Editing United States Navy SEALs (section)

===War in Afghanistan===
{{Main|War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)}}
====Invasion====
{{Further|topic=the opening phase of Operation Enduring Freedom – Afghanistan|United States invasion of Afghanistan}}
In the immediate aftermath of the [[September 11 attacks]], Navy SEALs quickly dispatched to [[Camp Doha]], and those already aboard U.S. Naval vessels in the Persian Gulf and surrounding waters began conducting [[VBSS]] operations against ships suspected of having ties to or even carrying [[al Qaeda]] operatives. SEAL Teams 3 and 8 also began rotating into Oman from the United States and staging on the island of [[Masirah Island|Masirah]] for operations in Afghanistan. One of the SEALs' immediate concerns was their lack of suitable vehicles to conduct [[special reconnaissance]] (SR) missions in the rough, landlocked terrain of Afghanistan. After borrowing and retrofitting Humvees from the [[75th Ranger Regiment|Army Rangers]] also staging on Masirah, the SEALs entered Afghanistan to conduct the SR of what would become [[Camp Rhino]], as part of [[Operation Enduring Freedom#Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF)|Operation Enduring Freedom – Afghanistan]] (OEF-A). These early stages of OEF were commanded by a fellow SEAL, [[Rear admiral (United States)|Rear Admiral]] [[Albert Calland]].

[[File:US Navy SEALs at Zhawar Kili cave entrance.jpg|thumb|Task Force K-Bar SEALs at one of the entrances to the [[Zhawar Kili]] cave complex.]]
As part of the CJSOTF (Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force) under the command of General [[Tommy Franks]] at [[CENTCOM]], SEALs from DEVGRU were part of Task Force Sword, which was established in early October 2001. It was a [[Black operation|black]] SOF (Special Operations Forces) unit under direct command of [[JSOC]]. It was a so-called hunter-killer force whose primary objective was to capture or kill senior leadership and HVT within both al-Qaeda and the Taliban. Sword was initially structured around a two-squadron component of operators from Delta Force (Task Force Green) and DEVGRU (Task Force Blue) supported by a Ranger protection force team (Task Force Red), ISA signals intercept and surveillance operators (Task Force Orange) and the 160th SOAR (Task Force Brown). [[Task Force K-Bar]] was established on 10 October 2001, it was formed around a Naval Special Warfare Group consisting of SEALs from SEAL Teams 2, 3 and 8 and Green Berets from 1st Battalion, [[3rd Special Forces Group (United States)|3rd SFG]]; the task force was led by SEAL Captain [[Robert Harward]].

The task force's principal task was to conduct SR and [[Site exploitation|SSE]] missions in the south of the country. Other Coalition SOF-particularly [[Kommando Spezialkräfte|KSK]], [[JTF2]] and [[New Zealand Special Air Service]] were assigned to the task force. As part of the JIATF-CT (Joint Interagency Task Force-Counterterrorism)—intelligence integration and fusion activity composed of personnel from all of Operation Enduring Freedom – Afghanistan-participating units—SEALs from DEVGRU were part of Task Force Bowie, they were embedded in the task force in AFOs (Advanced Force Operations). The AFOs were 45-man reconnaissances units made up of Delta Force recce specialists augmented by selected SEALs from [[DEVGRU]] and supported by [[Intelligence Support Activity|ISA]]'s technical experts. The AFOs had been raised to support TF Sword and were tasked with intelligence preparation of the battlefield, working closely with the CIA and reported directly to Task Force Sword. The AFOs conducted covert reconnaissance—sending small two or three-man teams into al-Qaeda 'Backyard' along the border with Pakistan, the AFO operators would deploy observation posts to watch and report enemy movements and numbers as well as environmental reconnaissance; much of the work was done on foot or [[All-terrain vehicle|ATVs]].{{sfnp|Neville|2015|pp=25–31}}

SEALs were present at the [[Battle of Qala-i-Jangi]] in November 2001 alongside their counterparts from the British [[Special Boat Service|SBS]]. Chief Petty Officer [[Stephen Bass]] was awarded the [[Navy Cross]] for his actions during the battle.

Before the US Marines landed at [[Camp Rhino]] in November 2001, a SEAL recce team from [[SEAL Team 8]] conducted reconnaissance of the area, they were mistakenly engaged by orbiting [[Bell AH-1 SuperCobra|AH-1W attack helicopters]], but the SEALs managed to get a message through to the Marines before they suffered casualties.{{sfnp|Neville|2015|p=44}} The SR mission in the region of Camp Rhino lasted for four days, after which two [[United States Air Force Combat Control Team]]s made a nighttime [[HALO jump]] to assist the SEALs in guiding in [[United States Marine Corps|Marines]] from the [[15th Marine Expeditionary Unit]] who seized control of the area and established a [[forward operating base]].

====Post-invasion====
[[File:US Navy SEALs in Khawar Kili.jpg|thumb|left|Task Force K-Bar SEALs searching munitions found in the [[Zhawar Kili]] cave complex]]
In January 2002, following the [[Battle of Tora Bora]], another series of caves was discovered in [[Zhawar Kili]], just south of [[Tora Bora]]; airstrikes hit the sites before SOF teams were inserted into the area. A SEAL platoon from SEAL Team 3, including several of their Desert Patrol Vehicles, accompanied by a German KSK element, a Norwegian SOF team and [[JTF2]] reconnaissance teams spent some nine days conducting extensive SSE, clearing an estimated 70 caves and 60 structures in the area, recovering a huge amount of both intelligence and munitions, but they didn't encounter any al-Qaeda fighters.{{sfnp|Neville|2015|pp=49–50 & 77}} Subsequent SEAL operations during the invasion of Afghanistan were conducted within Task Force K-Bar, a joint special operations unit of [[United States Army Special Forces|Army Special Forces]], [[Air Force Special Operations Command|United States Air Force Special Tactics Teams]], and special operations forces from Norway, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and Denmark. Task Force K-Bar conducted combat operations in the massive cave complexes near the city of [[Kandahar]] and surrounding territory, the town of Prata Ghar and hundreds of miles of rough terrain in southern and eastern Afghanistan. Over the course of six months, Task Force K-Bar killed or captured over 200 Taliban and al Qaeda fighters and destroyed tens of thousands of pounds of weapons and ordnance.

In February 2002, while at Camp Rhino, the [[CIA]] passed on intelligence from a [[Predator drone]] operating in the [[Paktia]] province that [[Taliban]] Mullah [[Khirullah Said Wali Khairkhwa]] was spotted leaving a building by vehicle convoy. SEALs and Danish [[Jægerkorpset]] commandos boarded Air Force [[Pave Low]] helicopters and seized Khairkhwa on the road less than two hours later.{{sfnp|Neville|2015|p=78}} The SEALs continued to perform reconnaissance operations for the Marines until leaving after having spent 45 days on the ground.

In March 2002, SEALs from DEVGRU, SEAL Teams 2, 3 and 8 participated extensively in [[Operation Anaconda]]. During what would become known as the [[Battle of Takur Ghar]], whilst inserting from an MH-47E Chinook, PO1 [[Neil C. Roberts|Neil Roberts]] from DEVGRU,{{sfnp|Neville|2015|pp=54–69}} was thrown from his helicopter when it took fire from entrenched al Qaeda fighters. Roberts was subsequently killed after engaging and fighting dozens of enemies for almost an hour. Several SEALs were wounded in a rescue attempt and their Air Force Combat Controller, Technical Sergeant [[John A. Chapman|John Chapman]], was killed. Attempts to rescue the stranded SEAL also led to the deaths of several US Army Rangers and an [[United States Air Force Pararescue|Air Force Pararescueman]] acting as a Quick Reaction Force.

[[File:US Navy 050628-N-0000X-005 Navy file photo of SEAL Lt. Michael P. Murphy, from Patchogue, N.Y., and Sonar Technician (Surface) 2nd Class Matthew G. Axelson, of Cupertino, Calif., taken in Afghanistan.jpg|right|thumb|Navy SEALs LT [[Michael P. Murphy]] and STG2 [[Matthew Axelson]] in Afghanistan, both of whom were killed in action]]
Later in 2002, CJSOFT became a single integrated command under the broader [[Combined Joint Task Force 180|CJTF-180]] that commanded all US forces assigned to OEF-A, it was built around an Army Special Forces Group (composed of soldiers from National Guard units) and SEAL teams. A small JSOC element (formerly Task Force Sword/11) not under direct CTJF command—embedded within CJSOFT, it consisted of a joint SEAL and Ranger element that rotated command, and was not under direct ISAF command, although it operated in support of NATO operations.{{sfnp|Neville|2015|p=83}}

In June 2005, Lieutenant [[Michael P. Murphy]] was posthumously awarded the [[Medal of Honor]] after his four-man reconnaissance counterinsurgency team was almost wiped out during [[Operation Red Wings]]. After the four-man team lost [[Danny Dietz]], he put himself in open view to call in the QRF. He soon after died from injuries sustained. [[Matthew Axelson]] also died on this operation. The QRF never reached the scene; it was struck by an RPG killing eight Navy SEALs and eight [[160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne)|Army Night Stalkers]]. [[Marcus Luttrell]] was the only survivor from this operation.
[[File:Coalition special operations forces at work in Afghanistan 120830-N-VY959-055.jpg|thumb|left|A US Navy SEAL, assigned to Special Operations Task Force-South East, greets children in a village in [[Uruzgan Province]],{{sfnp|Neville|2015|p=166}} 30 August 2012.]]
In early 2010, Brigadier General [[Austin S. Miller|Scott Miller]] took command of CJSOTF-Afghanistan and assigned virtually all SOF in the theatre to a new counterinsurgency role that would become known as the ALP/VSO Program (Afghan Local Police/Village Stability Operations), the SOF in Afghanistan were organized into battalion level SOTF (Special Operations Task Forces) each with a geographic area of responsibility-the SEALs were given southeast Afghanistan. To increase security of their assigned VSO village, a SEAL Platoon in [[Chora District]], [[Urozgan Province|Uruzgan Province]] built a wall constructed of {{convert|500|m|yd}} of [[Hesco bastion|HESCO barriers]] to divert insurgent movements away, this proved successful and eventually the Afghan villagers took ownership of it. SEALs and other SOTF still conducted Direct Action missions, but now partnered with Afghan forces.{{sfnp|Neville|2015|pp=161–162}}

On 6 August 2011, seventeen U.S. Navy SEALs were killed when their [[CH-47 Chinook]] helicopter [[2011 Chinook shootdown in Afghanistan|was shot down]] by an [[Rocket-propelled grenade|RPG]] fired by [[Taliban]] militants. The SEALs were en route to support [[75th Ranger Regiment|U.S. Army Rangers]] who were taking fire while attempting to capture a senior Taliban leader in the [[Tangi Valley]]. Fifteen of the SEALs belonged to the [[United States Naval Special Warfare Development Group|Naval Special Warfare Development Group]].<ref name="defense.gov">{{cite web |url=https://www.defense.gov/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=14728 |website=U.S. Department of Defense, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs) |title=DOD Identifies Service Members Killed in CH-47 Crash |date=11 August 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2011-aug-06-la-fg-afghanistan-chopper-20110807-story.html |first1=Laura |last1=King |first2=Ken |last2=Dilanian |first3=David S. |last3=Cloud |title=SEAL Team 6 members among 38 killed in Afghanistan |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |date=6 August 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.foxnews.com/world/helicopter-crash-in-afghanistan-reportedly-kills-members-of-seal-team-6/ |title=Helicopter Crash in Afghanistan Reportedly Kills Members of SEAL Team 6 |publisher=[[Fox News Channel]] |date=6 August 2011}}</ref> Two others were SEALs assigned to a West Coast-based Naval Special Warfare unit.<ref name="defense.gov"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2011/08/12/pentagon-releases-names-of-chinook-crash-victims/ |title=Pentagon releases names of Chinook crash victims |website=[[CNN]] News |date=12 August 2011 |access-date=14 August 2011 |archive-date=13 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110813034623/http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2011/08/12/pentagon-releases-names-of-chinook-crash-victims/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> A total of 30 Americans and eight Afghans were killed in the crash, making it the single largest loss of U.S. lives in the Global War on Terrorism.

On 16 August 2012, SEALs in Uruzgan Province conducted a joint operation into the [[Shah Wali Kot District|Shah Wali Kot Valley]] where they suffered the loss of a Black Hawk helicopter when it was struck by an insurgent [[Rocket-propelled grenade|RPG]], the crash killed 11 servicemen (seven US and four Afghan).{{sfnp|Neville|2015|p=162}}

In December 2012, SEALs from DEVGRU rescued a US doctor who had been kidnapped a few days earlier. However, during the operation the unit suffered a fatality, Petty Officer 1st Class Nicolas D. Checque.<ref>{{cite news |last=Shumaker |first=Lisa |title=Navy identifies SEAL killed in hostage rescue in Afghanistan |url=https://news.yahoo.com/navy-identifies-seal-killed-hostage-rescue-afghanistan-062326907.html |publisher=Yahoo! News |date=11 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121218072944/http://news.yahoo.com/navy-identifies-seal-killed-hostage-rescue-afghanistan-062326907.html |archive-date=18 December 2012}}</ref> Senior Chief [[Edward Byers]], was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during this mission.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://news.yahoo.com/obama-present-medal-honor-navy-seal-203210784.html |title=Obama to present Medal of Honor to Navy SEAL |publisher=Yahoo! News |access-date=2 June 2016}}</ref>

In May 2013, Rear Admiral [[Sean Pybus]], commander of Navy Special Warfare stated that the unit would cut in half the number of SEAL platoons in Afghanistan by the end of 2013. Pybus also added that the unit is already "undergoing a transition back to its maritime roots" by placing more emphasis on sea-based missions after being involved in mostly landlocked missions since 2001.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/articles/2013/5/15/seals-to-undergo-evolution-in-reverse-as-they-return-to-maritime-operations |first=Dan |last=Parsons |title=SEALs to Undergo 'Evolution in Reverse' as They Return to Maritime Operations |magazine=National Defense |publisher=[[National Defense Industrial Association]] |date=15 May 2013}}</ref>