How many countries has the US bombed since 2001, and how much has it cost?

Al Jazeera

March 3, 2026

AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary

Since September 11, 2001, the United States has engaged in extensive military operations, bombing at least ten countries across three major wars and numerous smaller campaigns. These include Afghanistan, Iraq, Yemen, Pakistan, Somalia, Libya, Syria, Venezuela, Nigeria, and Iran. The cost of these conflicts has been staggering: an estimated $5.8 trillion spent so far, with another $2.2 trillion expected for future veterans' care, bringing the total to around $8 trillion. This prolonged military involvement has also taken a heavy human toll, directly causing the deaths of approximately 940,000 people and indirectly affecting millions more due to lack of resources, disease, and displacement. The US intervention in Afghanistan, launched just weeks after 9/11, aimed to dismantle al-Qaeda and remove the Taliban regime. While initially successful, the war became the longest in US history, lasting two decades until the withdrawal of forces in 2021. It cost $2.26 trillion and resulted in an estimated 241,000 direct deaths, including thousands

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Originally published on Al Jazeera on 3/3/2026