Editing Operation Enduring Freedom (section)

==Overview==
In response to the [[September 11 attacks]], the early combat operations that took place on 7 October 2001 to include a mix of strikes from land-based [[B-1 Lancer]], [[B-2 Spirit]] and [[B-52 Stratofortress]] bombers, carrier-based [[F-14 Tomcat]] and [[F/A-18 Hornet]] fighters, and [[Tomahawk (missile family)|Tomahawk cruise missiles]] launched from both U.S. and British ships and submarines signaled the start of Operation Enduring Freedom.

The initial military objectives of OEF, as articulated by President [[George W. Bush]] in his 20 September address to a Joint Session of Congress and his 7 October address to the country, included the destruction of [[terrorist training camp]]s and [[infrastructure]] within Afghanistan, the capture of [[al-Qaeda]] leaders, and the cessation of terrorist activities in Afghanistan.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Department Of State. The Office of Electronic Information |first=Bureau of Public Affairs |title=The Global War on Terrorism: The First 100 Days |url=https://2001-2009.state.gov/s/ct/rls/wh/6947.htm |access-date=2024-01-28 |website=2001-2009.state.gov |language=en}}</ref>

In January 2002, over 1,200 soldiers from the [[United States Special Operations Command|United States Special Operations Command Pacific]] (SOCPAC) deployed to the Philippines to support the [[Armed Forces of the Philippines]] (AFP) in their push to uproot terrorist forces on the island of [[Basilan]]. Of those groups included are [[Abu Sayyaf|Abu Sayyaf Group]] (ASG), [[al-Qaeda]] and [[Jemaah Islamiyah]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://131.84.1.218/speeches/sst2003/030210pasoc.shtml |title=PASOC 2003 Conference |first=Tom |last=Fargo |work=Speeches and Transcripts |publisher=U.S. Pacific Command |date=10 February 2003 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080513094615/http://131.84.1.218/speeches/sst2003/030210pasoc.shtml |archive-date=13 May 2008 }}</ref> The operation consisted of training the AFP in counter-terrorist operations as well as supporting the local people with humanitarian aid in [[Operation Smiles]].<ref name=Smiles>{{cite web|url=http://131.84.1.218/piupdates/smiles.pdf |title=Operation Smiles |publisher=U.S. Pacific Command |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090326131527/http://131.84.1.218/piupdates/smiles.pdf |archive-date=26 March 2009 }}</ref>

In October 2002, the [[Combined Task Force 150]] and United States military Special Forces established themselves in Djibouti at [[Camp Lemonnier]]. The stated goals of the operation were to provide humanitarian aid and patrol the [[Horn of Africa]] to reduce the abilities of terrorist organizations in the region. Similar to OEF-P, the goal of humanitarian aid was emphasized, ostensibly to prevent militant organizations from being able to take hold amongst the population as well as reemerge after being removed.

The military aspect involves coalition forces searching and boarding ships entering the region for illegal cargo as well as providing training and equipment to the armed forces in the region. The humanitarian aspect involves building schools, clinics and water wells to enforce the confidence of the local people.

Since 2001, the cumulative expenditure by the U.S. government on Operation Enduring Freedom has exceeded $150&nbsp;billion.<ref>{{Citation | title = FAS | url = https://fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/RL33110.pdf | access-date = 17 November 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150501203337/http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/RL33110.pdf | archive-date = 1 May 2015 | url-status = live }}.</ref>