Since 2001 (after the 9/11 attacks), the United States has carried out direct military attacks, invasions, or airstrikes in roughly 10–15 countries. Below is a list of countries where the U.S. used military force since 2001.
Major U.S. Military Wars Since 2001
1. Afghanistan
- Year started: 2001
- Operation: Operation Enduring Freedom
- Reason: To destroy Al-Qaeda and remove the Taliban
government after the 9/11 attacks.
- Duration: Nearly 20 years, making it the longest war
in U.S. history.
- Outcome: U.S. troops withdrew in 2021 and the Taliban regained
control.
2. Iraq
- Year started: 2003
- Reason given: Iraq allegedly possessed weapons of mass
destruction (WMDs).
- Result: The government of Saddam Hussein was overthrown.
- Long-term impact: Political instability and the rise of ISIS.
Countries Hit by U.S. Airstrikes and
Drone Warfare
3. Pakistan
- Drone strikes mainly in tribal
regions (FATA) targeting Taliban and Al-Qaeda militants.
- Hundreds of strikes occurred
between 2004–2018.
4. Yemen
- U.S. drone strikes targeted Al-Qaeda
in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP).
- Operations increased after 2011.
5. Somalia
- Drone strikes and special
forces operations targeting Al-Shabaab militants.
- Operations intensified after 2016.
6. Libya
- The U.S. participated in NATO
airstrikes during the Libyan civil war.
- Resulted in the fall of Muammar
Gaddafi’s government.
7. Syria
- U.S. airstrikes began in 2014
against ISIS.
- The U.S. also targeted Syrian
government facilities in some incidents.
Other Countries with U.S. Military
Strikes or Combat Operations
8. Iran
- In January 2020, a U.S.
drone strike killed Iranian general Qasem Soleimani in Baghdad.
9. Philippines
- U.S. special forces assisted
the Philippine military against extremist groups such as Abu Sayyaf.
10. Niger
- U.S. forces conducted
counterterrorism missions in the Sahel region.
11. Iran
·
January 3, 2020: The U.S. carried
out a drone strike in Baghdad, Iraq, killing Iranian General Qasem Soleimani, a senior commander of Iran’s
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The strike significantly escalated tensions
between the two countries and brought them close to open war. Iran retaliated
by launching missile attacks on U.S. bases in Iraq.
Recent Escalation
·
In 2026, reports indicated that U.S.
and Israeli strikes targeted Iranian facilities, intensifying geopolitical
tensions in the Middle East. In
February 2026, tensions in the
Middle East escalated dramatically when the United States and Israel launched large-scale airstrikes on Iran,
targeting military installations and high-ranking leadership facilities.
Assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader
·
On 28
February 2026, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed during a
coordinated airstrike on leadership compounds in Tehran.
Iranian state media confirmed his death the following day. The strike was part
of a broader military campaign conducted jointly by the United States and Israel, which targeted several
strategic sites and Iranian officials.
12. Venezuela
·
The United States historically had
tense relations with Venezuela, but the conflict escalated dramatically in 2025–2026.
Military operations
·
The U.S. launched naval deployments
and airstrikes in the Caribbean and near Venezuelan territory as part of Operation
Southern Spear. The campaign targeted vessels suspected of drug trafficking
linked to criminal organizations. Multiple strikes were carried out against
boats and later against targets inside Venezuela.
Capture of President Nicolás Maduro
On
3 January 2026, U.S. forces conducted a large-scale operation in Caracas and captured
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who was flown to the United States to face
criminal charges.
Conclusion
With the 2026 attack on Iran, the number of
countries directly targeted by U.S. military operations since 2001 has expanded
further. The War on Terror and subsequent geopolitical conflicts have led to military actions in multiple regions including
the Middle East, South Asia, Africa, and Latin America. The killing of
Ali Khamenei in 2026 marks a
major turning point in Middle Eastern politics and could reshape the balance of
power in the region for years to come.
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