An illustrated study of the development and operations of coalition and Afghan Special Operations Forces in Afghanistan from 2009 until the withdrawal in 2021.
At the end of 2008, the clearly inadequate strength of the coalition's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan prompted the US and NATO to deploy troops in numbers that could not be sustained long-term. This shortfall was overcome in 2009, when a newly created Special Forces command (ANASOC) in the Afghan National Army began to partner with the ISAF to undertake counter-insurgency operations against the Taliban, Al-Qaeda and ISIL-K. However, while the burden of operations never diminished, many NATO countries reduced their contribution from 2012 onwards, leading to an over-ambitious expansion of ANASOC and weaker ties between it and US/NATO command.
In this engaging study, former United States Marine Corps officer John Parkinson draws on first-hand experience to examine how this series of events spiralled toward the eventual fall of Kabul and the troubled, hasty withdrawal of coalition forces in 2021. Eight newly commissioned colour plates demonstrate the wide range of equipment and uniforms used by the Special Operations Forces and are complemented by a range of previously unpublished photographs.
| ISBN: | 9781472864932 |
| Publication date: | 29th January 2026 |
| Author: | John Parkinson |
| Illustrator: | Johnny Shumate |
| Publisher: | Osprey Publishing an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing (UK) |
| Format: | Paperback |
| Pagination: | 64 pages |
| Series: | Elite |
| Genres: |
Special and elite forces Military history: post-WW2 conflicts |
An illustrated study of the development and operations of coalition and Afghan Special Operations Forces in Afghanistan from 2009 until the withdrawal in 2021.
At the end of 2008, the clearly inadequate strength of the coalition's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan prompted the US and NATO to deploy troops in numbers that could not be sustained long-term. This shortfall was overcome in 2009, when a newly created Special Forces command (ANASOC) in the Afghan National Army began to partner with the ISAF to undertake counter-insurgency operations against the Taliban, Al-Qaeda and ISIL-K. However, while the burden of operations never diminished, many NATO countries reduced their contribution from 2012 onwards, leading to an over-ambitious expansion of ANASOC and weaker ties between it and US/NATO command.
In this engaging study, former United States Marine Corps officer John Parkinson draws on first-hand experience to examine how this series of events spiralled toward the eventual fall of Kabul and the troubled, hasty withdrawal of coalition forces in 2021. Eight newly commissioned colour plates demonstrate the wide range of equipment and uniforms used by the Special Operations Forces and are complemented by a range of previously unpublished photographs.
US and Allied Special Operations Forces in Afghanistan, 2009-21 features in the following genres: Special and elite forces, Military history: post-WW2 conflicts
US and Allied Special Operations Forces in Afghanistan, 2009-21 is available in Paperback
US and Allied Special Operations Forces in Afghanistan, 2009-21 was written by John Parkinson and published by Osprey Publishing an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing (UK)
US and Allied Special Operations Forces in Afghanistan, 2009-21 has 64 pages
Yes it is part of Elite series
£13.49