{"id":5910,"date":"2026-01-03T08:59:49","date_gmt":"2026-01-03T15:59:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novus2.com\/righteouscause\/?p=5910"},"modified":"2026-01-03T08:59:49","modified_gmt":"2026-01-03T15:59:49","slug":"a-review-us-military-interventions-1986-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novus2.com\/righteouscause\/2026\/01\/03\/a-review-us-military-interventions-1986-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"A Review: US Military Interventions (1986-2026)"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class='dropshadowboxes-container dropshadowboxes-center ' style='width:100%;'>\r\n                            <div class='dropshadowboxes-drop-shadow dropshadowboxes-rounded-corners dropshadowboxes-inside-and-outside-shadow dropshadowboxes-lifted-both dropshadowboxes-effect-default' style='width:auto; border: 1px solid #dddddd; height:; background-color:#ffffff;    '>\r\n                            <a href=\"https:\/\/novus2.com\/righteouscause\/2026\/01\/03\/a-review-us-military-interventions-1986-2026\/military-assault-team\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-5911\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-5911\" src=\"https:\/\/novus2.com\/righteouscause\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/military-assault-team.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"750\" height=\"482\" srcset=\"https:\/\/novus2.com\/righteouscause\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/military-assault-team.png 750w, https:\/\/novus2.com\/righteouscause\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/military-assault-team-300x193.png 300w, https:\/\/novus2.com\/righteouscause\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/military-assault-team-150x96.png 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><\/a>\r\n                            <\/div>\r\n                        <\/div>\n<p class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\">The United States has engaged in dozens of military interventions abroad over the last four decades, spanning counterterrorism, regime change, humanitarian efforts, and great power competition, often without formal congressional declarations of war. These actions reflect a shift from Cold War proxy conflicts to post-9\/11 wars on terror and recent escalations under President Trump&#8217;s second term. Below is a chronological bullet-point documentation of major operations, focusing on direct combat, invasions, airstrikes, or significant deployments into foreign sovereign territory.<span class=\"inline-flex\" data-state=\"closed\"><span class=\"citation inline\"><a class=\"inline\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Foreign_interventions_by_the_United_States\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span class=\"relative -mt-px select-none whitespace-nowrap -top-px font-sans text-base text-foreground selection:bg-super\/50 selection:text-foreground dark:selection:bg-super\/10 dark:selection:text-super\"><span class=\"text-3xs rounded-badge group min-w-4 cursor-pointer text-center align-middle font-mono tabular-nums py-[0.1875rem] leading-snug px-[0.3rem] [@media(hover:hover)]:hover:bg-super dark:[@media(hover:hover)]:hover:text-inverse [@media(hover:hover)]:hover:text-white border-subtlest ring-subtlest divide-subtlest bg-subtle\"><span class=\"relative -mt-px inline-block align-middle max-w-[25ch] overflow-hidden\">wikipedia<\/span><span class=\"ml-xs -mt-px mr-px inline-block align-middle\"><span class=\"opacity-50\">+3<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span>\u200b<\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"marker:text-quiet list-disc\">\n<li class=\"py-0 my-0 prose-p:pt-0 prose-p:mb-2 prose-p:my-0 [&amp;&gt;p]:pt-0 [&amp;&gt;p]:mb-2 [&amp;&gt;p]:my-0\">\n<p class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\"><strong>1986: Libya (Operation El Dorado Canyon)<\/strong> \u2013 US airstrikes targeted Muammar Gaddafi&#8217;s compounds in Tripoli and Benghazi in retaliation for the Berlin disco bombing; killed ~40, including civilians, escalating anti-terror campaign.<span class=\"inline-flex\" aria-label=\"Foreign interventions by the United States - Wikipedia\" data-state=\"closed\"><span class=\"citation inline\"><a class=\"inline\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Foreign_interventions_by_the_United_States\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span class=\"relative -mt-px select-none whitespace-nowrap -top-px font-sans text-base text-foreground selection:bg-super\/50 selection:text-foreground dark:selection:bg-super\/10 dark:selection:text-super\"><span class=\"text-3xs rounded-badge group min-w-4 cursor-pointer text-center align-middle font-mono tabular-nums py-[0.1875rem] leading-snug px-[0.3rem] [@media(hover:hover)]:hover:bg-super dark:[@media(hover:hover)]:hover:text-inverse [@media(hover:hover)]:hover:text-white border-subtlest ring-subtlest divide-subtlest bg-subtle\"><span class=\"relative -mt-px inline-block align-middle max-w-[25ch] overflow-hidden\">wikipedia<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span>\u200b<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"py-0 my-0 prose-p:pt-0 prose-p:mb-2 prose-p:my-0 [&amp;&gt;p]:pt-0 [&amp;&gt;p]:mb-2 [&amp;&gt;p]:my-0\">\n<p class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\"><strong>1983\/1989: Grenada (Operation Urgent Fury) &amp; Panama (Operation Just Cause)<\/strong> \u2013 Invasion of Grenada ousted leftist regime after coup; Panama saw 27,000 troops depose Noriega amid drug trafficking charges, both showcasing Reagan-era interventionism.<span class=\"inline-flex\" aria-label=\"US Interventions - Global Policy Forum\" data-state=\"closed\"><span class=\"citation inline\"><a class=\"inline\" href=\"https:\/\/archive.globalpolicy.org\/us-westward-expansion\/26024-us-interventions.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span class=\"relative -mt-px select-none whitespace-nowrap -top-px font-sans text-base text-foreground selection:bg-super\/50 selection:text-foreground dark:selection:bg-super\/10 dark:selection:text-super\"><span class=\"text-3xs rounded-badge group min-w-4 cursor-pointer text-center align-middle font-mono tabular-nums py-[0.1875rem] leading-snug px-[0.3rem] [@media(hover:hover)]:hover:bg-super dark:[@media(hover:hover)]:hover:text-inverse [@media(hover:hover)]:hover:text-white border-subtlest ring-subtlest divide-subtlest bg-subtle\"><span class=\"relative -mt-px inline-block align-middle max-w-[25ch] overflow-hidden\">archive.globalpolicy<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span>\u200b<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"py-0 my-0 prose-p:pt-0 prose-p:mb-2 prose-p:my-0 [&amp;&gt;p]:pt-0 [&amp;&gt;p]:mb-2 [&amp;&gt;p]:my-0\">\n<p class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\"><strong>1990-1991: Iraq\/Kuwait (Gulf War\/Desert Storm)<\/strong> \u2013 Coalition led by US expelled Iraqi forces from Kuwait; ~100 hours of ground war followed a massive air campaign, enforcing UN resolutions but leaving Saddam in power.<span class=\"inline-flex\" aria-label=\"US Interventions - Global Policy Forum\" data-state=\"closed\"><span class=\"citation inline\"><a class=\"inline\" href=\"https:\/\/archive.globalpolicy.org\/us-westward-expansion\/26024-us-interventions.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span class=\"relative -mt-px select-none whitespace-nowrap -top-px font-sans text-base text-foreground selection:bg-super\/50 selection:text-foreground dark:selection:bg-super\/10 dark:selection:text-super\"><span class=\"text-3xs rounded-badge group min-w-4 cursor-pointer text-center align-middle font-mono tabular-nums py-[0.1875rem] leading-snug px-[0.3rem] [@media(hover:hover)]:hover:bg-super dark:[@media(hover:hover)]:hover:text-inverse [@media(hover:hover)]:hover:text-white border-subtlest ring-subtlest divide-subtlest bg-subtle\"><span class=\"relative -mt-px inline-block align-middle max-w-[25ch] overflow-hidden\">archive.globalpolicy<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span>\u200b<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"py-0 my-0 prose-p:pt-0 prose-p:mb-2 prose-p:my-0 [&amp;&gt;p]:pt-0 [&amp;&gt;p]:mb-2 [&amp;&gt;p]:my-0\">\n<p class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\"><strong>1992-1994: Somalia (Operation Restore Hope)<\/strong> \u2013 UN-backed humanitarian intervention devolved into Battle of Mogadishu; 18 US deaths prompted withdrawal, highlighting limits of nation-building.<span class=\"inline-flex\" data-state=\"closed\"><span class=\"citation inline\"><a class=\"inline\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Foreign_interventions_by_the_United_States\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span class=\"relative -mt-px select-none whitespace-nowrap -top-px font-sans text-base text-foreground selection:bg-super\/50 selection:text-foreground dark:selection:bg-super\/10 dark:selection:text-super\"><span class=\"text-3xs rounded-badge group min-w-4 cursor-pointer text-center align-middle font-mono tabular-nums py-[0.1875rem] leading-snug px-[0.3rem] [@media(hover:hover)]:hover:bg-super dark:[@media(hover:hover)]:hover:text-inverse [@media(hover:hover)]:hover:text-white border-subtlest ring-subtlest divide-subtlest bg-subtle\"><span class=\"relative -mt-px inline-block align-middle max-w-[25ch] overflow-hidden\">wikipedia<\/span><span class=\"ml-xs -mt-px mr-px inline-block align-middle\"><span class=\"opacity-50\">+1<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span>\u200b<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"py-0 my-0 prose-p:pt-0 prose-p:mb-2 prose-p:my-0 [&amp;&gt;p]:pt-0 [&amp;&gt;p]:mb-2 [&amp;&gt;p]:my-0\">\n<p class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\"><strong>1994-1995: Haiti (Operation Uphold Democracy)<\/strong> \u2013 Marines restored President Aristide after the coup; brief occupation stabilized politics but fueled long-term instability.<span class=\"inline-flex\" aria-label=\"US Interventions - Global Policy Forum\" data-state=\"closed\"><span class=\"citation inline\"><a class=\"inline\" href=\"https:\/\/archive.globalpolicy.org\/us-westward-expansion\/26024-us-interventions.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span class=\"relative -mt-px select-none whitespace-nowrap -top-px font-sans text-base text-foreground selection:bg-super\/50 selection:text-foreground dark:selection:bg-super\/10 dark:selection:text-super\"><span class=\"text-3xs rounded-badge group min-w-4 cursor-pointer text-center align-middle font-mono tabular-nums py-[0.1875rem] leading-snug px-[0.3rem] [@media(hover:hover)]:hover:bg-super dark:[@media(hover:hover)]:hover:text-inverse [@media(hover:hover)]:hover:text-white border-subtlest ring-subtlest divide-subtlest bg-subtle\"><span class=\"relative -mt-px inline-block align-middle max-w-[25ch] overflow-hidden\">archive.globalpolicy<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span>\u200b<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"py-0 my-0 prose-p:pt-0 prose-p:mb-2 prose-p:my-0 [&amp;&gt;p]:pt-0 [&amp;&gt;p]:mb-2 [&amp;&gt;p]:my-0\">\n<p class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\"><strong>1995\/1999: Bosnia\/Kosovo (NATO Operations Deliberate Force\/Allied Force)<\/strong> \u2013 Air campaigns halted ethnic cleansing; Kosovo bombing forced Milosevic&#8217;s retreat, marking US-led NATO expansion in Europe.<span class=\"inline-flex\" aria-label=\"US Interventions - Global Policy Forum\" data-state=\"closed\"><span class=\"citation inline\"><a class=\"inline\" href=\"https:\/\/archive.globalpolicy.org\/us-westward-expansion\/26024-us-interventions.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span class=\"relative -mt-px select-none whitespace-nowrap -top-px font-sans text-base text-foreground selection:bg-super\/50 selection:text-foreground dark:selection:bg-super\/10 dark:selection:text-super\"><span class=\"text-3xs rounded-badge group min-w-4 cursor-pointer text-center align-middle font-mono tabular-nums py-[0.1875rem] leading-snug px-[0.3rem] [@media(hover:hover)]:hover:bg-super dark:[@media(hover:hover)]:hover:text-inverse [@media(hover:hover)]:hover:text-white border-subtlest ring-subtlest divide-subtlest bg-subtle\"><span class=\"relative -mt-px inline-block align-middle max-w-[25ch] overflow-hidden\">archive.globalpolicy<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span>\u200b<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"py-0 my-0 prose-p:pt-0 prose-p:mb-2 prose-p:my-0 [&amp;&gt;p]:pt-0 [&amp;&gt;p]:mb-2 [&amp;&gt;p]:my-0\">\n<p class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\"><strong>1998: Afghanistan\/Sudan (Operation Infinite Reach)<\/strong> \u2013 Cruise missiles hit al-Qaeda camps and pharma plant post-embassy bombings; first overt preemptive strikes on non-state actors.<span class=\"inline-flex\" aria-label=\"Foreign interventions by the United States - Wikipedia\" data-state=\"closed\"><span class=\"citation inline\"><a class=\"inline\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Foreign_interventions_by_the_United_States\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span class=\"relative -mt-px select-none whitespace-nowrap -top-px font-sans text-base text-foreground selection:bg-super\/50 selection:text-foreground dark:selection:bg-super\/10 dark:selection:text-super\"><span class=\"text-3xs rounded-badge group min-w-4 cursor-pointer text-center align-middle font-mono tabular-nums py-[0.1875rem] leading-snug px-[0.3rem] [@media(hover:hover)]:hover:bg-super dark:[@media(hover:hover)]:hover:text-inverse [@media(hover:hover)]:hover:text-white border-subtlest ring-subtlest divide-subtlest bg-subtle\"><span class=\"relative -mt-px inline-block align-middle max-w-[25ch] overflow-hidden\">wikipedia<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span>\u200b<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"py-0 my-0 prose-p:pt-0 prose-p:mb-2 prose-p:my-0 [&amp;&gt;p]:pt-0 [&amp;&gt;p]:mb-2 [&amp;&gt;p]:my-0\">\n<p class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\"><strong>2001-2021: Afghanistan (Operation Enduring Freedom)<\/strong> \u2013 Invasion toppled Taliban post-9\/11; longest US war cost $2T, 2,400+ American lives, ended in chaotic withdrawal and Taliban resurgence.<span class=\"inline-flex\" data-state=\"closed\"><span class=\"citation inline\"><a class=\"inline\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Foreign_interventions_by_the_United_States\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span class=\"relative -mt-px select-none whitespace-nowrap -top-px font-sans text-base text-foreground selection:bg-super\/50 selection:text-foreground dark:selection:bg-super\/10 dark:selection:text-super\"><span class=\"text-3xs rounded-badge group min-w-4 cursor-pointer text-center align-middle font-mono tabular-nums py-[0.1875rem] leading-snug px-[0.3rem] [@media(hover:hover)]:hover:bg-super dark:[@media(hover:hover)]:hover:text-inverse [@media(hover:hover)]:hover:text-white border-subtlest ring-subtlest divide-subtlest bg-subtle\"><span class=\"relative -mt-px inline-block align-middle max-w-[25ch] overflow-hidden\">wikipedia<\/span><span class=\"ml-xs -mt-px mr-px inline-block align-middle\"><span class=\"opacity-50\">+1<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span>\u200b<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"py-0 my-0 prose-p:pt-0 prose-p:mb-2 prose-p:my-0 [&amp;&gt;p]:pt-0 [&amp;&gt;p]:mb-2 [&amp;&gt;p]:my-0\">\n<p class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\"><strong>2003-2011: Iraq (Operation Iraqi Freedom)<\/strong> \u2013 Invasion ousted Saddam on WMD claims (later debunked); insurgency killed 4,400+ US troops, led to ISIS rise.<span class=\"inline-flex\" data-state=\"closed\"><span class=\"citation inline\"><a class=\"inline\" href=\"https:\/\/archive.globalpolicy.org\/us-westward-expansion\/26024-us-interventions.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span class=\"relative -mt-px select-none whitespace-nowrap -top-px font-sans text-base text-foreground selection:bg-super\/50 selection:text-foreground dark:selection:bg-super\/10 dark:selection:text-super\"><span class=\"text-3xs rounded-badge group min-w-4 cursor-pointer text-center align-middle font-mono tabular-nums py-[0.1875rem] leading-snug px-[0.3rem] [@media(hover:hover)]:hover:bg-super dark:[@media(hover:hover)]:hover:text-inverse [@media(hover:hover)]:hover:text-white border-subtlest ring-subtlest divide-subtlest bg-subtle\"><span class=\"relative -mt-px inline-block align-middle max-w-[25ch] overflow-hidden\">archive.globalpolicy<\/span><span class=\"ml-xs -mt-px mr-px inline-block align-middle\"><span class=\"opacity-50\">+1<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span>\u200b<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"py-0 my-0 prose-p:pt-0 prose-p:mb-2 prose-p:my-0 [&amp;&gt;p]:pt-0 [&amp;&gt;p]:mb-2 [&amp;&gt;p]:my-0\">\n<p class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\"><strong>2011: Libya (Odyssey Dawn)<\/strong> \u2013 NATO airstrikes aided rebels against Gaddafi; power vacuum spawned militias, migration crises.<span class=\"inline-flex\" aria-label=\"Foreign interventions by the United States - Wikipedia\" data-state=\"closed\"><span class=\"citation inline\"><a class=\"inline\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Foreign_interventions_by_the_United_States\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span class=\"relative -mt-px select-none whitespace-nowrap -top-px font-sans text-base text-foreground selection:bg-super\/50 selection:text-foreground dark:selection:bg-super\/10 dark:selection:text-super\"><span class=\"text-3xs rounded-badge group min-w-4 cursor-pointer text-center align-middle font-mono tabular-nums py-[0.1875rem] leading-snug px-[0.3rem] [@media(hover:hover)]:hover:bg-super dark:[@media(hover:hover)]:hover:text-inverse [@media(hover:hover)]:hover:text-white border-subtlest ring-subtlest divide-subtlest bg-subtle\"><span class=\"relative -mt-px inline-block align-middle max-w-[25ch] overflow-hidden\">wikipedia<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span>\u200b<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"py-0 my-0 prose-p:pt-0 prose-p:mb-2 prose-p:my-0 [&amp;&gt;p]:pt-0 [&amp;&gt;p]:mb-2 [&amp;&gt;p]:my-0\">\n<p class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\"><strong>2014-present: Iraq\/Syria (Operation Inherent Resolve)<\/strong> \u2013 Airstrikes, special ops vs ISIS; ongoing with 900 US troops in Syria, strikes in 2025 hit 70+ targets.<span class=\"inline-flex\" data-state=\"closed\"><span class=\"citation inline\"><a class=\"inline\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/defense\/3912191\/where-us-military-carried-out-operations-2025\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span class=\"relative -mt-px select-none whitespace-nowrap -top-px font-sans text-base text-foreground selection:bg-super\/50 selection:text-foreground dark:selection:bg-super\/10 dark:selection:text-super\"><span class=\"text-3xs rounded-badge group min-w-4 cursor-pointer text-center align-middle font-mono tabular-nums py-[0.1875rem] leading-snug px-[0.3rem] [@media(hover:hover)]:hover:bg-super dark:[@media(hover:hover)]:hover:text-inverse [@media(hover:hover)]:hover:text-white border-subtlest ring-subtlest divide-subtlest bg-subtle\"><span class=\"relative -mt-px inline-block align-middle max-w-[25ch] overflow-hidden\">washingtonexaminer<\/span><span class=\"ml-xs -mt-px mr-px inline-block align-middle\"><span class=\"opacity-50\">+1<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span>\u200b<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"py-0 my-0 prose-p:pt-0 prose-p:mb-2 prose-p:my-0 [&amp;&gt;p]:pt-0 [&amp;&gt;p]:mb-2 [&amp;&gt;p]:my-0\">\n<p class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\"><strong>2015-present: Yemen\/Somalia (Drone campaigns)<\/strong> \u2013 Strikes vs AQAP, al-Shabaab, Houthis; 2025&#8217;s Operation Rough Rider hit 1,000+ Houthi targets after Red Sea attacks.<span class=\"inline-flex\" data-state=\"closed\"><span class=\"citation inline\"><a class=\"inline\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/defense\/3912191\/where-us-military-carried-out-operations-2025\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span class=\"relative -mt-px select-none whitespace-nowrap -top-px font-sans text-base text-foreground selection:bg-super\/50 selection:text-foreground dark:selection:bg-super\/10 dark:selection:text-super\"><span class=\"text-3xs rounded-badge group min-w-4 cursor-pointer text-center align-middle font-mono tabular-nums py-[0.1875rem] leading-snug px-[0.3rem] [@media(hover:hover)]:hover:bg-super dark:[@media(hover:hover)]:hover:text-inverse [@media(hover:hover)]:hover:text-white border-subtlest ring-subtlest divide-subtlest bg-subtle\"><span class=\"relative -mt-px inline-block align-middle max-w-[25ch] overflow-hidden\">washingtonexaminer<\/span><span class=\"ml-xs -mt-px mr-px inline-block align-middle\"><span class=\"opacity-50\">+1<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span>\u200b<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"py-0 my-0 prose-p:pt-0 prose-p:mb-2 prose-p:my-0 [&amp;&gt;p]:pt-0 [&amp;&gt;p]:mb-2 [&amp;&gt;p]:my-0\">\n<p class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\"><strong>2017 Niger &amp; Sahel (OEF-Trans Sahara)<\/strong> \u2013 Special forces ambushed, 4 US deaths; drone bases built, full withdrawal by 2024 amid coups.<span class=\"inline-flex\" aria-label=\"Foreign interventions by the United States - Wikipedia\" data-state=\"closed\"><span class=\"citation inline\"><a class=\"inline\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Foreign_interventions_by_the_United_States\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span class=\"relative -mt-px select-none whitespace-nowrap -top-px font-sans text-base text-foreground selection:bg-super\/50 selection:text-foreground dark:selection:bg-super\/10 dark:selection:text-super\"><span class=\"text-3xs rounded-badge group min-w-4 cursor-pointer text-center align-middle font-mono tabular-nums py-[0.1875rem] leading-snug px-[0.3rem] [@media(hover:hover)]:hover:bg-super dark:[@media(hover:hover)]:hover:text-inverse [@media(hover:hover)]:hover:text-white border-subtlest ring-subtlest divide-subtlest bg-subtle\"><span class=\"relative -mt-px inline-block align-middle max-w-[25ch] overflow-hidden\">wikipedia<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span>\u200b<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"py-0 my-0 prose-p:pt-0 prose-p:mb-2 prose-p:my-0 [&amp;&gt;p]:pt-0 [&amp;&gt;p]:mb-2 [&amp;&gt;p]:my-0\">\n<p class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\"><strong>2025: Yemen (Operation Rough Rider\/Midnight Hammer)<\/strong> \u2013 High-intensity strikes on Houthis, then Iran&#8217;s nuclear sites (Fordow, Natanz) with B-2 bombers, Tomahawks; ceasefire followed.<span class=\"inline-flex\" data-state=\"closed\"><span class=\"citation inline\"><a class=\"inline\" href=\"https:\/\/news.usni.org\/2026\/01\/02\/top-stories-2025-operations-in-the-middle-east-u-s-southern-command\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span class=\"relative -mt-px select-none whitespace-nowrap -top-px font-sans text-base text-foreground selection:bg-super\/50 selection:text-foreground dark:selection:bg-super\/10 dark:selection:text-super\"><span class=\"text-3xs rounded-badge group min-w-4 cursor-pointer text-center align-middle font-mono tabular-nums py-[0.1875rem] leading-snug px-[0.3rem] [@media(hover:hover)]:hover:bg-super dark:[@media(hover:hover)]:hover:text-inverse [@media(hover:hover)]:hover:text-white border-subtlest ring-subtlest divide-subtlest bg-subtle\"><span class=\"relative -mt-px inline-block align-middle max-w-[25ch] overflow-hidden\">news.usni<\/span><span class=\"ml-xs -mt-px mr-px inline-block align-middle\"><span class=\"opacity-50\">+1<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span>\u200b<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"py-0 my-0 prose-p:pt-0 prose-p:mb-2 prose-p:my-0 [&amp;&gt;p]:pt-0 [&amp;&gt;p]:mb-2 [&amp;&gt;p]:my-0\">\n<p class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\"><strong>2025: Caribbean\/Latin America (Operation Southern Spear)<\/strong> \u2013 Boat strikes killed 100+ alleged drug smugglers; tanker seizures near Venezuela signal pressure on Maduro regime.<span class=\"inline-flex\" aria-label=\"Where the US military has carried out operations in 2025\" data-state=\"closed\"><span class=\"citation inline\"><a class=\"inline\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/defense\/3912191\/where-us-military-carried-out-operations-2025\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span class=\"relative -mt-px select-none whitespace-nowrap -top-px font-sans text-base text-foreground selection:bg-super\/50 selection:text-foreground dark:selection:bg-super\/10 dark:selection:text-super\"><span class=\"text-3xs rounded-badge group min-w-4 cursor-pointer text-center align-middle font-mono tabular-nums py-[0.1875rem] leading-snug px-[0.3rem] [@media(hover:hover)]:hover:bg-super dark:[@media(hover:hover)]:hover:text-inverse [@media(hover:hover)]:hover:text-white border-subtlest ring-subtlest divide-subtlest bg-subtle\"><span class=\"relative -mt-px inline-block align-middle max-w-[25ch] overflow-hidden\">washingtonexaminer<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span>\u200b<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"py-0 my-0 prose-p:pt-0 prose-p:mb-2 prose-p:my-0 [&amp;&gt;p]:pt-0 [&amp;&gt;p]:mb-2 [&amp;&gt;p]:my-0\">\n<p class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\"><strong>Ongoing: Syria\/Iraq\/Africa<\/strong> \u2013 2025 saw 80+ ops detaining 23 terrorists; Somalia strikes resumed Feb 2025 under Trump surge.<span class=\"inline-flex\" data-state=\"closed\"><span class=\"citation inline\"><a class=\"inline\" href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/news\/pentagon-congress\/2025\/12\/31\/a-year-of-strikes-us-military-operations-surge-under-trump\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span class=\"relative -mt-px select-none whitespace-nowrap -top-px font-sans text-base text-foreground selection:bg-super\/50 selection:text-foreground dark:selection:bg-super\/10 dark:selection:text-super\"><span class=\"text-3xs rounded-badge group min-w-4 cursor-pointer text-center align-middle font-mono tabular-nums py-[0.1875rem] leading-snug px-[0.3rem] [@media(hover:hover)]:hover:bg-super dark:[@media(hover:hover)]:hover:text-inverse [@media(hover:hover)]:hover:text-white border-subtlest ring-subtlest divide-subtlest bg-subtle\"><span class=\"relative -mt-px inline-block align-middle max-w-[25ch] overflow-hidden\">militarytimes<\/span><span class=\"ml-xs -mt-px mr-px inline-block align-middle\"><span class=\"opacity-50\">+1<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span>\u200b<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\">These interventions, totaling over 250 post-1991 per CRS data, often prioritized short-term security over long-term stability, costing trillions and eroding global goodwill. Recent Trump-era actions emphasize kinetic force against cartels, Iran, and terrorists.<span class=\"inline-flex\" data-state=\"closed\"><span class=\"citation inline\"><a class=\"inline\" href=\"https:\/\/towardfreedom.org\/story\/archives\/americas\/u-s-launched-251-military-interventions-since-1991-and-469-since-1798\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span class=\"relative -mt-px select-none whitespace-nowrap -top-px font-sans text-base text-foreground selection:bg-super\/50 selection:text-foreground dark:selection:bg-super\/10 dark:selection:text-super\"><span class=\"text-3xs rounded-badge group min-w-4 cursor-pointer text-center align-middle font-mono tabular-nums py-[0.1875rem] leading-snug px-[0.3rem] [@media(hover:hover)]:hover:bg-super dark:[@media(hover:hover)]:hover:text-inverse [@media(hover:hover)]:hover:text-white border-subtlest ring-subtlest divide-subtlest bg-subtle\"><span class=\"relative -mt-px inline-block align-middle max-w-[25ch] overflow-hidden\">towardfreedom<\/span><span class=\"ml-xs -mt-px mr-px inline-block align-middle\"><span class=\"opacity-50\">+2<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\"><span style=\"color: #000080;\"><strong><span class=\"inline-flex\" data-state=\"closed\">Sources:\u200b<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<ol>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Foreign_interventions_by_the_United_States\">https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Foreign_interventions_by_the_United_States<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/archive.globalpolicy.org\/us-westward-expansion\/26024-us-interventions.html\">https:\/\/archive.globalpolicy.org\/us-westward-expansion\/26024-us-interventions.html<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Timeline_of_United_States_military_operations\">https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Timeline_of_United_States_military_operations<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/defense\/3912191\/where-us-military-carried-out-operations-2025\/\">https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/defense\/3912191\/where-us-military-carried-out-operations-2025\/<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/news.usni.org\/2026\/01\/02\/top-stories-2025-operations-in-the-middle-east-u-s-southern-command\">https:\/\/news.usni.org\/2026\/01\/02\/top-stories-2025-operations-in-the-middle-east-u-s-southern-command<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/news\/pentagon-congress\/2025\/12\/31\/a-year-of-strikes-us-military-operations-surge-under-trump\/\">https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/news\/pentagon-congress\/2025\/12\/31\/a-year-of-strikes-us-military-operations-surge-under-trump\/<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/towardfreedom.org\/story\/archives\/americas\/u-s-launched-251-military-interventions-since-1991-and-469-since-1798\/\">https:\/\/towardfreedom.org\/story\/archives\/americas\/u-s-launched-251-military-interventions-since-1991-and-469-since-1798\/<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/geopoliticaleconomy.com\/2022\/09\/13\/us-251-military-interventions-1991\/\">https:\/\/geopoliticaleconomy.com\/2022\/09\/13\/us-251-military-interventions-1991\/<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.congress.gov\/crs-product\/R42738\">https:\/\/www.congress.gov\/crs-product\/R42738<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.voanews.com\/a\/us-has-long-history-of-overseas-military-operations\/1742529.html\">https:\/\/www.voanews.com\/a\/us-has-long-history-of-overseas-military-operations\/1742529.html<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/01\/02\/nx-s1-5652133\/us-venezuela-interventionism-caribbean-latin-america-history-trump\">https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/01\/02\/nx-s1-5652133\/us-venezuela-interventionism-caribbean-latin-america-history-trump<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/mronline.org\/2022\/09\/16\/u-s-launched-251-military-interventions-since-1991-and-469-since-1798\/\">https:\/\/mronline.org\/2022\/09\/16\/u-s-launched-251-military-interventions-since-1991-and-469-since-1798\/<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/lanekenworthy.net\/us-military-intervention-abroad\/\">https:\/\/lanekenworthy.net\/us-military-intervention-abroad\/<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/wgbh\/pages\/frontline\/shows\/military\/etc\/cron.html\">https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/wgbh\/pages\/frontline\/shows\/military\/etc\/cron.html<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.history.navy.mil\/research\/library\/online-reading-room\/title-list-alphabetically\/i\/use-of-armed-forces-abroad-1798-2004.html\">https:\/\/www.history.navy.mil\/research\/library\/online-reading-room\/title-list-alphabetically\/i\/use-of-armed-forces-abroad-1798-2004.html<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.congress.gov\/crs-product\/RS21405\">https:\/\/www.congress.gov\/crs-product\/RS21405<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/libguides.fdlp.gov\/military-history-american-conflicts-and-wars\/military-conflicts-since-1975\">https:\/\/libguides.fdlp.gov\/military-history-american-conflicts-and-wars\/military-conflicts-since-1975<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/media.defense.gov\/2023\/Mar\/13\/2003178168\/-1\/-1\/1\/DOD-STRATEGIC-MGMT-PLAN-2023.PDF\">https:\/\/media.defense.gov\/2023\/Mar\/13\/2003178168\/-1\/-1\/1\/DOD-STRATEGIC-MGMT-PLAN-2023.PDF<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cfr.org\/article\/congress-approves-2026-us-defense-bill\">https:\/\/www.cfr.org\/article\/congress-approves-2026-us-defense-bill<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/ifc.usafa.edu\/articles\/institute-of-future-conflict-2026-threat-horizon-report\">https:\/\/ifc.usafa.edu\/articles\/institute-of-future-conflict-2026-threat-horizon-report<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/countercurrents.org\/2024\/10\/why-us-military-interventions-abroad-increased-at-a-time-when-risks-decreased-and-is-policy-change-overdue\/\">https:\/\/countercurrents.org\/2024\/10\/why-us-military-interventions-abroad-increased-at-a-time-when-risks-decreased-and-is-policy-change-overdue\/<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.congress.gov\/bill\/119th-congress\/senate-bill\/2296\/text\">https:\/\/www.congress.gov\/bill\/119th-congress\/senate-bill\/2296\/text<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/globalaffairs.org\/commentary\/blogs\/us-sending-more-troops-middle-east-where-world-are-us-military-deployed\">https:\/\/globalaffairs.org\/commentary\/blogs\/us-sending-more-troops-middle-east-where-world-are-us-military-deployed<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.state.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Final-State-USAID-FY-2022-2026-Joint-Strategic-Plan_29MAR2022.pdf\">https:\/\/www.state.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Final-State-USAID-FY-2022-2026-Joint-Strategic-Plan_29MAR2022.pdf<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/List_of_deployments_of_the_United_States_military_forces_overseas\">https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/List_of_deployments_of_the_United_States_military_forces_overseas<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/now.tufts.edu\/2023\/10\/16\/us-foreign-policy-increasingly-relies-military-interventions\">https:\/\/now.tufts.edu\/2023\/10\/16\/us-foreign-policy-increasingly-relies-military-interventions<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.crisisgroup.org\/united-states\/009-bending-guardrails-us-war-powers-after-7-october\">https:\/\/www.crisisgroup.org\/united-states\/009-bending-guardrails-us-war-powers-after-7-october<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/usafacts.org\/articles\/where-are-us-military-members-stationed-and-why\/\">https:\/\/usafacts.org\/articles\/where-are-us-military-members-stationed-and-why\/<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/peoplesdispatch.org\/2025\/11\/14\/a-brief-overview-of-us-military-interventions-in-the-americas\/\">https:\/\/peoplesdispatch.org\/2025\/11\/14\/a-brief-overview-of-us-military-interventions-in-the-americas\/<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The United States has engaged in dozens of military interventions abroad over the last four decades, spanning counterterrorism, regime change, humanitarian efforts, and great power competition, often without formal congressional declarations of war. These actions reflect a shift from Cold War proxy conflicts to post-9\/11 wars on terror and recent escalations under President Trump&#8217;s second&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[19],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5910","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-must-read"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/novus2.com\/righteouscause\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5910","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/novus2.com\/righteouscause\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/novus2.com\/righteouscause\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novus2.com\/righteouscause\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novus2.com\/righteouscause\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5910"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/novus2.com\/righteouscause\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5910\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/novus2.com\/righteouscause\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5910"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novus2.com\/righteouscause\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5910"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novus2.com\/righteouscause\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5910"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}