They deployed from Karshi-Khanabad Air Base (nicknamed K2 by the Special Forces) to just outside of Tarin Kowt on 14 November, accompanied by Pashtun militia leader, Hamid Karzai, who was returning from exile.

The 12 Americans of ODA 574, assisted by U.S. close air support and 35 Afghans, successfully defended Tarin Kowt against 1,000 Taliban delivered by 100 trucks.

[citation needed]} As Karzai's forces pushed south towards Kandahar, an error by an attached United States Air Force Tactical Air Control Party on 5 December caused a Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) to fall short of its intended target, 100 yards from their position.

Five minutes after the friendly fire incident, Hamid Karzai was notified by a satellite phone call that he'd been selected to lead Afghanistan's new interim government.

[4][5] Hamid Karzai accepted the surrender of the Taliban on December 5, 2001, in Showali Kowt as the members of ODA 574 were medically evacuated out of Afghanistan.