Special Forces On Horseback - Photo

A U.

S Army Special Forces soldier, of the 5th Special Forces Group, with North Alliance Soldiers during the opening stages of operations in Afghanistan, 2001.

Special Forces, along with CIA Paramilitary units, fostered close ties with and worked alongside Northern Alliance commanders, such as General Dostum.

This co-operation, combined with airstrikes called in by SF, was the key to ousting the Taliban.