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What were the mujahideen fighting for?
mujahideen, Arabic mujāhidūn, members of a number of guerrilla groups operating in Afghanistan during the Afghan War (1978–92) that opposed the invading Soviet forces and eventually toppled the Afghan communist government. The roots of the Afghan War lay in the overthrow of the centrist government of Pres. …
Are the mujahideen Sunni or Shia?
The Afghan mujahideen were generally divided into two distinct alliances: the larger and more significant Sunni Islamic union collectively referred to as the “Peshawar Seven”, based in Pakistan, and the smaller Shia Islamic union collectively referred to as the “Tehran Eight”, based in Iran.
Why did the mujahedin fight off the Soviet Union?
Soviet troops tried to crush the insurgency by various tactics, but the guerrillas generally eluded their attacks. The mujahideen were eventually able to neutralize Soviet air power through the use of shoulder-fired antiaircraft missiles supplied by the Soviet Union’s Cold War adversary, the United States.
Was Osama bin Laden a mujahideen?
He was a Saudi Arabian citizen until 1994 and a member of the wealthy bin Laden family. He was born in Saudi Arabia and studied at university in the country until 1979, when he joined Mujahideen forces in Pakistan fighting against the Soviet Union in Afghanistan.
Why did the Soviets lose the Afghan war?
During this almost ten years lasting war, which ended with the withdrawal of the Red Army in February 1989, the Soviet Union failed to defeat the Mujahedin primarily due to an initially false strategic alignment and severe tactical deficiencies.
Who won the Soviet Afghanistan war?
Soviet–Afghan War
| Date | 24 December 1979 – 15 February 1989 (9 years, 1 month, 3 weeks and 1 day) |
|---|---|
| Location | Afghanistan |
| Result | Afghan mujahideen victory Geneva Accords (1988) Withdrawal of Soviet forces from Afghanistan Afghan Civil War continues |
Where did the name of the Mujahideen come from?
origin of name In mujahideen …members of a number of guerrilla groups operating in Afghanistan that opposed invading Soviet forces and eventually toppled the Afghan communist government during the Afghan War (1979–92).
What was the purpose of the Mujahideen in Afghanistan?
Mujahideen, Arabic mujāhidūn, members of a number of guerrilla groups operating in Afghanistan during the Afghan War (1979–92) that opposed the invading Soviet forces and eventually toppled the Afghan communist government. Rival factions thereafter fell out among themselves, precipitating the rise of one faction, the Taliban, and an opposing
Who are the members of the Afghan mujahideen?
Afghanistan’s mujahideen were exceptionally diverse, including ethnic Pashtuns, Uzbeks, Tajiks, and others. Some were Shi’a Muslims, sponsored by Iran, while most factions were made up of Sunni Muslims. In addition to the Afghan fighters, Muslims from other countries volunteered to join the mujahideen ranks.
When did the Mujahideen leave the Soviet Union?
The mujahideen guerrillas fought a long and costly war against the Soviet military, which suffered heavy losses and withdrew from the country in 1989, after which the rebels’ war against the communist Afghan government continued.