Afghanistan, 2001–2021
After the September 11 attacks, the United States invaded Afghanistan with the goal of combating al-Qaeda and overthrowing the Taliban. The military operation lasted for 20 years. After the US withdrew, the Taliban immediately regained power.
Iraq, 2003–2011
In March 2003, Iraq was invaded by the US and its allies. The reason given was that Iraq was producing weapons of mass destruction, but this was never proven. Dictator Saddam Hussein was overthrown and the situation degenerated into a bloody civil war. The US withdrew its forces in 2011.
Drone wars in Pakistan, Somalia and Yemen
In the mid-2000s, the US began drone attacks against alleged al-Qaeda and Taliban strongholds in Pakistan. When Barack Obama became president in 2009, the attacks increased.
At the same time, American drones were sent against al-Qaeda elements in Somalia, later also against the terrorist group al-Shabab. The latest attacks occurred in February 2025, under Trump.
Thousands of drones also attacked Yemen starting in 2002. The initial purpose was to combat al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, then - as recently as last year - to combat the Iran-allied Houthis.
Libya, 2011
The United States launched air and missile attacks on Libya. The UN Security Council gave NATO the go-ahead to intervene militarily after dictator Muammar Gaddafi used the air force against the opposition.
Gaddafi was overthrown and killed. The aftermath was a protracted internal conflict.
Iraq and Syria, 2014 and beyond
The US intervened in Syria with the stated goal of defeating IS, which declared a “caliphate” in parts of Syria and Iraq in 2014. The terrorist movement’s last stronghold fell in 2019.
However, the US continued to bomb Syria and Iraq, aiming to fight remaining IS members and counter Iranian influence.
Regular attacks occurred even during Trump's second term.
Nigeria, 2025
On Christmas Day last year, the United States carried out drone strikes against ISIS-affiliated extremists in northwestern Nigeria. President Trump justified the attacks by calling them a "genocide of Christians" in the country.
Venezuela, 2026
On January 3 of this year, American bombs fell on the Venezuelan capital Caracas. In a raid, the country's president, Nicolás Maduro, was captured and taken out of the country.
Iran, 2025 and 2026
In June 2025, the United States joined Israel's twelve-day war against Iran and bombed several nuclear energy facilities in the country.
Eight months later, at the end of February 2026, Trump ordered new airstrikes against Iran and another war began.
