US Bombing Campaigns Worldwide Since 2001 Expenditure Costs Unknown

US Launches Military Assault on Iran Under Trump Administration

Since 9/11, the United States has engaged in three full-scale wars and conducted military operations in at least 10 countries under four presidents. President Donald Trump has launched a military assault on Iran, targeting its leadership and nuclear infrastructure.

The US has maintained a pattern of relying on military force to pursue strategic interests, following a trend that has defined US foreign policy for over two decades. The September 11, 2001, attacks on New York and the US capital led to the launch of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 241,000 people.

President George W Bush launched a second war in Iraq in 2003, citing claims that President Saddam Hussein possessed weapons of mass destruction. The subsequent years were marked by violence from armed groups and a power vacuum that fueled the rise of ISIL (ISIS).

The US has spent an estimated $5.8 trillion on its conflicts since 2001, with $2.1 trillion allocated to the Department of Defense. This includes interest payments totaling $1 trillion. The total cost is expected to increase by at least $2.2 trillion over the next 30 years.

Since 2001, the US has conducted military operations in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, and other conflict zones. The graphic below shows all the countries affected by US military actions since 2001.

Source: Al Jazeera