On September 11, 2001, 19 terrorists hijacked four planes, leading to devastating attacks on the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon, killing 3,000 people. The US responded with invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq, causing significant military and civilian casualties. The attacks led to lasting changes in US security and the creation of the Department of Homeland Security.
On September 11, 2001, 19 terrorists, mostly Saudis, hijacked four planes.
At 5:45 am in Portland Airport, Maine, Mohammed Atta and Abdul Aziz al-Omari boarded American Airlines Flight 11 to Boston, which took off at 7:59 am.
United Airlines Flight 175 took off at 8:15 am from Boston for Los Angeles with 51 passengers, nine crew members, and five hijackers.
Minutes later, American Airlines Flight 77 departed Dulles Airport outside Washington DC for Los Angeles.
United Flight 93 took off from Newark, New Jersey, for San Francisco at 8:42 am.
At 8:46 am, Flight 11 crashed into the World Trade Centre's North Tower, followed by Flight 175 crashing into the South Tower at 9:03 am.
President George Bush learned about the attacks at 9:05 am.
At 9:37 am, Flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon, killing all passengers and 125 personnel.
Flight 93 crashed in Pennsylvania, failing to hit its intended target.
In total, 3,000 lives were lost. The attacks prompted President Bush to invade
Afghanistan to dismantle Al Qaeda and hunt Osama Bin Laden.
The US expanded its war on terror to Iraq in 2003, resulting in the fall of Saddam Hussein.
Over 4,700 U.S. and allied troop deaths and 100,000 Iraqi civilian deaths resulted from this invasion.
The US established Guantanamo Bay in 2002 to detain terrorism suspects.
President Biden has pledged to close it, but it remains operational.
A memorial now stands at Ground Zero to honor the victims.
The attacks led to significant changes in the US government, including the creation of the Department of Homeland Security.
New legislation, such as the Patriot Act, increased security and surveillance.
The Watson Institute reports 940,000 deaths and 38 million displaced due to post-9/11 wars.
In 2022, Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri was killed by a US drone strike in Kabul.
Despite a 2020 agreement, experts believe the Taliban still maintain ties with Al-Qaeda.