Six B-2s were committed to Operation Enduring Freedom, the American intervention in Afghanistan in 2001/2002, performing strikes in the early phases of the conflict. One mission lasted 44 hours, the longest combat sortie in the history of air warfare, with B-2s flying out of Whiteman to Afghanistan, dropping their loads, and then landing on Diego Garcia island in the Indian ocean to refuel, rearm, and take on new crews while the engines remained on idle. This done, the B-2s went back to Afghanistan to drop their loads, and finally returned to Whiteman. Four B-2s were also committed to Operation Iraqi Freedom, the American invasion of Iraq in the spring of 2003.