(Photo Credit : Reuters)
1 / 9Peace Promises Vs Reality: During Donald Trump’s campaign, he portrayed himself as a “president of peace” who would avoid new wars and focus on American interests at home. Once in office, however, he embraced an entirely different strategy often described as “peace through strength”. Within months, US forces were conducting airstrikes, special forces raids and naval operations across multiple regions. This approach relies on fast and decisive military strikes to deter adversaries and eliminate threats before they grow larger. Trump has often claimed that these targeted strikes are intended to prevent larger conflicts.
2 / 91. Iran War – The biggest and ongoing conflict: The most dramatic escalation of Trump’s second term began in February 2026. The United States and Israel launched a massive coordinated attack on Iran, striking hundreds of military and nuclear-related targets across the country. The strikes killed several senior Iranian leaders, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Iran retaliated with missile and drone attacks across the region, raising fears of a wider Middle East war. The conflict remains ongoing and has become the largest military confrontation of Trump’s presidency so far. (Image: Reuters)
3 / 92. Iran – Strikes on nuclear sites: The escalation with Iran had already begun months earlier. In June 2025, US forces carried out strikes on three Iranian nuclear-related facilities using advanced aircraft, including B-2 stealth bombers. The operation targeted infrastructure linked to Iran’s nuclear programme and marked one of the most direct US military actions against Iran in years. (Image: Reuters)
4 / 93. Venezuela – Operation Absolute Resolve: In January 2026, US forces launched a dramatic mission in Venezuela. The operation, called Operation Absolute Resolve, involved airstrikes and special forces raids in the capital, Caracas. The mission resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who faced US charges related to narcotics trafficking. The raid followed months of tensions and increased US naval activity in the Caribbean. It marked one of the most direct US actions against a foreign government in decades. (Image: Reuters)
5 / 94. Syria – Operation Hawkeye Strike: US air operations also expanded in Syria as part of the campaign against the Islamic State. In December 2025, US forces launched Operation Hawkeye Strike after an attack near Palmyra killed two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter. US aircraft struck dozens of ISIS targets, including command centres, training camps and weapons depots. The campaign continued into early 2026 with multiple waves of airstrikes. (Image: Reuters)
6 / 95. Yemen – Strikes linked to the Red Sea crisis: In March 2025, US forces launched a major campaign in Yemen against Iran-backed Houthi rebels. The group had been attacking commercial ships in the Red Sea, one of the world’s most important shipping corridors. US strikes targeted missile launch sites, drone infrastructure, radar systems and air-defence facilities. One of the deadliest strikes hit the Ras Isa oil terminal in April 2025, killing dozens and intensifying the conflict. (Image: Reuters)
7 / 96. Nigeria – Rare US strike in West Africa: On December 25, 2025, the US carried out airstrikes in Nigeria against militants linked to the Islamic State. The strikes targeted camps in Sokoto state in northwestern Nigeria, where insurgent activity has been spreading across the Sahel region. The operation used missiles and drones to destroy militant positions and was conducted with the approval of the Nigerian government. Direct US strikes inside Nigeria are rare, making the operation notable. (Image: Reuters)
8 / 97. Iraq – Precision strike on an ISIS commander: In March 2025, the US carried out a precision airstrike in western Iraq. The strike killed Abdallah “Abu Khadijah” al-Rifai, a senior commander of the Islamic State and one of the group’s key leaders in the region. The operation was conducted in coordination with Iraqi and Kurdish authorities. (Image: Reuters)
9 / 98. Somalia – The first strikes of Trump’s second term: The first major military action of Trump’s second presidency came in February 2025 in Somalia. US forces carried out airstrikes targeting fighters linked to al-Shabaab, an affiliate of al-Qaeda, and ISIS-Somalia. The strikes were part of a long-running US counterterror campaign in East Africa aimed at weakening militant networks and preventing attacks on American interests. Despite the military operations, both groups remain active and continue to threaten regional stability. (Image: Reuters)
