List of wars involving the United States

Summary

This is a list of wars and rebellions involving the United States of America.[1] Currently, there are 105 wars on this list, 4 of which are ongoing.

18th-century wars

  USA defeat
  USA victory
  Another result (e.g. a treaty or peace without a clear result, status quo ante bellum, result unknown or indecisive)
  Ongoing conflict
Conflict Allies Opponent(s) Result for the United States and its Allies Presidents of the United States
American Revolutionary War
(1775–1783)

Location: Eastern North America, Southern North America

the Atlantic

 
The Battle of Long Island, August 27, 1776
  United States
  Kingdom of France

  Spanish Empire

  Iroquois

Watauga Association
Catawba
  Lenape
  Choctaw


  Dutch Republic


  Mysore

  Great Britain
  Loyalists
  German Auxiliaries

  Iroquois

  Cherokee

US-allied victory President of the Continental Congress in American Revolutionary War:
Cherokee–American wars
(1776–1795)

Part of the American Indian Wars

Location: Old Southwest
 
Abduction of Daniel Boone's daughter by the Cherokee
  United States
  Choctaw
  Cherokee US-allied victory President of the Continental Congress in CherokeeAmerican wars:

Presidents of the United States:

Northwest Indian War
(1785–1793)

Part of the American Indian Wars

Location: Northwest Territory
  United States
  Chickasaw
  Choctaw
Western Confederacy   Great Britain US-allied victory George Washington
Quasi-War
(1798–1800)

'Location: Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean, the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean
  United States

Co-belligerent:
  Great Britain

  French Republic Convention of 1800
  • Peaceful cessation of Franco-American alliance
  • End of French privateer attacks on American shipping
  • American neutrality and renunciation of claims by France
John Adams

19th-century wars

Conflict Allies Opponent(s) Result for the United States and its Allies Presidents of the United States
First Barbary War
(1801–1805)

Part of the Barbary Wars

Location: Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Tripoli
 
Lieutenant Presley O'Bannon at Derna, April 1805
  United States[2]
  Sweden[2]
  Kingdom of Sicily[2]
  Malta Protectorate[2]
  Kingdom of Portugal[2]
  Sultanate of Morocco[2]
  Ottoman Tripolitania[3]
  Sultanate of Morocco[3]
US-allied victory Thomas Jefferson
Tecumseh's War
(1810–1813)

Part of the American Indian Wars and the War of 1812

Location: Northwest River Ohio
  United States Tecumseh's Confederacy
US victory James Madison
War of 1812
(1812–1815)

Location: Eastern and Central North America
 
General Andrew Jackson stands on the parapet of his makeshift defenses as his troops repulse attacking Highlanders, by painter Edward Percy Moran in 1910.
  United States
  Choctaw Nation
  Cherokee Nation
Creek Allies
  United Kingdom

Tecumseh's Confederacy

  Spain (1814)
Inconclusive/Other Result
Creek War
(1813–1814)

Part of the American Indian Wars and the War of 1812

Location: Southern United States
  United States
Lower Creeks
  Cherokee Nation
  Choctaw Nation
Red Stick Creek US-allied victory
Second Barbary War
(1815)

Part of the Barbary Wars

Location: Mediterranean Sea and the Barbary States
 
Decatur's squadron off Algiers
  United States   Deylik of Algiers
US victory
First Seminole War
(1817–1818)

Part of the Seminole Wars and the American Indian Wars

Location: Pensacola, Spanish Florida
 
Barracks and tents at Fort Brooke near Tampa Bay
  United States Seminole

  Spanish Florida

US victory James Monroe
Arikara War
(1823)

Part of the American Indian Wars

Location: Missouri River
 
An Arikara warrior
  United States

Sioux

Arikara Inconclusive/Other Result
  • White Peace treaty agreed by US Col Leavenworth[4]
Winnebago War
(1827)

Part of the American Indian Wars

Location: Illinois and Michigan Territory
  United States
  Choctaw Nation
Prairie La Crosse Ho-Chunks
with a few allies
US-allied victory
  • Ho-Chunks cede lead mining region to the United States
John Quincy Adams
Black Hawk War
(1832)

Part of the American Indian Wars

Location: Illinois and Michigan Territory
 
Native women and children fleeing the Battle of Bad Axe
  United States
Ho-Chunk
Menominee
  Dakota
Potawatomi
Black Hawk's British Band
Ho-Chunk and Potawatomi allies
US-allied victory Andrew Jackson
Second Seminole War
(1835–1842)

Part of the Seminole Wars and the American Indian Wars

Location: Florida, United States
 
U.S. Marines search for Seminoles in the Everglades
  United States Seminole US victory Andrew Jackson (March 4, 1829 – March 4, 1837)

Martin Van Buren (March 4, 1837 – March 4, 1841)

William Henry Harrison (March 4, 1841 – April 4, 1841)

John Tyler (April 4, 1841 –March 4, 1845)

Texas Comanche Wars
(1836–1875)

Part of the Texas–Indian wars and the American Indian Wars

Location: South-central United States (Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Kansas, Colorado) and northern Mexico
 
U.S. Marines search for Seminoles in the Everglades
  Republic of Texas
  United States
  Comanche US victory Andrew Jackson (March 4, 1829 – March 4, 1837)

Martin Van Buren (March 4, 1837 – March 4, 1841)

William Henry Harrison (March 4, 1841 – April 4, 1841)

John Tyler (April 4, 1841 –March 4, 1845)

James K. Polk (March 4, 1845 – March 4, 1849)

Zachary Taylor (March 4, 1849 – July 9, 1850)

Millard Fillmore (July 9, 1850 – March 4, 1853)

Franklin Pierce (March 4, 1853 – March 4, 1857)

James Buchanan (March 4, 1857 – March 4, 1861)

Abraham Lincoln (March 4, 1861 – April 15, 1865)

Andrew Johnson (April 15, 1865 – March 4, 1869)

Ulysses S. Grant (March 4, 1869 – March 4, 1877)

Mexican–American War
(1846–1848)

Location: Texas, New Mexico, California and Mexico
 
2nd Dragoons charge the enemy at the Battle of Resaca de la Palma, 1846
  United States
  California Republic
  Mexico US-allied victory James K. Polk
Cayuse War
(1847–1855)

Part of the American Indian Wars

Location: Oregon
 
The Whitman Massacre.
  United States Cayuse US victory
  • Cayuse reduced in numbers and forced to cede most of their lands
James K. Polk (March 4, 1845 – March 4, 1849)

Zachary Taylor (March 4, 1849 – July 9, 1850)

Millard Fillmore (July 9, 1850 – March 4, 1853)

Franklin Pierce (March 4, 1853 – March 4, 1857)

Apache Wars
(1849–1924)

Part of the Texas–Indian wars and the American Indian Wars

Location: Southwestern United States
 
U.S. Cavalry dash for cover while fighting Apaches, by F. Remington
  United States Apache
Ute
Yavapai
US victory James K. Polk (March 4, 1845 – March 4, 1849)

Zachary Taylor (March 4, 1849 – July 9, 1850)

Millard Fillmore (July 9, 1850 – March 4, 1853)

Franklin Pierce (March 4, 1853 – March 4, 1857)

James Buchanan (March 4, 1857 – March 4, 1861)

Abraham Lincoln (March 4, 1861 – April 15, 1865)

Andrew Johnson (April 15, 1865 – March 4, 1869)

Ulysses S. Grant (March 4, 1869 – March 4, 1877)

Rutherford B. Hayes (March 4, 1877 – March 4, 1881)

James A. Garfield (March 4, 1881 – September 19, 1881)

Chester A. Arthur (September 19, 1881 – March 4, 1885)

Grover Cleveland (March 4, 1885 – March 4, 1889)

Benjamin Harrison (March 4, 1889 – March 4, 1893)

Grover Cleveland (March 4, 1893 – March 4, 1897)

William McKinley (March 4, 1897 – September 14, 1901)

Theodore Roosevelt (September 14, 1901 – March 4, 1909)

William Howard Taft (March 4, 1909 – March 4, 1913)

Woodrow Wilson (March 4, 1913 – March 4, 1921)

Warren G. Harding (March 4, 1921 – August 2, 1923)

Calvin Coolidge (August 2, 1923 – March 4, 1929)

Navajo Wars
(1849–1866)

Part of the American Indian Wars

Location: New Mexico
  United States  Navajo Nation US victory James K. Polk (March 4, 1845 – March 4, 1849)

Zachary Taylor (March 4, 1849 – July 9, 1850)

Millard Fillmore (July 9, 1850 – March 4, 1853)

Franklin Pierce (March 4, 1853 – March 4, 1857)

James Buchanan (March 4, 1857 – March 4, 1861)

Abraham Lincoln (March 4, 1861 – April 15, 1865)

Andrew Johnson (April 15, 1865 – March 4, 1869)

Bleeding Kansas
(1854–1861)

Location: Kansas and Missouri

Anti-slavery settlers
(Free-Staters)
Pro-slavery settlers (Border Ruffians) Free-Stater victory.
  • Kansas admitted as a free state on January 29, 1861.
Franklin Pierce (March 4, 1853 – March 4, 1857)

James Buchanan (March 4, 1857 – March 4, 1861)

Puget Sound War
(1855–1856)

Part of the American Indian Wars

Location: Washington
  United States
Snoqualmie
Nisqually
Muckleshoot
Puyallup
Klickitat
Haida
Tlingit
US victory Franklin Pierce
Rogue River Wars
(1855–1856)

Location: Rogue Valley
  United States Rogue River people US victory
  • Indians relocated to Siletz, Grand Ronde and Coast Reservations
Third Seminole War
(1855–1858)

Part of the Seminole Wars and the American Indian Wars

Location: Pensacola, Florida
  United States Seminole US victory
  • By late 1850s, most Seminoles forced to leave their land; a few hundred remain deep in the Everglades on land unwanted by white settlers
Franklin Pierce (March 4, 1853 – March 4, 1857)

James Buchanan (March 4, 1857 – March 4, 1861)

Abraham Lincoln (March 4, 1861 – April 15, 1865)

Andrew Johnson (April 15, 1865 – March 4, 1869)

Yakima War
(1855–1858)

Part of the American Indian Wars

Location: Washington Territory
 
Seattleites evacuate to the town blockhouse as USS Decatur opens fire on advancing tribal forces.
  United States
Snoqualmie
Yakama
Walla Walla tribe
Umatilla tribe
Nez Perce tribe
Cayuse tribe
US victory
Second Opium War
(1856–1859)

Part of the Opium Wars

Location: China
 
Palikao's bridge, on the evening of the battle, by Émile Bayard
  British Empire
  French Empire
  United States
  China US victory
Utah War
(1857–1858)

Part of the Mormon wars

Location: Utah Territory and Wyoming
  United States Deseret/Utah Mormons

(Nauvoo Legion)

Inconclusive/Other Result
  • Resolution through negotiation
  • Brigham Young replaced as governor of the territory
  • Full amnesty for charges of sedition and treason issued to the citizens of Utah Territory by President James Buchanan on the condition that they accept American Federal authority
Reform War
(1858–1866)
Location: Mexico
  Liberals
  United States
  Conservatives Liberals - US victory
Pig War
(1859)
Location: San Juan Islands
 
Proposed boundaries:
  Through Haro Strait, favored by the US
  Through Rosario Strait, favored by Britain
  Through San Juan Channel, compromise proposal
The lines are as shown on maps of the time. The modern boundary follows straight line segments and roughly follows the blue line. The modern eastern boundary of San Juan County roughly follows the red line.
  United States   United Kingdom Inconclusive James Buchanan
John Brown's Raid on Harpers Ferry
(1859)

Part of pre-Civil War conflicts

Location: West Virginia
 
Harper's Weekly illustration of U.S. Marines attacking John Brown's "Fort" Teresa Baine
  United States Abolitionist Insurgents US victory
First and Second Cortina War
(1859–1861)

Location: Texas and Mexico
  United States

  Confederate States


  Mexico

  Cortinista bandits US-allied victory
Paiute War
(1860)

Part of the American Indian Wars

Location: Pyramid Lake, Nevada
  United States Paiute
Shoshone
Bannock
US victory
American Civil War
(1861–1865)

Location: Southern United States, Indian Territory, Northeastern United States, Western United States, Atlantic Ocean
  United States
Indian Home Guard
  Seminole Nation (Western) (most)[5]
  Seminole Nation (Florida)
  Muskogee Nation (part)[6]
  Confederate States
  Cherokee Nation
  Choctaw Nation
Catawba
  Chickasaw Nation (part)
  Muskogee Nation (part)
  Seminole Nation (Western) (part)
  Comanche Nation (part)
US victory

Abraham Lincoln

Yavapai Wars
(1861–1875)

Part of the American Indian Wars

Location: Arizona
 
Rescue of Lt. Charles King
  United States Yavapai
Apache
Yuma
Mohave
US victory

Abraham Lincoln (March 4, 1861 – April 15, 1865)

Andrew Johnson (April 15, 1865 – March 4, 1869)

Ulysses S. Grant (March 4, 1869 – March 4, 1877)

Dakota War of 1862
(1862)

Part of the American Indian Wars

Location: Minnesota and Dakota
 
The Siege of New Ulm, Minnesota on August 19, 1862
  United States   Dakota Sioux US victory Abraham Lincoln
Colorado War
(1863–1865)

Part of the American Indian Wars

Location: Colorado, Wyoming, and Nebraska
  United States   Cheyenne
  Arapaho
  Sioux
Inconclusive/Other Result
Snake War
(1864–1868)

Part of the American Indian Wars

Locations: Oregon, Nevada, California, and Idaho
  United States Paiute
Bannock
Shoshone
US victory Abraham Lincoln (March 4, 1861 – April 15, 1865)

Andrew Johnson (April 15, 1865 – March 4, 1869)

Powder River War
(1865)

Part of the American Indian Wars

Location: Powder River State
  United States   Sioux
  Cheyenne
  Arapaho
Inconclusive

Andrew Johnson

Red Cloud's War
(1866–1868)

Part of the American Indian Wars

Location: Powder River State
  United States
  Crow Nation
  Lakota
  Cheyenne
  Arapaho
Lakota-allied victory
Formosa Expedition
(1867)
Location: Hengchun, Taiwan, Qing China'
 
Attack of United States Marines and Sailors on the pirates of the island of Formosa, East Indies, Harper's Weekly
  United States Paiwan Paiwan victory
Comanche Campaign
(1867–1875)

Part of the American Indian Wars

Location: Western United States
 
Battle of Beecher Island. One soldier and three horses have fallen, while others continue to wage the battle.
  United States   Cheyenne
  Arapaho
  Comanche
Kiowa
US victory Andrew Johnson (April 15, 1865 – March 4, 1869)

Ulysses S. Grant (March 4, 1869 – March 4, 1877)

United States expedition to Korea
(1871)
Location: Ganghwa Island
 
The captured Sujagi aboard USS Colorado in June 1871
  United States   Joseon dynasty Inconclusive/Other Result

American military victory

American diplomatic failure

Ulysses S. Grant
Modoc War
(1872–1873)

Part of the American Indian Wars

Location: California and Oregon
 
Engraving of soldiers recovering the bodies of the slain May 3, 1873.
  United States   Modoc US victory
Red River War
(1874–1875)

Part of the American Indian Wars

Location: Texas
  United States   Cheyenne
  Arapaho
  Comanche
Kiowa
US victory
  • End to the Texas-Indian Wars
Las Cuevas War
(1875)

Location: Texas and Mexico
 
Texan soldiers.
  United States Mexican bandits US victory
  • Cattle returned to Texas
Great Sioux War of 1876
(1876–1877)

Part of the American Indian Wars

Location: Montana, Dakota and Wyoming
 
Custer's last stand at Little Bighorn.
  United States   Lakota
  Dakota Sioux
  Northern Cheyenne
  Arapaho
US victory
  • Legal control of Powder River Country ceded to the United States
Buffalo Hunters' War
(1876–1877)

Part of the American Indian Wars

Location: Texas and Oklahoma
  United States   Comanche
Apache
US victory
Nez Perce War
(1877)

Part of the American Indian Wars

Location: Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana
 
Chief Joseph's band in the Battle of Bear Paw Mountain
  United States Nez Perce
Palouse
US victory Rutherford B. Hayes
Bannock War
(1878)

Part of the American Indian Wars

Location: Idaho, Oregon, and Wyoming
  United States Bannock
Shoshone
Paiute
US victory
Cheyenne War
(1878–1879)

Part of the American Indian Wars

Location: Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota and Montana
 
Aftermath of the Battle of "The Pit."
  United States   Cheyenne US victory
Sheepeater Indian War
(1879)

Part of the American Indian Wars

Location: Idaho
  United States Shoshone US victory
Victorio's War
(1879–1880)

Part of the American Indian Wars

Location: Mexico
  United States
  Mexico
Apache US-allied victory
White River War
(1879)

Part of the American Indian Wars

Location: Colorado
 
Battle of Milk Creek Canyon
  United States Ute US victory
Egyptian Expedition
(1882)

Part of the Anglo-Egyptian War

Location: Alexandria
 
Front page of "Judge" magazine, 12 August 1882, featuring a cartoon by "JAW" concerning aid rendered by the American navy during the British bombardment of Alexandria.
  United States   Egypt US victory Chester A. Arthur
Crow War
(1887)

Part of the American Indian Wars

Location: Montana
 
Crow Indians Firing into the Agency 1887
  United States   Crow people US victory Grover Cleveland
Ghost Dance War
(1890–1891)

Part of the American Indian Wars

Location: South Dakota
 
Mass grave for the dead Lakota after the conflict at Wounded Knee Creek.
  United States   Sioux US victory Benjamin Harrison
Garza War
(1891–1893)

Location: Texas and Mexico
 
3rd Cavalry Troopers searching a suspected Revolutionist, 1892
  Mexico
  United States
Garzistas US-allied victory
Yaqui Wars
(1896–1918)

Part of the American Indian Wars

Location: Arizona and Mexico
 
10th Cavalry soldiers holding Yaqui prisoners at their camp in Bear Valley, January 9, 1918.
  United States
  Mexico
  Yaqui
Pima
Opata
US-allied victory Grover Cleveland (March 4, 1893 – March 4, 1897)


William McKinley (March 4, 1897 – September 14, 1901)


Theodore Roosevelt (September 14, 1901 – March 4, 1909)


William Howard Taft (March 4, 1909 – March 4, 1913)


Woodrow Wilson (March 4, 1913 – March 4, 1921)

Second Samoan Civil War
(1898–1899)

Location: Samoa
 
Samoan warriors and American servicemen during the Siege of Apia in March 1899.
Samoa
  United States
Mataafans
  German Empire
Inconclusive/Other Result William McKinley
Spanish–American War
(1898)

Location: Cuba, Puerto Rico, Philippines and Guam
 
Theodore Roosevelt and the "Rough Riders" after the Battle of San Juan Hill.
  United States
  Cuban Revolutionaries
  Filipino Revolutionaries
  Spain US-allied victory
Philippine–American War
(1899–1902)

Location: Philippines
 
U.S. soldiers during the Battle of Manila.
1899–1902
  United States

1902-1906
  United States

1899–1902
  Philippine Republic

Limited Foreign Support:
  Empire of Japan


1902-1906
  Tagalog Republic

US victory William McKinley (March 4, 1897 – September 14, 1901)


Theodore Roosevelt (September 14, 1901 – March 4, 1909)

Moro Rebellion
(1899–1913)

Location: Philippines
 
American soldiers battling against Moro fighters.
  United States   Moro
  Remnants of the Sulu Sultanate
US victory
  • Total annexation of the Philippine Islands
William McKinley (March 4, 1897 – September 14, 1901)


Theodore Roosevelt (September 14, 1901 – March 4, 1909)


William Howard Taft (March 4, 1909 – March 4, 1913)


Woodrow Wilson (March 4, 1913 – March 4, 1921)

Boxer Rebellion
(1899–1901)

Location: China
 
U.S. soldiers during the Boxer Rebellion in China.
  British Empire

  Russian Empire
  Empire of Japan
  French Republic
  United States
  German Empire
  Kingdom of Italy
  Austro-Hungarian Empire
  China (until 1900)

  Boxers
  China (from 1900)
US-allied victory
  • Signing of the Boxer Protocol
  • Provisions for foreign troops to be stationed in Beijing
William McKinley

20th-century wars

Conflict Allies Opponent(s) Result for the United States and its Allies Presidents of the United States
Crazy Snake's War
(1909)

Part of the American Indian Wars

Location: Oklahoma
 
Creek prisoners of war.
  United States Creek US victory Theodore Roosevelt
(September 14, 1901 – March 4, 1909)

Warren G. Harding
(March 4, 1921 – August 2, 1923)

Calvin Coolidge
(August 2, 1923 – March 4, 1929)

Mexican Border War
(1910–1919)

Part of the Mexican Revolution

Location: Mexico–United States border
 
American troops of the 16th Infantry Regiment rest for the night on May 27, 1916
  United States   Mexico

Supported by:

US victory William Howard Taft
(March 4, 1909 – March 4, 1913)

Woodrow Wilson
(March 4, 1913 – March 4, 1921)

Little Race War
(1912)

Part of the Banana Wars

Location: Cuba
 
USS Mississippi in Cuba
  Cuba
  United States
  Cuban PIC US-allied victory
  • Dissolution of the PIC
William Howard Taft
United States occupation of Nicaragua
(1912–1933)

Part of the Banana Wars

Location: Nicaragua
 
US Marines holding a captured Sandinista flag.
  United States
  Nicaragua
  Nicaraguan Liberals
  Sandinistas
US victory William Howard Taft
(March 4, 1909 – March 4, 1913)

Woodrow Wilson
(March 4, 1913 – March 4, 1921)

Warren G. Harding
(March 4, 1921 – August 2, 1923)

Calvin Coolidge
(August 2, 1923 – March 4, 1929)

Herbert Hoover
(March 4, 1929 – March 4, 1933)

Bluff War
(1914–1915)

Part of the American Indian Wars

Location: Utah and Colorado
 
Prisoners of the Bluff War in Thompson, Utah, waiting to board a train for their trial in Salt Lake City.
  United States Ute
Paiute
US victory Woodrow Wilson
United States occupation of Veracruz
(1914)

Part of the Mexican Revolution

Location: Mexico
 
American ships at Veracruz
  United States

Supported by:

  Mexico

Supported by:

US victory
United States occupation of Haiti
(1915–1934)

Part of the Banana Wars

Location: Haiti
 
2nd Marine Regiment in Haiti
  United States
  Haiti
  Haitian Rebels US-allied victory Woodrow Wilson
(March 4, 1913 – March 4, 1921)

Warren G. Harding
(March 4, 1921 – August 2, 1923)

Calvin Coolidge
(August 2, 1923 – March 4, 1929)

Herbert Hoover
(March 4, 1929 – March 4, 1933)

Franklin D. Roosevelt
(March 4, 1933 – April 12, 1945)

United States occupation of the Dominican Republic
(1916–1924)

Part of the Banana Wars

Location: Dominican Republic
 
US Marines in the Occupation of the Dominican Republic.
  United States   Dominican Republic US victory Woodrow Wilson
(March 4, 1913 – March 4, 1921)

Warren G. Harding
(March 4, 1921 – August 2, 1923)

Calvin Coolidge
(August 2, 1923 – March 4, 1929)

World War I
(1914–1918, direct U.S. involvement in 1917–1918)

Location: Europe, Africa, Asia, Middle East, the Pacific Islands, and coast of North and South America
 
US troops firing 37mm gun during an advance against German entrenched positions.
  French Republic
  British Empire

  Russian Empire (until 1917)
  Kingdom of Italy
  United States (since 1917)
  Empire of Japan
  Kingdom of Serbia
  Kingdom of Montenegro
  Kingdom of Romania
  Kingdom of Greece
  Belgium
  Portugal
  Republic of Armenia
  Idrisid Emirate of Asir
  Emirate of Nejd and Hasa
  Kingdom of Hejaz
  Republic of China
  Siam
  Brazil

  German Empire
  Austro-Hungarian Empire
  Ottoman Empire
  Kingdom of Bulgaria
US-allied victory Woodrow Wilson
Russian Civil War
(1917–1923, direct U.S. involvement in 1918–1920)

Location: Russia
 
US troops march through Russia before the Battle of Romanovka.
  White Movement

  Mountain Republic
  Makhnovshchina
  Left SR
  Green armies
  British Empire
  Japan
  Czechoslovakia
  Greece
  United States
  France
  Serbia
  Romania
  Italy
  China
  Mongolia

  Russian SFSR

  Far Eastern Republic
  Mongolian Communists
  Makhnovshchina
  Left SR
  Green armies

Inconclusive/Other Result
Posey War
(1923)

Part of the American Indian Wars

Location: Utah
 
Ute and Paiute prisoners of war.
  United States Ute
Paiute
US victory
  • Last Indian uprising
Warren G. Harding
World War II
(1939–1945, direct U.S. involvement in 1941–1945)

Location: Europe, Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Southeast Asia, East Asia, Middle East, Mediterranean, North Africa, Oceania, North and South America
 
Six United States Marines raising the U.S. flag atop Mount Suribachi during the Battle of Iwo Jima.
  Soviet Union (since 1941)
  United States (since 1941)
  British Empire

  French Republic
  Republic of Poland
  Czechoslovak Republic
  Kingdom of Yugoslavia
  Kingdom of Greece
  Denmark
  Norway
  Netherlands
  Belgium
  Luxembourg
  Republic of Cuba
  Republic of Haiti
  Argentina
  Brazil
  Mexico
  Chile
  Peru
  United States of Venezuela
  Liberia
  Kingdom of Egypt
  Ethiopian Empire
  Union of South Africa
  Sultanate of Muscat and Oman
  Kingdom of Nepal
  Republic of China
  Mongolian People's Republic
  Commonwealth of the Philippines
  Viet Minh
  Korean Provisional Government

  Third Reich
  Empire of Japan
  Soviet Union (in 1939–1941)
  Kingdom of Italy
  Kingdom of Hungary
  Kingdom of Romania
  Kingdom of Bulgaria
  Slovak Republic
  Independent State of Croatia
  Finland
  Kingdom of Iraq
  Thailand
  Manchukuo
  Mengjiang
US-allied victory

Franklin D. Roosevelt
(March 4, 1933 – April 12, 1945)

Harry S. Truman
(April 12, 1945 – January 20, 1953)

Korean War
(1950–1953)

Part of the Cold War

Location: Korea
 
U.S. soldier fires a 75mm recoilless rifle, near Oetlook-tong, Korea, in support of infantry units directly across the valley.
  South Korea

  United Nations
  United States
  United Kingdom
  Australia
  Belgium
  Canada
  France
  Philippines
  Colombia
  Ethiopian Empire
  Kingdom of Greece
  Luxembourg
  Netherlands
  New Zealand
  Spanish State
  Union of South Africa
  Thailand
  Turkey

  North Korea

  China
  Soviet Union Supported by:

US-allied victory
  • UNSC Resolution 83 goals achieved
  • North Korean invasion of South Korea repelled
  • South Korean statehood preserved
  • Subsequent United Nations invasion of North Korea repelled
  • Subsequent Chinese-North Korean invasion of South Korea repelled
  • Korean Armistice Agreement
Harry S. Truman
(April 12, 1945 – January 20, 1953)

Dwight D. Eisenhower
(January 20, 1953 – January 20, 1961)

Vietnam War
(1955–1964[a], 1965–1973[b], 1974–1975[c])

Part of the Cold War and Indochina Wars

Location: Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos
 
1st Cavalry Division, Battle of Ia Drang, 1965.
  South Vietnam
  United States
  South Korea
  Australia
  New Zealand
  Thailand
  Philippines
  Kingdom of Laos
  Khmer Republic
  North Vietnam
  Viet Cong
  Pathet Lao
  Khmer Rouge
  China
  Soviet Union
  North Korea

Supported by:

North Vietnam-allied victory Dwight D. Eisenhower
(January 20, 1953 – January 20, 1961)

John F. Kennedy
(January 20, 1961 – November 22, 1963)

Lyndon B. Johnson
(November 22, 1963 – January 20, 1969)

Richard Nixon
(January 20, 1969 – August 9, 1974)

Gerald Ford
(August 9, 1974 – January 20, 1977)

Laotian Civil War
(1959–1975)

Part of the Indochina Wars and Cold War

Location: Laos
 
A U.S. Air Force Bell UH-1P from the 20th Special Operations Squadron "Green Hornets" at a base in Laos, 1970.
  Kingdom of Laos
  United States
  South Vietnam
  Thailand
Supported by:
  Philippines
  Taiwan
  Pathet Lao
  North Vietnam

Supported by:

Pathet Lao-allied victory
Permesta Rebellion
(1958-1961)

Location: Indonesia
 
The capture of Allen Lawrence Pope.
  Permesta
  United States
  Indonesia Indonesian government victory Dwight D. Eisenhower
Lebanon crisis
(1958)

Location: Lebanon
 
US Marine sits in a foxhole and points his machine gun toward Beirut.
  Lebanon
  United States
  Lebanese opposition: US-allied victory
Bay of Pigs Invasion
(1961)

Part of the Cold War

Location: Cuba
 
A4D-2 Skyhawks in flight over USS Essex during the Bay of Pigs Invasion in April 1961.
  CDRF
  United States
  Cuba Cuban government victory
  • United States sponsored Brigade 2506 (Cuban Exiles) defeated
John F. Kennedy
Dominican Civil War
(1965–1966)

Location: Dominican Republic
 
US soldiers push a child underneath a Jeep to protect him during a firefight in Santo Domingo on May 5, 1965.
  Dominican Loyalists
  United States
  IAPF
  Dominican Constitutionalists US-allied victory Lyndon B. Johnson
Korean DMZ Conflict
(1966–1969)

Part of the Korean conflict and the Cold War

Location: Korean Demilitarized Zone
 
ROK and US troop stationed at the DMZ, 1967.
  South Korea
  United States
  North Korea US-allied victory
  • North Korean failure to launch an insurgency in South Korea
Lyndon B. Johnson
(November 22, 1963 – January 20, 1969)

Richard Nixon
(January 20, 1969 – August 9, 1974)

Cambodian Civil War
(1967–1975)

Part of the Cold War

Location: Cambodia
 
US troops and tanks entering town in Cambodia.
  Kingdom of Cambodia (1967–1970)
  Khmer Republic (1970–1975)
  United States
  South Vietnam

Supported by:

  National United Front of Kampuchea
  Khmer Rouge
  Khmer Rumdo
  Khmer Việt Minh
  North Vietnam
  Việt Cộng

Supported by:

Khmer Rouge-allied victory Lyndon B. Johnson
(November 22, 1963 – January 20, 1969)

Richard Nixon
(January 20, 1969 – August 9, 1974)

Gerald Ford
(August 9, 1974 – January 20, 1977)

Multinational intervention in Lebanon
(1982–1984)

Location: Lebanon
 
US Marines of the 32nd Marine Amphibious Unit come ashore to assume the management of the port of Beirut.
  Lebanese Armed Forces
  UNIFIL
Multinational Force in Lebanon:
  Israel

  Lebanese Front
  Army of Free Lebanon
SLA

  Lebanese National Movement
  Jammoul
  PLO
  Amal Movement

  Iran

  Hezbollah
Islamic Jihad Organization


  Islamic Unification Movement


  Syria

  Arab Deterrent Force
Syrian-allied victory Jimmy Carter
(January 20, 1977 – January 20, 1981)

Ronald Reagan
(January 20, 1981 – January 20, 1989)

United States invasion of Grenada
(1983)

Part of the Cold War

Location: Grenada
 
American soldiers in artillery positions at Grenada.
  United States
  Barbados
  Jamaica
  Antigua and Barbuda
  Dominica
  Saint Kitts and Nevis
  Saint Lucia
  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
  PRG of Grenada
  Cuba
Military advisors:
US-allied victory
  • Military dictatorship of Hudson Austin deposed
  • Defeat of Cuban military presence
  • Restoration of constitutional government
Ronald Reagan
Bombing of Libya
(1986)

Location: Libya
 
USAF F-111 taking off for Libya
  United States   Libya US victory
Tanker War
(1987–1988)

Location: Persian Gulf
 
Iranian frigate Sahand after being attacked by U.S. aircraft.
  United States   Iran US victory
  • U.S. Navy sinks several ships and damages Iranian military installations used to attack U.S. and U.S. allied civilian shipping
  • U.S. Navy vessel USS Vincennes shoots down civilian Iran Air Flight 655 killing all 290 passengers, among them 66 children
  • Iran–Iraq War ends in August 1988 following UN enforcement of the ceasefire
United States invasion of Panama
(1989–1990)

Location: Panama
 
U.S. troops prepare to take a neighborhood in Panama City, December 1989.
  United States
  Panamanian Opposition
  Panama US-allied victory George H. W. Bush
Gulf War
(1990–1991)

Location: Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Israel
 
M1 Abrams tanks of the 3rd Armored Division advance on Medina Ridge.
  Kuwait
  United States
  United Kingdom
  Saudi Arabia
  France
  Canada
  Egypt
  Syria
  Qatar
  Bahrain
  United Arab Emirates
  Oman
  Iraq US-allied victory
Iraqi No-Fly Zone Enforcement Operations
(1991–2003)

Location: Iraq
 
A Tomahawk cruise missile is fired from an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer during Operation Desert Fox in December 1998.
  United States
  United Kingdom
  France
  Australia
  Belgium
  Netherlands
  Saudi Arabia
  Turkey
  Italy
  Iraq US-allied victory
  • Periodic depletion of Iraqi air defenses
George H. W. Bush
(January 20, 1989 – January 20, 1993)

Bill Clinton
(January 20, 1993 – January 20, 2001)

George W. Bush
(January 20, 2001 – January 20, 2009)

First U.S. Intervention in the Somali Civil War
(1992–1995)

Part of the Somali civil war (1991–present)

Location: Somalia
 
U.S. Marines on patrol in Somalia.
  United States
  United Kingdom
  Spain
  Saudi Arabia
  Malaysia
  Pakistan
  Italy
  India
  Greece
  Germany
  France
  Canada
  Botswana
  Belgium
  Australia
  New Zealand
  Somali National Alliance Somali victory / US-allied defeat
  • Failure to capture SNA leader Mohamed Farrah Aidid; specific Aidid lieutenants captured
  • Withdrawal of U.S. forces 5 months after losses in the Battle of Mogadishu
  • The UN mandate saved close to 100,000 lives, before and after U.S. withdrawal
  • Civil war is ongoing
George H. W. Bush
(January 20, 1989 – January 20, 1993)

Bill Clinton
(January 20, 1993 – January 20, 2001)

Bosnian War and Croatian War
(1992–1995)

Part of the Yugoslav Wars

Location: Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia
 
A U.S. Army M-113 Armor Personnel Carrier prepares to pull an armored Humvee out of the mud in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
  Bosnia and Herzegovina

  Herzeg-Bosnia
  Croatia


  United States
  Belgium
  Canada
  Denmark
  France
  Germany
  Italy
  Luxembourg
  Netherlands
  Norway
  Portugal
  Spain
  Turkey
  United Kingdom

  Republika Srpska
  Serbian Krajina
  Western Bosnia
Inconclusive/Other Result
Intervention in Haiti
(1994–1995)

Location: Haiti
 
U.S. Marine guarding an area in Haiti.
  United States
  Poland
  Argentina
  Haiti US-allied victory Bill Clinton
Kosovo War
(1998–1999)

Part of the Yugoslav Wars

Location: Serbia
 
A U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle takes off for an air strike mission.
  KLA
  AFRK
  Albania
  Croatia
  United States
  Belgium
  Canada
  Czech Republic
  Denmark
  France
  Germany
  Hungary
  Italy
  Luxembourg
  Netherlands
  Norway
  Portugal
  Poland
  Spain
  Turkey
  United Kingdom
  FR Yugoslavia US-allied victory[12][13][14][15]
  • Ceasefire reached through Kumanovo Agreement of June 1999. after Russian and Finnish envoys visit Belgrade
  • Yugoslav forces pull out of Kosovo
  • UN Resolution 1244 confirming Kosovo as de jure part of FRY
  • De facto separation of Kosovo from FR Yugoslavia under UN administration
  • Return of Albanian refugees after attempted ethnic cleansing of Albanians
  • KLA veterans join the UÇPMB, starting the Preševo insurgency
  • Around 200,000 Serbs, Romani, and other non-Albanians fleeing Kosovo and many of the remaining civilians becoming victims of abuse
  • Three Chinese journalists were killed in United States bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade
  1. ^ Advisory role from the forming of the MAAG in Vietnam to the Gulf of Tonkin incident.
  2. ^ Direct U.S. involvement ended in 1973 with the Paris Peace Accords. The Paris Peace Accords of January 1973 saw all U.S forces withdrawn; the Case–Church Amendment, passed by the U.S Congress on 15 August 1973, officially ended direct U.S military involvement .
  3. ^ The war reignited on December 13, 1974 with offensive operations by North Vietnam, leading to victory over South Vietnam in under two months.

21st-century wars

Conflict Allies Belligerent Result for the United States and its Allies Presidents of the United States
War in Afghanistan
(2001–2021)

Part of the War on terror and the Afghanistan conflict

Location: Afghanistan
 
U.S. soldiers from A Company, 101st Airborne Division Special Troop Battalion air assault into a village inside Jowlzak valley in Afghanistan.
  Resolute Support Mission
  Afghanistan
  United States
  Canada
  United Kingdom
  Australia
  New Zealand
  Croatia
  Czech Republic
  Denmark
  Georgia
  Germany
  Netherlands
  Italy
  Romania
  Slovakia
  Spain
  Turkey
Formerly:
  ISAF
  Taliban

Allied groups
  Hezb-e-Islami Gulbuddin
  al-Qaeda
  Islamic Jihad Union[16]


Taliban splinter groups


  IS-Affiliates:


2001 Invasion:
  Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan

Taliban victory George W. Bush
(October 7, 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 – Incumbent)

American intervention in Yemen
(2002–present)

Part of the War on terror, the Al-Qaeda insurgency in Yemen, the Yemeni Civil War and the Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen

Location: Yemen
 
MQ-1 Predator commonly used in drone strikes in Yemen.
  United States

Saudi-led coalition:
  Saudi Arabia
  United Arab Emirates
  Bahrain
  Kuwait
  Qatar
  Jordan
  Morocco
  Sudan
  Senegal
Supported by:

In support of:
  Cabinet of Yemen

  al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula
  Ansar al-Sharia

  Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant – Yemen Province


  Revolutionary Committee/Supreme Political Council

Ongoing
  • 329 drone strikes confirmed[21]
  • 57 al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula leaders confirmed killed[22]
  • Numerous al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula bases destroyed
  • Most recent drone strike against al-Qaeda launched in February 2023[23]

  • Saudi-led coalition forces intervene in Yemen in 2015 to restore the internationally recognized Yemen government led by President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi
  • United States support the Saudi Arabian-led intervention primarily through arms sales and technical assistance[24]
  • U.S. Army Special Forces deployed to the Saudi Arabia-Yemen border to help defeat the Houthi rebels in 2018.[25]
George W. Bush
(October 7, 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 – Incumbent)

Iraq War
(2003–2011)

Part of the War on terror

Location: Iraq
 
U.S. soldiers at the Hands of Victory monument in Baghdad.
Post-invasion (2003–2011)

  United States
  Iraq
  United Kingdom
  MNF–I


Invasion phase (2003)
  United States
  United Kingdom
  Australia
  Poland
  Iraqi Kurdistan Supported by:

Post-invasion (2003–2011)

  Ba'ath Loyalists


  Sunni insurgents


  Shia insurgents

Invasion phase (2003)
  Iraq


  Ansar al-Islam

US-allied partial victory George W. Bush
(January 20, 2001 – January 20, 2009)

Barack Obama
(January 20, 2009 – January 20, 2017)

American intervention in the War in North-West Pakistan
(2004–2018)

Part of the War on terror and the War in North-West Pakistan

Location: Pakistan
 
MQ-1 Predator drones typically used in covert bombing operations in Pakistan.
  Pakistan

  United States

Supported by:

  Taliban
  Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan
  Haqqani network
  al-Qaeda
  Lashkar-e-Jhangvi
  Foreign Mujahideen
  Uzbek Islamic Movement
  Turkistan Islamic Party
  Tehreek-e-Nafaz-e-Shariat-e-Mohammadi

  Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant – Khorasan Province

US-allied victory George 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 U.S. Intervention in the Somali Civil War
(2007–present)

Part of the Somali Civil War, the Somali Civil War and the War on terror

Location: Somalia and Northeastern Kenya
 
U.S. Marines establish security positions at Baledogle Military Airfield in Somalia, December, 2020.
  Somalia
  United States

  AMISOM

Supported by:

Non-combat support:


  United Nations

  al-Shabaab
  Mujahideen

  Hizbul Islam


  Islamic State in Somalia

Ongoing George 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 – Incumbent)

Operation Ocean Shield
(2009–2016)

Part of the War on terror

Location: Indian Ocean
 
A tall plume of black smoke rises from a destroyed pirate vessel that was struck by USS Farragut in March 2010.

  NATO

  Australia
  China
  Colombia
  India
  Indonesia
  Japan
  Malaysia
  New Zealand
  Oman
  Pakistan
  Russia
  Saudi Arabia
  Seychelles
  Singapore
  Somalia
  South Korea
  Ukraine

Somali pirates US-allied victory
  • Number of pirate attacks dramatically decreased
  • The US Office of Naval Intelligence have officially reported that in 2013, only 9 incidents of piracy were reported and that none of them were successfully hijacked[citation needed]
  • Piracy drops 90%[45]
Barack Obama
(January 20, 2009 – January 20, 2017)
International intervention in Libya
(2011)

Part of the Libyan Crisis and the First Libyan Civil War

Location: Libya
 
U.S. vessels launch missiles in support of Anti-Gaddafi rebels during the First Libyan Civil War.

  NATO

  Sweden
  Jordan
  Qatar
  United Arab Emirates


  Anti-Gaddafi rebels

  Libya US-allied victory Barack Obama
(January 20, 2009 – January 20, 2017)
Operation Observant Compass
(2011–2017)

Part of the War on terror and the Lord's Resistance Army insurgency

Location: Uganda
 
U.S. Marine Sgt. Joseph Bergeron, a task force combat engineer, explains combat marksmanship tactics to a group of Ugandan soldiers.
  United States
  Uganda
  DR Congo
  Central African Republic
  South Sudan
  Lord's Resistance Army US-allied victory
  • Founder and leader of the LRA Joseph Kony goes into hiding
  • Senior LRA commander Dominic Ongwen surrenders to American forces in the Central African Republic and is tried at the Hague[7][8]
  • Majority of LRA installations and encampments located in South Sudan and Uganda abandoned and dismantled
  • Small scale LRA activity continues in eastern DR Congo, and the Central African Republic
Barack Obama
(January 20, 2009 – January 20, 2017)
American military intervention in Niger
(2013–present)

Part of the Operation Juniper Shield

Location: Niger
 
American special forces training alongside Nigerien soldiers.
  United States

Supported by:

  Islamic State of Iraq and Syria

  Boko Haram

Ongoing
  • Approximately 800 U.S. troops remain in Niger as of January 2023[47]
Barack Obama
(January 20, 2009 – January 20, 2017)

Donald Trump
(January 20, 2017 – January 20, 2021)

Joe Biden
(January 20, 2021 – Incumbent)

American-led intervention in Iraq
(2014–2021)

Part of the Operation Inherent Resolve, the War in Iraq (2013–2017), the Spillover of the Syrian civil war, the War on terror and the International ISIS campaign

Location: Iraq
 
U.S. soldiers use a rooftop as an observation post, during the Battle of Mosul in Iraq, March, 2017.
  United States
  Iraq
  Iraqi Kurdistan