensive)</small><ref name="driven" /><br/>22 killed, 10 wounded <small>(government offensive)</small><ref name="recapture" /> |
|casualties1="Dozens" killed <small>(ISIL-K offensive)</small><ref name="driven" /><br/>22 killed, 10 wounded <small>(government offensive)</small><ref name="recapture" /> |
||
|casualties2={{flagicon image|Flag of Taliban.svg}} 12+ killed<ref name="guardian captures" /><br/>{{ |
|casualties2={{flagicon image|Flag of Taliban.svg}} 12+ killed<ref name="guardian captures" /><br/>{{flagdeco|Afghanistan|2013}} Unknown |
||
|casualties3=2,000 families displaced<ref name="analysis">{{cite web|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2017-06/17/c_136373469.htm|title=News Analysis: IS presence adds to instability in Afghan eastern region |work=[[Xinhua News Agency]]|author=Song Lifang|date=17 June 1017| |
|casualties3=2,000 families displaced<ref name="analysis">{{cite web|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2017-06/17/c_136373469.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170620151737/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2017-06/17/c_136373469.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 20, 2017|title=News Analysis: IS presence adds to instability in Afghan eastern region |work=[[Xinhua News Agency]]|author=Song Lifang|date=17 June 1017|access-date=30 June 2017}}</ref> |
||
|notes= |
|notes= |
||
|campaignbox={{War in Afghanistan ( |
|campaignbox={{Campaignbox War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)}} |
||
}} |
}} |
||
The '''Battle of Tora Bora''' in June 2017 was a military engagement for the cave complex of [[Tora Bora]] and its surroundings in [[Afghanistan]]. Fighting took place between the [[Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant – Khorasan Province]] ( |
The '''Battle of Tora Bora''' in June 2017 was a military engagement for the cave complex of [[Tora Bora]] and its surroundings in [[Islamic Republic of Afghanistan|Afghanistan]]. Fighting took place between the [[Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant – Khorasan Province]] (ISIS–K) and forces opposed to it, namely the [[Taliban]], militias formed by the population of the [[Pachir Aw Agam District]], and the [[Afghan National Army]]. After heavy clashes ISIS–K forces initially succeeded in capturing Tora Bora from the Taliban on 13–14 June 2017, but [[Islamic Republic of Afghanistan|Afghan government forces]] retook the cave complex by 17 June. |
||
== Background == |
== Background == |
||
[[File:Nangarhar districts.png|250px|left|thumb|The districts of [[Nangarhar Province]].]] |
[[File:Nangarhar districts.png|250px|left|thumb|The districts of [[Nangarhar Province]].]] |
||
Although Tora Bora, former stronghold of [[Osama bin Laden]], was cleared of Taliban forces during a [[United States]]-led [[Battle of Tora Bora|operation in 2001]], the militant group soon retook the mountain stronghold. |
Although Tora Bora, former stronghold of [[Osama bin Laden]], was cleared of Taliban forces during a [[United States]]-led [[Battle of Tora Bora|operation in 2001]], the militant group soon retook the mountain stronghold. Subsequently, Tora Bora came to functionasan important base for the [[Taliban insurgency]], while the area around it mostly fell under the group's influence.<ref name="analysis" /><ref name="unable">{{cite web|url=http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/isis-unable-stay-osama-bin-ladens-tora-bora-fortress-long-1626369|title=Isis unable to stay in Osama Bin Laden's Tora Bora fortress for long|work=[[International Business Times]]|author=Ludovica Iaccino|date=15 June 1017|access-date=20 June 2017}}</ref> The Taliban's control over much of [[Nangarhar Province]]'s hinterland was challenged upon the foundation of ISIS–K in 2015, however, and the two militant organizations began a brutal conflict for dominance. Meanwhile, the Afghan government's control in these remote areas was mostly limited to some outposts and population centers. Nevertheless, pro-government self-defense groups and tribal militias did emerge to fight against all insurgent groups in the area.<ref name="driven" /> |
||
The [[Pachir Aw Agam District]], where Tora Bora is located, was home to both Taliban as well as government followers, and thus quickly became a target for |
The [[Pachir Aw Agam District]], where Tora Bora is located, was home to both Taliban as well as government followers, and thus quickly became a target for ISIS–K, which began to terrorize the district's population through killings, abductions, raids and looting. As result, the locals became extremely hostile and opposed to ISIS–K.<ref name="voa captures" /> On 13 April 2017, the [[United States]] [[2017 Nangarhar airstrike|bombed and largely destroyed]] the cave systems in [[Achin District]] that were used by ISIS–K as main base. As result, the group was deprived of its sanctuary; according to Afghan politician and former warlord [[Hazrat Ali (Afghan politician)|Hazrat Ali]], this caused ISIS–K to seek a new refuge.<ref name="nyt captures" /> Probably due to its strategic location<ref name="unable" /> the Islamic State militants chose Tora Bora as prospective new headquarters, and moved to capture it from the Taliban.<ref name="nyt captures" /> |
||
== Battle == |
== Battle == |
||
=== |
=== ISIS–K capture of Tora Bora === |
||
[[File:Tora bora.jpg|250px|left|thumb|The mountains of [[Tora Bora]].]] |
[[File:Tora bora.jpg|250px|left|thumb|The mountains of [[Tora Bora]].]] |
||
|
ISIS–K began its offensive to capture the mountain stronghold on 6 June<ref name="driven" /> with allegedly up to 1,000 militants.<ref name="nyt captures" /> The head of the Afghan [[National Directorate of Security]] in Nangarhar Province accused [[Pakistan]] of supporting the ISIS–K offensive.<ref name="Pakistan" /> After the Islamic State fighters began to assault the Taliban positions, local militias joined the fight against ISIS–K.<ref name="voa captures" /><ref name="driven" /> Although they traditionally supported the government and opposed the Taliban, these militias saw ISIS–K as a greater threat due to the group's brutal reputation. It remains unclear, however, whether the militias directly aided the Taliban or operated separately.<ref name="voa captures" /> In consequence of the resulting clashes, about 500 families were displaced. After three days of heavy fighting in the mountains, the first ISIS–K assault was beaten back by the Taliban and pro-government forces. Suffering "dozens" of casualties, the attackers were forced to scatter and retreat.<ref name="driven" /> |
||
Despite this setback, |
Despite this setback, ISIS–K soon regrouped and renewed their offensive. Calls by the locals for the government to provide aid to them went unheeded,<ref name="nyt captures" /> and on late 13 June the Islamic State fighters eventually managed to capture much territory around Tora Bora after fierce fighting against both the local militias and the Taliban. On early 14 June, the Taliban defenses at the mountain stronghold completely collapsed, and the group's fighters fled from the area. Without the Taliban forces to support them, the local militias of Tora Bora were no longer able to hold their positions and also retreated, taking their families with them.<ref name="guardian captures" /><ref name="voa captures" /> Though both the Taliban as well as some pro-government sources denied that all of Tora Bora had fallen to ISIS–K, and maintained that Taliban elements still held out in the region, local villagers as well as the Afghan military reported that the Islamic State forces had set up their flag and heavy artillery on the mountains over Tora Bora.<ref name="guardian captures" /> |
||
After taking control of Tora Bora, |
After taking control of Tora Bora, ISIS–K proceeded to advance against the government in the wider Pachir Aw Agam District,<ref name="voa captures" /> with one commander of the group stating: "We are in Tora Bora but this is not the end. The plan is to take more territory from the government and the Taliban."<ref name="say" /> According to a local reporter of [[Voice of America]], the whole district was on the verge of collapse.<ref name="voa captures" /> ISIS–K began to propagate its victory at Tora Bora on its Radio Khilafat, while urging locals who had fled to return to their homes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.military.com/daily-news/2017/06/15/isis-claims-it-taken-bin-laden-afghan-hideout-tora-bora.html|title=ISIS Claims It's Taken Bin Laden's Afghan Hideout of Tora Bora|work=[[Military.com]]|author=Amir Shah|date=15 June 1017|access-date=20 June 2017}}</ref> According to security analyst and counter-terrorism expert David Otto, however, the area around Tora Bora was so hostile to ISIS–K and the Taliban so entrenched there that the former group would not be able to hold it for long.<ref name="unable" /> |
||
=== Government offensive === |
=== Government offensive === |
||
Before the Taliban could launch a counter-attack, however, President [[Ashraf Ghani]] ordered the [[Afghan National Army]]'s [[201st Corps (Afghanistan)|201st Corps]] to launch their own offensive against Tora Bora on 14 June.<ref name="nyt captures" /> The army quickly moved against |
Before the Taliban could launch a counter-attack, however, [[President of Afghanistan|President]] [[Ashraf Ghani]] ordered the [[Afghan National Army]]'s [[201st Corps (Afghanistan)|201st Corps]] to launch their own offensive against Tora Bora on 14 June.<ref name="nyt captures" /> The army quickly moved against ISIS–K,<ref name="Pakistan" /> and by 16 June had reportedly begun to push the militants back.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tolonews.com/afghanistan/security-forces-advancing-through-tora-bora-mod|title=Security Forces Advancing Through Tora Bora: MoD|work=[[TOLOnews]]|author=Karim Amini|date=16 June 1017|access-date=21 June 2017}}</ref> On the next day, the Afghan National Army stormed the Tora Bora cave complex from the foot of the mountains, while [[Commandos (Afghanistan)|Commandos]] were [[airdrop]]ped onto the mountain peaks. The stronghold quickly fell,<ref name="onto" /><ref name="recapture" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2017/06/17/world/asia/ap-as-afghanistan.html|title=Afghan Official: Afghan Security Forces Recaptured Tora Bora|work=[[The New York Times]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]|date=17 June 1017|access-date=20 June 2017}}</ref> while the Afghan government forces proceeded with clearing operations in the area and its surroundings.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960329001116|title=General: Afghan Forces Clear Strategic Tora Bora of ISIL Militants|work=[[Fars News Agency]]|date=19 June 2017|access-date=21 June 2017}}</ref> On 25 June, the Afghan [[Ministry of Defense (Afghanistan)|Ministry of Defense]] officially declared that ISIS–K had been completely evicted from the area around Tora Bora, and that the cave system would be turned into a military base of the Afghan military.<ref name="cleared" /> |
||
== Aftermath == |
== Aftermath == |
||
In July 2017, the Afghan National Directorate of Security financed and armed a new militia of around 300 locals from Pachir Aw Agam District to combat |
In July 2017, the Afghan National Directorate of Security financed and armed a new militia of around 300 locals from Pachir Aw Agam District to combat ISIS–K in the area around Tora Bora.<ref name="arms villagers" /> Meanwhile, ISIS–K had renewed its operations in the Tora Bora region, reportedly raiding and destroying local Taliban outposts.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2017/07/islamic-state-fights-the-taliban-afghan-government-backed-locals-in-tora-bora-mountains.php|title=Islamic State fights the Taliban, Afghan government-backed locals in Tora Bora Mountains|author=Thomas Joscelyn|work=[[The Long War Journal]]|date=10 July 1017|access-date=11 July 2017}}</ref> |
||
==References== |
==References== |
||
{{reflist |
{{reflist}} |
||
{{Afghanistan War}} |
{{Afghanistan War}} |
||
Line 68: | Line 69: | ||
{{coord missing|Afghanistan}} |
{{coord missing|Afghanistan}} |
||
[[Category:2017 in Afghanistan]] |
[[Category:2017 in the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)]] |
||
[[Category:Battles |
[[Category:Battles in 2017|Tora Bora]] |
||
[[Category:Battles of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) involving the United States|Tora Bora (2017)]] |
|||
[[Category:Conflicts in 2017]] |
|||
[[Category:Battles |
[[Category:Battles involving the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant|Tora Bora (2017)]] |
||
[[Category: |
[[Category:June 2017 events in Afghanistan]] |
||
[[Category: |
[[Category:History of Nangarhar Province]] |
Battle of Tora Bora | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Part of the War in Afghanistan | |||||||||
Tora Bora in the wider region. | |||||||||
| |||||||||
Belligerents | |||||||||
ISIL-K Supported by: Pakistan (Nangarhar NDS claim)[1] |
Islamic Republic of Afghanistan | ||||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
Abu Omar Khorasani[6] |
Unknown Local tribal elders Maj. Gen. Mohammad Zaman Waziri[1] | ||||||||
Units involved | |||||||||
Unknown |
Tora Bora garrison
Local pro-government militias[7] | ||||||||
Strength | |||||||||
"Hundreds"[10]–1,000[8] | Unknown | ||||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||||
"Dozens" killed (ISIL-K offensive)[3] 22 killed, 10 wounded (government offensive)[5] |
12+ killed[10] Unknown | ||||||||
2,000 families displaced[11] |
The Battle of Tora Bora in June 2017 was a military engagement for the cave complex of Tora Bora and its surroundings in Afghanistan. Fighting took place between the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant – Khorasan Province (ISIS–K) and forces opposed to it, namely the Taliban, militias formed by the population of the Pachir Aw Agam District, and the Afghan National Army. After heavy clashes ISIS–K forces initially succeeded in capturing Tora Bora from the Taliban on 13–14 June 2017, but Afghan government forces retook the cave complex by 17 June.
Although Tora Bora, former stronghold of Osama bin Laden, was cleared of Taliban forces during a United States-led operation in 2001, the militant group soon retook the mountain stronghold. Subsequently, Tora Bora came to function as an important base for the Taliban insurgency, while the area around it mostly fell under the group's influence.[11][12] The Taliban's control over much of Nangarhar Province's hinterland was challenged upon the foundation of ISIS–K in 2015, however, and the two militant organizations began a brutal conflict for dominance. Meanwhile, the Afghan government's control in these remote areas was mostly limited to some outposts and population centers. Nevertheless, pro-government self-defense groups and tribal militias did emerge to fight against all insurgent groups in the area.[3]
The Pachir Aw Agam District, where Tora Bora is located, was home to both Taliban as well as government followers, and thus quickly became a target for ISIS–K, which began to terrorize the district's population through killings, abductions, raids and looting. As result, the locals became extremely hostile and opposed to ISIS–K.[7] On 13 April 2017, the United States bombed and largely destroyed the cave systems in Achin District that were used by ISIS–K as main base. As result, the group was deprived of its sanctuary; according to Afghan politician and former warlord Hazrat Ali, this caused ISIS–K to seek a new refuge.[8] Probably due to its strategic location[12] the Islamic State militants chose Tora Bora as prospective new headquarters, and moved to capture it from the Taliban.[8]
ISIS–K began its offensive to capture the mountain stronghold on 6 June[3] with allegedly up to 1,000 militants.[8] The head of the Afghan National Directorate of Security in Nangarhar Province accused Pakistan of supporting the ISIS–K offensive.[1] After the Islamic State fighters began to assault the Taliban positions, local militias joined the fight against ISIS–K.[7][3] Although they traditionally supported the government and opposed the Taliban, these militias saw ISIS–K as a greater threat due to the group's brutal reputation. It remains unclear, however, whether the militias directly aided the Taliban or operated separately.[7] In consequence of the resulting clashes, about 500 families were displaced. After three days of heavy fighting in the mountains, the first ISIS–K assault was beaten back by the Taliban and pro-government forces. Suffering "dozens" of casualties, the attackers were forced to scatter and retreat.[3]
Despite this setback, ISIS–K soon regrouped and renewed their offensive. Calls by the locals for the government to provide aid to them went unheeded,[8] and on late 13 June the Islamic State fighters eventually managed to capture much territory around Tora Bora after fierce fighting against both the local militias and the Taliban. On early 14 June, the Taliban defenses at the mountain stronghold completely collapsed, and the group's fighters fled from the area. Without the Taliban forces to support them, the local militias of Tora Bora were no longer able to hold their positions and also retreated, taking their families with them.[10][7] Though both the Taliban as well as some pro-government sources denied that all of Tora Bora had fallen to ISIS–K, and maintained that Taliban elements still held out in the region, local villagers as well as the Afghan military reported that the Islamic State forces had set up their flag and heavy artillery on the mountains over Tora Bora.[10]
After taking control of Tora Bora, ISIS–K proceeded to advance against the government in the wider Pachir Aw Agam District,[7] with one commander of the group stating: "We are in Tora Bora but this is not the end. The plan is to take more territory from the government and the Taliban."[6] According to a local reporter of Voice of America, the whole district was on the verge of collapse.[7] ISIS–K began to propagate its victory at Tora Bora on its Radio Khilafat, while urging locals who had fled to return to their homes.[13] According to security analyst and counter-terrorism expert David Otto, however, the area around Tora Bora was so hostile to ISIS–K and the Taliban so entrenched there that the former group would not be able to hold it for long.[12]
Before the Taliban could launch a counter-attack, however, President Ashraf Ghani ordered the Afghan National Army's 201st Corps to launch their own offensive against Tora Bora on 14 June.[8] The army quickly moved against ISIS–K,[1] and by 16 June had reportedly begun to push the militants back.[14] On the next day, the Afghan National Army stormed the Tora Bora cave complex from the foot of the mountains, while Commandos were airdropped onto the mountain peaks. The stronghold quickly fell,[9][5][15] while the Afghan government forces proceeded with clearing operations in the area and its surroundings.[16] On 25 June, the Afghan Ministry of Defense officially declared that ISIS–K had been completely evicted from the area around Tora Bora, and that the cave system would be turned into a military base of the Afghan military.[4]
In July 2017, the Afghan National Directorate of Security financed and armed a new militia of around 300 locals from Pachir Aw Agam District to combat ISIS–K in the area around Tora Bora.[2] Meanwhile, ISIS–K had renewed its operations in the Tora Bora region, reportedly raiding and destroying local Taliban outposts.[17]
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Overview |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Casualties and losses |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Timeline |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Aftermath |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
War crimes |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Peace process |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Reactions |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Memorials |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|