📰 Big stat drop: A new report by the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED) shows the US carried out 573 air and drone strikes between January 20, 2025 and January 5, 2026—more than the 494 US-only strikes over Joe Biden’s entire four-year term.
Include coalition partners and the numbers shift to 658 strikes under Trump versus 694 under Biden. ACLED, an independent conflict-monitoring project, also tracked 1,008 foreign military events last year, resulting in about 1,093 fatalities. In comparison, Biden’s term saw 1,648 events and 1,518 deaths.
Over 80% of Trump’s strikes hit Yemen’s Houthi rebels, accounting for over 530 deaths. The US military also targeted at least 110 alleged drug traffickers in international waters in the Caribbean Sea and Eastern Pacific. The impact of June strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites remains unclear.
ACLED’s analysis flags a “strike first, ask questions later” approach. CEO Clionadh Raleigh warns this fast-paced strategy “challenges the idea that power should be constrained by shared rules.” Recent ops in Venezuela and Nigeria highlight how quickly the US can deploy force—Raleigh cautions that places like Greenland, Colombia and Cuba shouldn’t be treated as mere targets or assets.
As US foreign action ramps up, the report raises big questions about global norms and the future of international cooperation. What do you think is next in the world’s security playbook? 🌍
Reference(s):
U.S. foreign strikes in Trump's 1st year more than Biden's presidency
cgtn.com
