US Military Intervention: A Global Overview
Published on: June 24, 2025
6+
Continents with Activity
50+
Notable Interventions
20 Years
Longest War (Afghanistan)
Geographic Spread of Interventions
This map highlights the countries where the United States has been involved in significant military operations, providing a picture of its global influence.
Major Interventions by Continent
Asia
Korean War (1950-1953)
The United States led a UN coalition to defend South Korea from an invasion by communist North Korea. The war ended in a stalemate, and Korea remains divided.
Vietnam War (1965-1973)
The U.S. became embroiled in this long and controversial war to prevent the spread of communism in Southeast Asia. It resulted in the withdrawal of U.S. forces and the unification of Vietnam in 1975.
Afghanistan (2001-2021)
In response to the 9/11 attacks, the U.S. invaded to dismantle al-Qaeda and oust the Taliban regime. It became America's longest war, ending with the Taliban retaking power.
Middle East
Iran (1953)
The CIA orchestrated a coup to overthrow the democratically elected Prime Minister, Mohammad Mosaddegh, who had nationalized the oil industry.
Gulf War (1991)
In response to Iraq's invasion of Kuwait, the U.S. led an international coalition to liberate Kuwait.
Iraq War (2003-2011)
Alleging threats of weapons of mass destruction, the U.S. invaded Iraq and overthrew Saddam Hussein, but it led to a prolonged insurgency and instability.
Europe
World War I (1917-1918)
The United States joined the Allied Powers, playing a decisive role in the outcome of the conflict.
World War II (1941-1945)
After the attack on Pearl Harbor, the U.S. entered the war against the Axis powers and helped liberate Europe from Nazi rule.
Bosnia & Kosovo (1995, 1999)
The U.S. led two major NATO-led interventions in Yugoslavia to stop ethnic conflict and humanitarian crises.
Africa
Somalia (1992-1994)
'Operation Restore Hope' was launched to address a humanitarian crisis, but the mission ended in failure after the 'Black Hawk Down' incident.
Libya (2011)
The U.S. participated in a NATO-led intervention to protect civilians during a civil war, which led to the fall of Gaddafi but created long-term instability.
The Americas
Mexico (1846-1848)
The Mexican-American War resulted in the U.S. acquiring vast territories from Mexico.
Grenada (1983)
The U.S. conducted 'Operation Urgent Fury' to protect American citizens and thwart a Marxist coup.
Panama (1989)
'Operation Just Cause' was launched to oust dictator Manuel Noriega.
Analysis Through Data Visualization
Intervention Rate by Continent
This chart shows on which continents U.S. military interventions were most concentrated.
Duration of Longest Conflicts (Years)
This bar chart compares the duration of some of the longest-lasting U.S. military operations.
Historical Timeline: Major Milestones
1
World Wars (1917, 1941)
U.S. participation in two World Wars ended its isolationist policy on the world stage and established it as a major military power.
2
Korean War (1950)
The first major military conflict of the Cold War, a direct application of the U.S. 'Containment' policy.
3
Vietnam War (1965)
A long and divisive war that had a profound impact on American society and foreign policy.
4
Gulf War (1991)
Led a successful multinational coalition to liberate Kuwait, demonstrating U.S. power in the post-Cold War era.
5
War on Terror (2001)
After the 9/11 attacks, invasions of Afghanistan and later Iraq marked the beginning of a new era in U.S. foreign policy.
Written by
Sajid Hasan
Sajid is a writer and analyst focusing on market dynamics and strategic business movements in South Asia.
