12 Strong

As Mitch Nelson, a seasoned U.S. Army captain and commander of Operational Detachment Alpha (ODA) 595, settles into his new domestic routine with wife and daughter on September 11, 2001, the world around him is forever altered by the devastating terrorist attacks sponsored by Al-Qaeda. With the US government aware that Afghanistan provides sanctuary to the perpetrators, Nelson seizes the opportunity to volunteer ODA 595 for deployment into the war-torn country.

Initially rebuffed by Lieutenant Colonel Bowers, commander of the 3rd Battalion, 5th Special Forces Group, Nelson's determination is bolstered when veteran soldier CW5 Hal Spencer, a Chief Warrant Officer 5 and ODA 595's assistant team leader, persuades Bowers to entrust Nelson with command once more. Having previously announced his intention to retire, Spencer ultimately decides to forgo his retirement plans and volunteer alongside Nelson, citing his wealth of combat experience as justification.

With their families left behind, the elite squad of Green Berets departs for Uzbekistan on October 7, 2001. Upon arrival, they are briefed and evaluated by Colonel Mulholland, commander of the 5th Special Forces Group, before being selected to join forces with Northern Alliance leader Abdul Rashid Dostum in a mission to capture Mazar-I-Sharif and severely curtail the Taliban's ability to support Al-Qaeda.

Mulholland sets a six-week timeline for the operation, but Nelson astutely recognizes that the impending harsh winter will effectively shut down all mountain passes within three weeks. His calculation impresses Mulholland, who chooses ODA 595 from among six available teams at his command.

The team comprises seasoned operators including Ben Milo, a Sergeant First Class; Sean Coffers and Vern Michaels, both members of ODA 595; Scott Black, Bill Bennett, Fred Falls, Pat Essex, Charles Jones, and Kevin Jackson, each a valuable asset to the mission.

As the sun rises over the barren landscape of Afghanistan on October 19, 2001, a covert operation unfolds with precision. Under the cover of darkness, ODA 595 is inserted via an MH-47 Chinook helicopter flown by the elite 160th SOAR, navigating treacherous skies at 25,000 feet to evade Taliban missile fire. The team's altitude poses a unique challenge, as there is no oxygen on board, and they must contend with the risk of hypoxia. After a tense journey, the Chinook touches down 40 miles south of Mazar-i Sharif, the fourth-largest city in the country, which has long been a Taliban stronghold.

Upon arrival, the team meets Dostum, a seasoned warlord who has spent his entire life fighting against oppressive forces, first as a teenager battling Russian occupation and now, at the age of 55, taking on the Taliban. The CIA liaison briefs the team on the fractured Northern Alliance, comprised of three rival militias that rarely coordinate with each other. Should they engage in battle, their infighting would likely supplant any desire to vanquish the common enemy.

Six members of the ODA, led by Nelson (character A), depart with Dostum into the treacherous mountains, where they will be joined by his 6 extra horses. The remaining six, under the command of Spencer, remain at a fortified camp dubbed "The Alamo." As Dostum prepares to recapture Mazar-i Sharif from Taliban control, he faces off against ruthless leader Mullah Razzan (Numan Acar), who rules with an iron fist, meting out brutal punishment to those who defy his strict Sharia law. This includes the murder of women who dare to encourage their daughters to pursue education.

Despite initial reservations about Nelson's abilities, Dostum comes to respect the American operative as Nelson earns his trust through a series of calculated risks. In one bold move, Nelson gets close enough to Taliban forces to provide crucial GPS coordinates, allowing US bombers to strike with precision and inflict heavy casualties. However, their partnership is tested when Dostum makes a costly tactical error, launching an attack on a heavily fortified Taliban town without the support of US airpower. The bombers are out of fuel, but Dostum fails to consult with Nelson before engaging the enemy, resulting in avoidable casualties.

Dostum's willingness to sacrifice American lives is a stark reminder that even one fatality could prompt the US forces to withdraw, ensuring the war against the Taliban remains lost. As the stakes grow higher, the bond between Dostum and Nelson becomes increasingly crucial, as they navigate the treacherous landscape of Afghanistan in pursuit of their shared goal: victory over the Taliban.

As tensions simmer between Nelson and Dostum, Mulholland intervenes, dispatching a secondary operation to push forward against Mazar-i Sharif. Meanwhile, Nelson confronts Dostum about the reckless handling of lives and withheld information, accusing him of prioritizing personal interests over the war's objective. Dostum counters by urging Nelson to rely on his intuition as a warrior rather than merely following orders. Despite their differences, the two leaders eventually reconcile, with a contingent led by SFC Sam Diller (Michael Peña) venturing out to disrupt Taliban supply lines and rejoining forces with ODA 595's Hal Spencer, who perseveres despite a slipped disc.

Their joint efforts yield significant victories, propelled by Dostum's leadership, Afghan manpower, and American air support. Progress toward Mazar-i Sharif is palpable, but the situation becomes increasingly complicated when Nelson informs Dostum that another ODA has been dispatched to support Atta Muhammad, Dostum's political rival. The Northern Alliance leader's men promptly abandon 595, leaving Nelson and his Americans to reassess their strategy.

With Dostum gone, Nelson plots a new course of action, focusing on continuing the fight against the Taliban with his remaining Afghan allies. However, as ODA 595 encounters a formidable force of Al-Qaeda and Taliban fighters, armored vehicles, and air support proves crucial in eliminating many enemy combatants and armor. Despite this success, the team is discovered and attacked, leaving Hal Spencer critically injured by a suicide bomber. As the situation spirals out of control under intense pressure from the enemy, Dostum returns with his forces, providing a much-needed boost to ODA 595's precarious position.

As the vanguard of the U.S. Army's inaugural cavalry charge in the 21st century, American and Northern Alliance forces jointly vanquish the Taliban and Al-Qaeda, with Dostum relentlessly pursuing and eliminating Razzan. Meanwhile, Spencer is extracted via medical evacuation, clearing the way for Nelson and Dostum to press onward towards Mazar-i-Sharif, where they surprisingly find Atta Muhammad has already arrived. Despite initial animosity, Dostum and Muhammad engage in a cordial meeting, setting aside their differences as they acknowledge Nelson's tireless efforts on behalf of the Americans. Impressed by Nelson's unwavering dedication, Dostum presents him with his cherished riding crop, vowing to consider Nelson a brother and fellow warrior from that day forward, cautioning him that Afghanistan has historically been the final resting place for would-be conquerors. With Spencer ultimately recovering from his ordeal, all 12 members of ODA 595 return home after an arduous 23 days of unrelenting combat in Afghanistan.

The film's penultimate scene pays homage to the Horse Soldier Statue at the World Trade Center in New York City, a poignant tribute to the soldiers of ODA 595 and their resounding success in the early stages of the response to the September 11th attacks. The final image features actual members of ODA 595, clad in combat fatigues, serving as a testament to the real-life events that inspired the film's narrative.