Attacks on the United States

The United States has been attacked several times throughout its history, including attacks on its states and territories, embassies and consulates, and its military. Attacks against the United States include invasions, military offensives, raids, bombardment and airstrikes on its military, terrorist bombings and shootings, and any other deliberate act of violence against the United States government or military.

Between 1776 and 1899, the United States was invaded by the British Empire during the War of 1812 and by Mexico during the Mexican–American War. During the American Civil War, the Confederate States of America, an unrecognized de facto breakaway country from the United States, launched numerous attacks and invasions of the United States, commonly referred to for the war as the "Union". Between 1900 and 1945 the United States was attacked numerous times during World War I and World War II, three times along the Mexico–United States border from various conflicts in Mexico, and once each in Nicaragua and in Iran.

Following the conclusion of World War II, the United States engaged in a rivalry with the Soviet Union during the Cold War, between 1947 and 1991. During this time, several proxy wars occurred, with the United States and Soviet Union sponsoring wars against each other. These proxy wars, such as the Vietnam War and the Lebanese Civil War, often led to attacks against American embassies and consulates as well as American troops in the proxy war regions. In the 21st century, al-Qaeda conducted the September 11 attacks, which began the US-led Global War on Terror, particularly in the Middle East. During the war on terror, numerous attacks occurred against American embassies and consulates as well as American troops. During the Middle Eastern Crisis, which began in October 2023, over 170 attacks occurred against the United States across the entire Middle East.

The most recent attack against the United States was by the Yemen-based Houthis on December 9–10, 2024 in the Gulf of Aden.

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