The United States has been attacked several times throughout its history including attacks on its states and territories, embassies and consulates, and on its military. Attacks against the United States include invasions, military offensives, raids, bombardment and airstrikes on its military, non-domestic terrorist bombings and shootings, destruction of infrastructure, and any other deliberate act of violence against the United States government or military.

The most recent attack against the United States was by Iran on July 17, 2026, amid the 2026 Iran war’s Iranian strikes on Jordan. Two Iranian ballistic missiles struck the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan, killing two American service members, injuring more than four others, and left one missing. The missiles targeted troop housing on the base, and caused a fire large enough to be detected by NASA’s FIRMS fire detection satellites. On July 18, an American service member was killed during a "controlled detonation" of unexploded ordnance from a downed Iranian drone after being struck by shrapnel.

2000–2009 USS Cole bombing (October 2000)

Part of the al-Qaeda insurgency in Yemen – On October 12, 2000, while refueling at Yemen's Aden harbor, two members of al-Qaeda launched a suicide attack against the , a guided missile destroyer in the United States Navy. While docked, a small fiberglass boat carrying C-4 explosives and two suicide bombers approached the port side of the destroyer and exploded, creating a gash in the ship's port side, killing 17 sailors and injuring 37 others. On March 14, 2007, a federal judge in the United States, Robert G. Doumar, ruled that the Sudanese government was liable for the bombing. In March 2015, U.S. federal judge Rudolph Contreras found both Iran and Sudan complicit in the 2000 bombing of the USS Cole by al Qaeda, stating that "Iran was directly involved in establishing Al-Qaeda's Yemen network and supported training and logistics for Al-Qaeda in the Gulf region" through Hezbollah. Two previous federal judges had ruled that Sudan was liable for its role in the attack, but Contreras's "ruling is the first to find Iran partly responsible for the incident."

September 11 attacks (September 2001)

On the morning of September 11, 2001, nineteen Islamic extremists hijacked four aircraft, murdered several passengers, and took control of the aircraft with intent to fly them into pre-selected targets, located at the World Trade Center in New York City, and The Pentagon in Virginia. American Airlines Flight 11 was flown into 1 World Trade Center; the building immediately caught on fire and collapsed as a result over an hour later, resulting in the deaths of up to 1,000 people. United Airlines Flight 175 was flown into 2 World Trade Center a short time later, killing everyone on board and hundreds more within the building. American Airlines Flight 77 struck The Pentagon, killing everyone in the plane and 125 people within the building. Passengers of United Airlines Flight 93 fought the hijackers, who ran the aircraft into the ground, killing everyone on board. The attacks are the deadliest instances of terrorism in modern world history.

War in Afghanistan (October 2001–August 2021) Date(s) Location Type of attack Details U.S. DeathsMarch 29, 2006Helmand province, AfghanistanAttack Part of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) –February 27, 2007Bagram, AfghanistanSuicide attack, assassination attempt Part of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) –March 4, 2007Shinwar District, AfghanistanSuicide attack Part of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) –0July 13, 2008Waygal district, AfghanistanAttack Part of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) –9September 25, 2011Kabul, AfghanistanAttackAn Afghan employee opened fire inside an Embassy Annex compound, killing one American and wounding three others before being shot and killed.June 25, 2013Kabul, AfghanistanAttackSuicide insurgents initiated a failed assault on the embassy, engaging Afghan security forces and Local Guard Force personnel in a firefight. All perpetrators were killed.September 13, 2013Herat, AfghanistanAttackJune 9, 2014Zabul Province, AfghanistanFriendly fire Part of the War in Afghanistan –5August 26, 2021Kabul, AfghanistanSuicide attack, Terrorism Part of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) –

Attack on American cultural centre in Kolkata (January 2002)

On January 22, 2002, armed militants carried out an attack on the American Center in Kolkata, India. The attackers, riding motorcycles, opened fire on the facility's security personnel using automatic weapons, killing five police officers and injuring at least 20 others. The attack occurred during the early morning hours, targeting the heavily guarded entrance.

The assailants were linked to Harkat-ul-Jihad al-Islami, an Islamist extremist group operating in South Asia. Authorities identified Aftab Ansari, an Indian gangster with ties to Pakistani and Bangladeshi terror networks, as the mastermind behind the attack. Ansari was later captured in Dubai and extradited to India, where he and others involved faced prosecution.

Attacks on the Consulate in Karachi (June 2002–March 2006)

Attack on US Marines in Kuwait (October 2002)

Consulate in Denpasar bombing (October 2002)

On October 12, 2002, a bomb detonated outside the U.S. consulate office in Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia as part of the Paddy's and Sari nightclubs bombings in Kuta.

Mortar attack on American Embassy in Monrovia (July 2003)

On July 21st, 2003, several mortar shells struck the American embassy compound in Monrovia, resulting in two Liberians and two Americans being injured. It is unknown if this attack was targeted.

Embassy in Tashkent bombing (June 2004) On June 30, 2004, Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan bombs embassy.

Attack on the diplomatic compound in Jeddah (December 2004) On December 6, 2004, al-Qaeda gunmen raid diplomatic compound.

Attack on the Embassy in Damascus (September 2006) On September 12, 2006, gunmen attempt to raid the american embassy of Damascus and are shot dead by Syrian security forces.

Embassy in Athens bombing (January 2007) On January 12, 2007, RPG fired at embassy by Revolutionary Struggle.

Embassy in Casablanca bombing (April 2007) On April 14, 2007, two suicide bombers detonated their explosive devices across the street from the consulate general and in front of the Consulate General's public diplomacy facility and language center. Only the bombers were killed.

Attack on the embassy in Belgrade (February 2008)

Attacks on the embassy in Sana'a (March 2008 - January 2009) Date(s) Location Type of attack Details U.S. DeathsMarch 18, 2008Sana'a, YemenBombingMortar rounds missed embassy, hitting nearby school.September 17, 2008Sana'a, YemenAttack

Attack on the consulate in Istanbul (July 2008)

On July 9, 2008, a coordinated terrorist attack targeted the U.S. consulate in Istanbul, Turkey. Three gunmen armed with automatic weapons and a vehicle approached the consulate's entrance, opening fire at Turkish security personnel stationed outside. A prolonged firefight ensued, leading to the deaths of three Turkish police officers and all three attackers. The gunmen were later identified as members of an Al-Qaeda-linked network, motivated by extremist ideology and seeking to target U.S. diplomatic interests. Turkish authorities arrested multiple individuals believed to be associated with the planning and support of the attack.

Attack on the embassy in Managua (October 2009) On October 30, 2009, several hundred supporters from the Sandinista National Liberation Front protesting "U.S. interventionism" swarm the embassy compound, attacking personnel and vandalizing property for four hours.

2010–2019 Consulate bombing in Peshawar (April 2010)

On April 5, 2010, multiple coordinated attacks struck the North-West Frontier Province (now Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) in Pakistan, resulting in significant casualties. The first incident occurred when a suicide bomber detonated an explosive-laden vehicle at the U.S. consulate in Peshawar, killing four Pakistani security personnel and injuring over a dozen. The assault involved gunfire and rocket attacks, attributed to the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), an Islamist militant group aiming to target foreign interests.

Simultaneously, another suicide bombing targeted a political rally in Timergara, in the Lower Dir District. The explosion killed at least 45 people and injured over 80. The rally was organized by the Awami National Party (ANP), a secular political group opposing the Taliban's influence in the region.

Attempted embassy bombing in Tbilisi (September 2010) On September 22, 2010, an explosive device was detonated near the exterior of the American embassy in Tbilisi, with a second device later being recovered nearby and disabled by Georgian police. No claims of responsibility or casualties were reported; however, a leaked classified summary report from the CIA in 2011 concluded Russia's GRU was ultimately responsible for the bombing.

Attack on embassy in Sarajevo (October 2011) On October 28, 2011, a Wahhabi Islamist gunman, fired on the embassy, resulting in one local policeman guarding the embassy being wounded in the arm by the gunman, while the shooter was wounded by a police sniper.

Benghazi attack (September 2012)

On September 11, 2012, heavily armed militants attacked the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya, and a nearby CIA annex. The assault unfolded in two waves, beginning with a coordinated assault on the mission, resulting in the deaths of U.S. Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens and Information Management Officer Sean Smith. Hours later, the attackers targeted the CIA annex, leading to the deaths of two security contractors, Glen Doherty and Tyrone Woods. The attackers were linked to Islamist militant groups, possibly including Ansar al-Sharia.

The incident sparked significant controversy in the U.S. over the adequacy of security measures, the response of the U.S. government, and the initial public statements made about the attack's cause. It also led to multiple congressional investigations and the capture of a suspect, Ahmed Abu Khattala, who was later convicted in U.S. federal court for his role in the attack.

Reactions to Innocence of Muslims (September 2012)

Embassy in Ankara bombing (February 2013)

On February 1, 2013, a suicide bombing targeted the U.S. embassy in Ankara, Turkey. The attacker, Ecevit Şanlı, a member of the far-left Revolutionary People's Liberation Party-Front (DHKP-C), detonated explosives at the embassy's security checkpoint. The blast killed a Turkish security guard, Mustafa Akarsu, and injured three others, including a Turkish journalist.

The attack was attributed to the DHKP-C, known for its opposition to U.S. and NATO influence in Turkey and its history of violent acts. Şanlı, the bomber, was identified as a former convict with a history of involvement in leftist militancy. The group later claimed responsibility, describing the attack as retaliation against U.S. policies in the Middle East and its perceived role in global imperialism.

Operation Inherent Resolve (June 2015–present)

Embassy in Tashkent bombing (September 2015) On September 28, 2015, an unidentified man threw two Molotov cocktails or similar improvised explosives on the grounds of the embassy with one of them detonating. Shortly thereafter, the embassy went into lockdown with security presence increasing after it reopened. No one was injured in the attack.

Embassy in Podgorica bombing (February 2018) On February 21, 2018, a pro-Russian and Serbian-born assailant threw a hand grenade over the wall of the embassy. Reporting indicated the grenade appeared to detonate as it was thrown into the air, and the man detonated a second device that killed him. The man's body was found from the embassy wall.

Atlanta government ransomware attack (March 2018)

Embassy in Beijing bombing (July 2018)