This is a list of military conflicts involving the United States in the 21st century.
For the criteria of what may be permitted on this list, see Lists of wars involving the United States.
Key
21st-century wars
ConflictAlliesOpponent(s)Result President(s) War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)Part of the war on terror and the Afghan conflictLocation: Afghanistan Post-invasion(2001–2021) RS:(2015–2021)
and others
ISAF:(2001–2014)
and others
Local forces: Islamic Republic of Afghanistan(2004–2021) Afghan Transitional Authority(2002–2004) Islamic State of Afghanistan(2001–2002) Khost Protection Force and other pro-government paramilitaries(2002–2021)
Invasion phase(2001)
Local forces: Northern Alliance Post-invasion(2001–2021)
Haqqani network Taliban splinter groups Mullah Dadullah Front Fidai Mahaz
Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent Islamic State – Khorasan Province Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan
Supported by: Hezb-e-Islami Gulbuddin Islamic Jihad Union Turkistan Islamic Party Lashkar-e-Jhangvi Pakistani Taliban Lashkar-e-Islam
Invasion phase(2001) Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan Taliban Haqqani network
Non-state allies: al-Qaeda 055 Brigade Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan Tehreek-e-Nafaz-e-Shariat-e-Mohammadi Jama'at al-Tawhid wal-JihadBergen, Peter. " The Osama bin Laden I Know, 2006 Taliban victory United States invasion of Afghanistan after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks Destruction of al-Qaeda and Taliban militant training camps (2001) Fall of the Taliban government (2001) and Establishment of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Human rights violations at Guantánamo Bay detention camp Start of Taliban insurgency Osama bin Laden killed by SEAL Team Six in Pakistan (2011) "Afghanization" of Afghan conflict. Withdrawal of most US troops by 2014 End of Operation Enduring Freedom; start of Operation Freedom's Sentinel. End of US and ISAF led combat mission; beginning of NATO-led training and assistance mission. Doha Agreement and progressive withdrawal of remaining US troops after 2020 Renewed Taliban offensive in 2021 Taliban forces capture Kabul on August 15, 2021, and overthrow the U.S.-backed Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Re-establishment of the Taliban-run Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan Start of Operation Allies Refuge On August 30, 2021, the last American military plane departed Afghanistan Billions of dollars of foreign-origin military hardware that was formerly in custody of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan seized by Taliban Taliban takeover of AfghanistanGeorge W. Bush(January 20, 2001 – January 20, 2009)
Barack Obama(January 20, 2009 – January 20, 2017)
Donald Trump(January 20, 2017 – January 20, 2021)
Joe Biden(January 20, 2021 – January 20, 2025)US intervention in Yemen(2002–present)Part of the war on terror and the Yemeni civil warLocation: Yemen Al-Qaeda Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula Ansar al-Sharia Al-Qaeda Emirate in Yemen Aden-Abyan Islamic Army Hadrami Domestic Council faction Al-Dhahab tribesmen
Supported by: Al-Shabaab Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent Al-Nusra Front
Military of ISIL Wilayah al-Yemen Wilayat Sanaa Wilayat Aden-Abyan Wilayah Lahij Wilayah Green Brigade Wilayah al-Bayda Wilayah Shabwah Wilayah Ataq Wilayah Hadramawt Ongoing U.S. intervention against jihadists in Yemen 379 drone strikes confirmed Numerous al-Qaeda bases in the Arabian Peninsula destroyed More than 1,500 militants confirmed killed U.S. Navy SEALs conducted hostage rescue operations in 2014 Two military raids in Hathla and Yakla in 2017 In 2022, the Biden administration confirmed that a small number of U.S. military personnel are deployed and conducting operations against al-Qa’ida within Yemen Most recent drone strike launched in January 2026George W. Bush(January 20, 2001 – January 20, 2009)
Barack Obama(January 20, 2009 – January 20, 2017)
Donald Trump(January 20, 2017 – January 20, 2021)
Joe Biden(January 20, 2021 – January 20, 2025)
Donald Trump(January 20, 2025 – Incumbent)Operation Freedom Eagle(2002–2017)Part of the civil conflict in the Philippines, Operation Enduring Freedom and the war on terrorLocation: Philippines Philippines Islamic State – East Asia Province Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters Islamic State of Lanao Moro Islamic Liberation Front Islamic State of Iraq and the LevantUS-allied victory The Operation targeted the various jihadist terror groups operating in the Philippines U.S. military personnel were advising and assisting the Armed Forces of the Philippines in the Southern Philippines In 2014, the CIA had sent its elite paramilitary officers from their Special Activities Division to hunt down and kill or capture key terrorist leaders Substantial reduction in capabilities of domestic and transnational terrorist groups operating in the Philippines Civil conflict in the Philippines continuesGeorge W. Bush(January 20, 2001 – January 20, 2009)
Barack Obama(January 20, 2009 – January 20, 2017)
Donald Trump(January 20, 2017 – January 20, 2021) Iraq War(2003–2011)Part of the Iraqi conflict and the war on terrorLocation: Iraq Post-invasion(2003–2011) USF-I:(2010–2011)
MNF–I:(2003–2009)
and others
Local forces: Awakening Council
Invasion phase(2003) Coalition of the willing:
and others
Local forces: Kurdistan Region Kurdistan Democratic Party Patriotic Union of Kurdistan Iraqi National Congress Free Iraqi Forces Post-invasion(2003–2011) Al-Qaeda in Iraq Islamic Army in Iraq Islamic State of Iraq Mahdi Army Naqshbandi Army Hamas of Iraq Jaysh al-Mujahideen 1920 Revolution Brigades Jamaat Ansar al-Sunna
Invasion phase(2003) Republic of Iraq MEK Inconclusive/Other Result Invasion and occupation of Iraq, based on belief that Saddam Hussein possessed weapons of mass destruction Overthrow of Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party government Establishment of democratic elections and formation of new Shia-led government Capture and execution of Saddam Hussein Search for weapons of mass destruction has failed Large number of civilian casualties, more than 200,000 Iraqi civilians killed Emergence of significant insurgency, rise of al-Qaeda in Iraq, and severe sectarian violence American troop surge in 2007 Subsequent reduction in violence and depletion of al-Qaeda in Iraq Islamic State of Iraq territorially defeated by mid-2008 U.S.–Iraq Status of Forces Agreement in 2008 Withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq in 2011 Weak and unstable democracy in Iraq Stronger Iranian influence Escalation of sectarian insurgency after U.S. withdrawal leading to the rise of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, the successor of al-Qaeda in Iraq Return of US forces to Iraq in 2014George W. Bush(January 20, 2001 – January 20, 2009)
Barack Obama(January 20, 2009 – January 20, 2017)US intervention in the Iraqi Kurdistan conflict(2003)Part of the Iraqi Kurdistan conflict, the Iraq War, and the war on terrorLocation: Kurdistan Region, Iraq CIA
Local forces: Kurdistan Region Peshmerga Patriotic Union of Kurdistan Kurdistan Counter-Terrorism Unit Islamic Emirate of Kurdistan Ansar al-Islam in Kurdistan Kurdistan Islamic Group Kurdistan Islamic Movement US-allied victory U.S. intervention against jihadists in Iraqi Kurdistan Region Ansar al-Islam, a radical Islamist group with ties to al-Qaeda in northern Iraq was eliminated End of the Islamic Emirate of Kurdistan The operation secured the northern front for allied forces during the invasion of Iraq The US-led occupation of Iraq resulted in the formal recognition of the Kurdistan Region as a federal region in the new Iraqi constitution, cementing the area's de facto autonomyGeorge W. Bush(January 20, 2001 – January 20, 2009)Bawean incident(2003)Location: Indonesia United States IndonesiaInconclusive/Other Result F/A-18 Hornet jammed Indonesian F-16B, but another F/A-18 Hornet was successfully locked by Indonesian Air Force F-16B. Resolved with signals and communication US Carrier Strike Group leaves Indonesian territory Indonesia filed a diplomatic complaint to the United StatesGeorge W. Bush(January 20, 2001 – January 20, 2009)US intervention in the War in North-West Pakistan(2004–2018)Part of the Insurgency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the War in Afghanistan, Pakistan–United States skirmishes, and the war on terrorLocation: PakistanSupported by: US-allied victory U.S. intervention against jihadists in Pakistan 430 drone strikes confirmed Destruction of numerous insurgent camps and safe havens 81 high-level insurgent leaders and thousands of low-level insurgents killed"Pakistan Leaders Killed" . New America Foundation. 23 June 2018. Deaths of Afghan Taliban head Akhtar Mansour, and successive Pakistani Taliban heads Baitullah Mehsud and Hakimullah Mehsud Deaths of hundreds of Pakistani civilians Most recent drone strike launched in July 2018George W. Bush(January 20, 2001 – January 20, 2009)
Barack Obama(January 20, 2009 – January 20, 2017)
Donald Trump(January 20, 2017 – January 20, 2021) Second US Intervention in the Somali Civil War(2007–present)Part of the war on terror, Operation Enduring Freedom (Operation Enduring Freedom – Horn of Africa) and the Somali Civil WarLocation: Somalia Supported by:
African Union missions: AUSSOM(2025–present)
ATMIS(2022–2024)
AMISOM(2007–2022)
Islamic Courts Union
Alleged support:
Hizbul Islam
Islamic State in Somalia Ongoing U.S. intervention against jihadists in Somalia U.S. backed Ethiopian invasion and rise of Al-Shabaab(2006–2009) Numerous U.S. drone strikes targeting al-Shabaab and Islamic State – Somalia Province African Union Intervention(2007–2022) Kenyan intervention(2011–2012) Newly formed federal government established in 2012 SEAL Team Six operations Operation Celestial Balance in 2009 Failed raid targeted Abdukadir Mohamed Abdukadir in 2013 Navy SEAL killed in raid in 2017 US airstrikes in November 2017 and December 2018 Attack on US base in Kenya in 2020 Majority of U.S. Troops withdraw in January 2021 African Union Transition Mission(2022–2024) Redeployment of U.S. troops in 2022 United States supports Somali forces and a multinational African Union force with drone strikes, intelligence and training Most recent drone strike launched in December 2025 African Union Support and Stabilization Mission(2025–present) In 2025, al-Shabaab launched a significant offensive Jihadists reclaimed territory lost in 2022-2023George W. Bush(January 20, 2001 – January 20, 2009)
Barack Obama(January 20, 2009 – January 20, 2017)
Donald Trump(January 20, 2017 – January 20, 2021)
Joe Biden(January 20, 2021 – January 20, 2025)
Donald Trump(January 20, 2025 – Incumbent)Pakistan–US skirmishes(2008–2012)Part of the War in Afghanistan and the war on terrorLocation: Pakistan Inconclusive/Other Result A series of lethal military clashes and airstrikes occurred along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border The U.S. pursued militants across the border, while Pakistan viewed these incursions as violations of its national sovereignty In June 2008, a U.S. airstrike killed 11 Pakistani paramilitary troops The peak of the conflict occurred in 2011 when NATO airstrikes killed 24 Pakistani soldiers, leading to a complete freeze in diplomatic relations In retaliation for these skirmishes, Pakistan repeatedly closed supply routes, cutting off vital fuel and hardware for NATO troops in Afghanistan The period of active skirmishing largely ended in 2012 after a formal U.S. apologyGeorge W. Bush(January 20, 2001 – January 20, 2009)
Barack Obama(January 20, 2009 – January 20, 2017) NATO Operation Ocean Shield(2009–2016)Part of the Operation Enduring Freedom (Operation Enduring Freedom – Horn of Africa)Location: Indian Ocean, Gulf of Aden, Guardafui Channel, Arabian Sea and Red Sea
Non-NATO forces: Colombia Somali pirates US-allied victory