September 11 attacks

The September 11 attacks were terrorist attacks on the United States that took place on September 11, 2001. Four planes were hijacked by teams of terrorists wielding box-cutters. Two of the planes were directed into the towers of the World Trade Center, causing both towers to collapse. One hit the Pentagon. The fourth was stopped by passengers who resisted the hijackers, and the plane crashed into an open field in central Pennsylvania. The target of the fourth plane was likely the White House or the Capitol.

The terrorists were from a group called Al-Qaeda, let by a wealthy Saudi named Osama bin Laden. The base of Al-Queda was in Afghanistan, supported by the Taliban leadership of the country. President George W. Bush quickly ordered an invasion of Afghanistan. The United States, along with several allies, quickly occupied Afghanistan. Al-Qaeda's operations were disrupted. Bin Laden went into hiding in Pakistan and was eventually tracked down and executed about ten years later.