September 11 attacks

September 11, 2001 · World Trade Center, New York

Coordinated al-Qaeda suicide attacks on the United States on 11 September 2001: nineteen hijackers seized four airliners, flying two into the Twin Towers, a third into the Pentagon, while the fourth crashed in a Pennsylvania field after a passenger revolt. The 2,977 deaths made it the deadliest terrorist attack in history; the US answered by invading Afghanistan and the Global War on Terror.

On the map Overview Contemporaries

Key people

George W. Bush belligerent leader

Osama bin Laden Leader of al-Qaeda, Planned and ordered the attacks

Participants

Strength and losses

	All
Deaths	2,996
Wounded	25,000

Battles and events 4

American Airlines Flight 11 September 11, 2001
United Airlines Flight 93 September 11, 2001
American Airlines Flight 77 September 11, 2001
United Airlines Flight 175 September 11, 2001

Before and after

Led to: War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) October 7, 2001 – August 30, 2021
Operation Eagle Assist October 9, 2001 – May 16, 2002
Iraq War March 20, 2003 – December 18, 2011