The President of the United States, Donald Trump, in collaboration with Israel, launched a large-scale military assault against Iran starting February 28, 2026.
In this joint attack, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed along with several members of his family on February 28, 2026.
According to Al Jazeera, Trump's military action reinforced a pattern of strikes already carried out by his predecessors — relying on military force to pursue US strategic interests. "This continues the pattern that has defined American foreign policy for more than two decades," Al Jazeera reported.
Looking back to September 11, 2001 — when a group attributed to Al-Qaeda attacked the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York and the US capital in what became known as the 9/11 attacks — the United States subsequently became involved in three full-scale wars and bombed at least 10 countries.
These operations, ranging from drone strikes to full-scale invasions, often occurred multiple times within a single year.
US military involvement during this era was notably prolonged, frequently extending across successive presidencies. A single president could find themselves conducting operations across more than five countries.
Counted by regime, Donald Trump — across both his first and second terms — holds the record for the broadest operational reach, with military involvement spanning 10 countries.
Here are the details of the countries invaded by the United States according to the presidential era in 2001-2026, sorted by term of office:
George W. Bush (2001-2009): 5 countries
- Afghanistan (2001-2008)
- Iraq (2001-2008)
- Pakistan (2004-2008)
- Somalia (2007-2008)
- Yemen (2002)
Barack Obama (2009-2017): 7 countries
- Afghanistan (2009-2016)
- Pakistan (2009-2016)
- Yemen (2009-2016)
- Somalia (2011-2016)
- Libya (2011-2012 and 2016)
- Iraq (2014-2016)
- Syria (2014-2016)
Donald Trump I (2017-2021): 7 countries
- Afghanistan (2017-2020)
- Iraq (2017-2020)
- Somalia (2017-2020)
- Yemen (2017-2020)
- Syria (2017-2020)
- Libya (2017-2019)
- Pakistan (2017-2018)
Joe Biden (2021-2025): 5 countries
- Syria (2021-2024)
- Somalia (2021-2024)
- Iraq (2021 and 2023-2024)
- Yemen (2023-2024)
- Afghanistan (2022)
Donald Trump II (2025-present): 7 countries
- Syria (2025-2026)
- Somalia (2025-2026)
- Venezuela (2025-2026)
- Iran (2025-2026)
- Iraq (2025)
- Nigeria (2025)
- Yemen (2025).