The United States has conducted a series of military operations in multiple regions over the past two decades, ranging from large-scale wars to raids and targeted airstrikes. These actions have once again come into focus after the recent Joint attacks between the United States and Israel on Iranian targets, which have escalated geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and beyond.
From counterterrorism operations in Syria to counterdrug missions in Latin America to major wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, American military involvement abroad has taken many forms. Here’s a closer look at six major operations spanning different countries and time periods.
On March 3, 2026, US and Ecuadorian military forces launched coordinated operations against organized crime and drug trafficking networks within Ecuador. The mission was confirmed by the US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), which said the action was directed against “designated terrorist organizations” involved in narcoterrorism and illegal mining.
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While the details of the operation remain secret, Ecuador’s government described it as part of a new phase in its campaign against the powerful criminal cartels that have fueled the escalation of violence in the country. Ecuador has increasingly sought international military cooperation as it confronts transnational drug networks operating in South America.
January 3, 2026: US military raid in Venezuela to capture Nicolás Maduro
In early 2026, the United States carried out one of its most dramatic overseas operations in Venezuela. On January 3, US special operations forces launched a raid on Caracas that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.
The mission, known as Operation Absolute Resolve, involved several branches of the U.S. military, including Delta Force and aviation units from the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment. The couple was flown to the U.S. warship USS Iwo Jima and then flown to the United States to face charges related to narcotics trafficking and other crimes in federal court.
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The operation sparked an intense international debate about the sovereignty and legality of carrying out such military action on foreign soil.
December 19, 2025: Operation Hawkeye Strike against ISIS in Syria
In December 2025, US Central Command launched Operation Hawkeye Strike, a major air and artillery campaign targeting ISIS infrastructure in Syria. The operation followed an attack earlier that month that killed two U.S. soldiers and a civilian interpreter near Palmyra.
During the operation, U.S. and partner forces, including Jordanian aircraft, attacked more than 70 ISIS targets in central Syria using more than 100 precision ammunition. The attacks targeted weapons depots, training camps, command centers and logistics centers associated with the militant group.
The mission was part of a broader US-led campaign against ISIS that has continued in Syria for more than a decade.
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June 22, 2025: US B-2 bomber attacks Iranian nuclear facilities
On June 22, 2025, the United States carried out a major strike against Iran’s nuclear infrastructure as part of Operation Midnight Hammer.
During the mission, B-2 Spirit stealth bombers launched from Whiteman Air Force Base attacked three key Iranian nuclear facilities: Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan, using massive bunker-buster bombs known as GBU-57 Mass Ordnance Penetrators. Submarine-launched Tomahawk cruise missiles were also used in the attack.
The operation marked the first combat use of the GBU-57 bombs and represented a significant escalation in tensions over Iran’s nuclear program.
2001-2021: the US war in Afghanistan
The longest war in American history began in October 2001, following the terrorist attacks of September 11. The United States, at the head of an international coalition, invaded Afghanistan dismantle Al Qaeda and remove the Taliban government that had protected the group.
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U.S.-backed forces quickly overthrew the Taliban regime, but the conflict evolved into a protracted insurgency that lasted nearly two decades.
The war formally ended in 2021 when US forces withdrew and the Taliban returned to power, ending the US-backed Afghan government.
2003-2011: the Iraq war
Another major American military intervention occurred in Iraq beginning in March 2003. The United States and allied forces invaded the country after issuing an ultimatum to Iraqi President Saddam Hussein leave power
Coalition forces quickly defeated the Iraqi army and ousted Hussein from power, but the subsequent occupation sparked a prolonged insurgency and sectarian conflict.
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The United States gradually reduced its military presence after violence subsided in the late 2000s and American combat troops formally withdrew from Iraq in December 2011.
