On September 11, 2001, the largest terrorist attack in history occurred, resulting in numerous casualties and shocking the world.

On September 11, 2001, Tuesday, at 8:45 a.m., a Boeing 767 crashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center in New York. The impact created a giant burning hole between the 80th and 110th floors, instantly taking the lives of hundreds of people and leaving many trapped on the upper floors. Eighteen minutes later, another plane of the same type, sharply maneuvered towards the building, crashed into the South Tower at about the 60th floor level.

Islamic Terrorists and the Attack Plan

The attacks were organized by Islamic terrorists from Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries, belonging to the group “Al-Qaeda,” led by Osama bin Laden.

The attacks were allegedly motivated by American support for Israel, U.S. involvement in the Gulf War, and military presence in the Middle East. Some terrorists spent more than a year in America, completing courses in commercial flight schools, while others arrived in the country just a few months before the events. A total of 19 terrorists effectively passed through security at three airports, boarding four flights to California, deliberately chosen for the attack due to the large amount of fuel on board.

Course of Events and Destruction

While millions watched the events in New York with horror, another plane attacked the Pentagon at 9:45, crashing into its western part.

125 people died, and all 64 people on board were present. Less than 15 minutes later, the South Tower of the World Trade Center collapsed, despite its design to withstand strong winds.

At 10:30, the North Tower also collapsed. The tragedy resulted in the deaths of about 3,000 people, including 343 firefighters and paramedics, 60 police officers, both trying to assist in evacuation and save people on the upper floors. Of all those in the buildings, only six survived, and nearly 10,000 were seriously injured.

The Fourth Plane

Meanwhile, the fourth plane, en route to California, was hijacked about 40 minutes after takeoff from Jersey. Passengers learned about the events and, realizing that the hijackers did not intend to return, decided to take action. They stormed the cockpit, leading to the plane crashing in a field in Pennsylvania.

All 45 people on board died, and the possible targets of the hijackers remained unknown, with speculations about the White House or the Capitol.

Reaction and Consequences

At 7:00 p.m., President George Bush, having spent the day traveling for security reasons, returned to the White House. At 9:00 p.m., he delivered a televised address, promising that the terrorists would be punished. Operation “Enduring Freedom” was launched in October, aimed at overthrowing the Taliban regime in Afghanistan along with destroying “Al-Qaeda.” Within two months of the operation’s start, the Taliban were ousted from the country, and Osama bin Laden was killed in Pakistan on May 2, 2011.

Troop Withdrawal

By the 20th anniversary of the attacks in 2021, then-President Joe Biden completed the withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan, a process that began under his predecessor Donald Trump. As soon as U.S. authorities left the country, the Taliban quickly, within weeks, regained territories. The trained and armed force left their weapons and did not offer significant resistance.