Throughout 2025, the United States under President Donald Trump carried out military strikes in seven different countries. This fact has drawn attention amid Trump’s frequent portrayal of himself as a “peace president” and a leader who ends wars.
However, records of military operations over the year instead indicate an expansion of U.S. armed force across multiple regions of the world.
These actions did not always take the form of large-scale invasions. Instead, they were dominated by airstrikes, drone operations, and rapid, dispersed naval attacks. Below are the seven countries that were targeted by U.S. military action in 2025.
1. Venezuela: From Sea to Land
Venezuela became one of the most sensitive episodes in U.S. foreign policy at the beginning of this year. In late December 2025, Trump publicly confirmed an attack on dock facilities in Venezuelan territory. He stated that a “large explosion” had occurred at a site claimed to be an operational hub for drug-smuggling vessels.
The strike marked the first U.S. military action on Venezuelan soil in several years. Prior to this, Washington had already conducted operations in the Caribbean Sea and the eastern Pacific under the justification of combating drug trafficking.
Since September, dozens of small vessels have been hit in these attacks, with reported fatalities ranging from several dozen to more than one hundred people.
The Venezuelan government has described the operation as a covert effort to pressure the administration of Nicolás Maduro, while the United States has framed it as a matter of national security.
2. Nigeria: A Christmas Strike That Made History
Nigeria entered a new chapter on Christmas Day 2025, when the United States carried out its first-ever military strike in the country. The operation targeted armed groups in northwestern Nigeria and was claimed to be directed at ISIS-linked affiliates.
The strike followed political pressure from Washington, which promoted a narrative of protecting Christian communities. However, the Nigerian government emphasized that armed conflict in the country is complex and not rooted in a single religion.
While casualty details were not widely disclosed, the attack marked a new escalation of U.S. military involvement in West Africa.
3. Somalia: A Record Number of Airstrikes
Among the seven countries, Somalia was one of the most frequently targeted. Throughout 2025, hundreds of airstrikes were carried out against al-Shabab and ISIS-Somalia.
The intensity of these operations reportedly surpassed the total number of strikes conducted under several previous U.S. administrations combined.
The United States described these actions as a response to requests from the Somali government and as part of the broader war on terrorism. However, investigative reports have revealed civilian casualties, including children.
To date, the Pentagon has not released comprehensive data on the number of non-combatant victims.
4. Syria: Retaliation for Attacks on U.S. Forces
In Syria, the United States launched airstrikes against dozens of ISIS targets in December 2025. The operation was described as retaliation for an attack near Palmyra that killed two U.S. soldiers and a civilian translator.
The strikes destroyed ISIS weapons storage facilities across multiple locations. Despite Trump’s earlier statements that the Syrian conflict was “not America’s business,” U.S. forces remained actively engaged in military operations in the country throughout 2025.
5. Iran: Direct Strikes on Nuclear Facilities
The most dramatic moment occurred on June 22, 2025, when the United States struck three major Iranian nuclear facilities. The operation took place amid a brief but intense conflict between Iran and Israel.
Trump stated that the strikes were intended to curb the nuclear threat. Iran later acknowledged significant damage to the targeted facilities.
Although a ceasefire was announced days later, Trump reiterated threats of further attacks should Iran rebuild its nuclear program.
6. Yemen: A Prolonged and Deadly Campaign
In Yemen, the United States was involved in its most sustained military campaign of the year. Since early 2025, air and naval strikes were carried out almost daily against Houthi forces.
Critical infrastructure, including ports, airports, and civilian facilities, suffered severe damage. Casualty figures remain sharply contested, Washington claimed that hundreds of Houthi fighters were killed, while local authorities reported significant civilian casualties. The strikes only came to a halt after a ceasefire was reached in May.
7. Iraq: Targeting ISIS Leadership
Iraq once again became a target when the United States launched an airstrike in Anbar Province in March 2025. The operation killed a senior ISIS figure described as the group’s deputy leader.
The United States stated that the strike was conducted in coordination with Iraqi intelligence and confirmed through DNA testing. Although limited in scale, the operation demonstrated that the U.S. continues to maintain an active military option in Iraq more than a decade after its first major campaign against ISIS.
Between Peace Rhetoric and the Reality of Strikes
With seven countries targeted in a single year, Trump’s foreign policy reveals a consistent pattern: a reduction in large-scale ground wars, coupled with the normalization of rapid, dispersed strikes.
Trump has often measured success by the wars he claims to have ended. Yet conditions on the ground suggest that conflict has not truly ceased.
This discrepancy reflects the gap between the image of a peacemaker and the reality of ongoing U.S. military policy, which continues to have tangible consequences for millions of people worldwide.
