Delta Force - The Hunt For Bin Laden

Following the successful routing of the Taliban by US Special Operations Forces, notably the 5th Special Forces Group and CIA Special Activities Division (SAD) operatives, a sizeable number of Al Qaeda forces still remained in the country. These Al Qaeda remnants were thought to include Osama Bin Laden himself. In December 2001, CIA SAD operatives had gathered intelligence that placed Bin Laden among the caves and bunkers of the Tora Bora mountains, along with over a 1000 Al Qaeda fighters.

Tora Bora, Afghanistan (google earth kmz file)

Tora Bora was an extremely difficult region to assault with steep terrain with many excellent defensive positions along the limited infiltration routes.

It was decided to commit Delta Force to the hunt for Bin Laden. Delta were flown to Bagram airbase, Afghanistan, by 2 AFSOC MC-130 Combat Talons, which also carried several Toyota pickup trucks. In anticipation of their deployment, the Delta operators had grown long beards, matching the custom of the local Afghans. Their clothing was also chosen to blend in with the locals. From Bagram, they were to transit to a CIA safe house close to Tora Bora. They were then to to enter Tora Bora, infiltrate the area and find and kill Bin Laden and any Al Qaeda fighters they could get their hands on.

For political reasons, Delta were ordered to work closely with Afghan troops from the Eastern Alliance (EA) during the Hunt For Bin Laden. These troops would serve as a Quick Reaction Force (QRF) for the Delta operations.

A 4-man scout team of 2 SAD operatives, a Delta operator and a AFSOC CCT, moved out from the CIA safe house and into Tora Bora, confirming the presence of large numbers of Al Qaeda forces there. This small team called in a number of boming runs against enemy positions. The success of this mini-operation persuaded the Special Forces commander to commit a 12-man ODA to the hunt. Later in the operation, 12 commandos from the British Special Boat Service (SBS) also joined Delta in Tora Bora.

As the main force infilitrated the target area, Delta sniper teams established observation posts on the high ground and called in a series of air strikes by US warplanes against any targets that presented themselves. US and UK SIGINT specialists listened in on Al Qaeda radio transmissions, gathering invaluable intelligence on their morale and helping to narrow down Bin Laden's location.

Despite the best efforts of the US and UK SOF, Bin Laden managed to slip away, most likely into Pakistan.

Delta's mission was frustrated by a couple of factors :

• being forced to rely on the Afghani troops. Delta's 'allies' were not as enthusiastic about the hunt as the US or UK forces. With the combined force closing in on Bin Laden, the Afghani troops were reluctant to close in for the kill or to to close off all avenues of escape. They also refused to operate at night. EA commanders were more interested in negotiating a truce with Al Qaeda. This clash of agendas culminated in a tense standoff between the Afghani troops and Delta / the SBS which came close to escalating into a shoot out. This standoff, and the truce called between the Northern Alliance and Al Qaeda forces, are believed to have given Bin Laden's party time to escape into Pakistan.
• being refused permission to air-drop anti-personnel mines along the escape routed

Aircraft such as this US Navy F-18 were called in by Delta and SBS operators to hit Al Qaeda emplacements across the mountains of Tora Bora. The majority of US strikes came in from outside Afghanistan, including Navy fighters stationed on carriers.

U.S. Air Force photo by Tech Sgt. Scott Reed

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