In 2005 Afghanistan, Taliban leader Ahmad Shah (Taliban) is responsible for killing over twenty United States Marine Corps, as well as villagers and refugees who were aiding American forces. In response to these killings, a United States Navy SEALs unit is ordered to execute a counter-insurgency mission to capture Shah. As part of the mission, a four-man SEAL reconnaissance and surveillance team is tasked with locating Shah. The four SEALs include team leader Michael P. Murphy; Marksmen Marcus Luttrell and Matthew Axelson and communications specialist Danny Dietz.