The United States of America has been attacked several times throughout its history as a country. This is a list of attacks, in chronological order, including attacks on U.S. states and territories, embassies and consulates, or the military of the United States. Attacks against the United States include military offensives, raids, artillery and airstrikes, and terrorism bombings and shootings. The most recent attack against the United States occurred on December 1, 2024 in the Gulf of Aden.
See main article: American Revolutionary War. Following the ratification of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, which formally formed the United States of America, Patriot forces organized as the Continental Army and commanded by George Washington fought against and defeated the British Army. Following the Treaty of Paris in 1783, which formally ended the war, Great Britain ceded all mainland territories east of the Mississippi River, south of the Great Lakes, and north of the Floridas to the United States and recognized the independence of the United States.[1] Until the end of the war, the United States had no internationally recognized territory and was considered part of the First British Empire.[2]
See main article: Quasi-War. An undeclared naval conflict between the United States and France, arising from French resentment of the Jay Treaty between Great Britain and the United States, during the French Revolutionary Wars. French privateers and naval vessels targeted American shipping in the Caribbean and Atlantic, capturing hundreds of merchant vessels and disrupting trade. On February 9, 1799, the French frigate L'Insurgente fought against the United States' frigate .[3] The Convention of 1800 ended the undeclared war between France and the United States.[4] [5] [6]
See main article: War of 1812 and Chesapeake campaign. [7] [8]
See main article: Mexican–American War.
See main article: Texas Campaign. Following the United States' annexation of Texas in 1845, the Mexican government claimed they still owned the portion of Texas between the Nueces River and the Rio Grande.[9] On April 25, 1846, approximately 1,600 Mexican soldiers, under the command of General Mariano Arista, crossed the border into the United States with the goal to hold and occupy the territory claimed by Mexico. American Captain Seth B. Thornton was sent to investigate a report of Mexican soldiers crossing the border, which led him and his 80 men into an ambush.[9] With the Mexican forces still occupying part of Texas, American General Zachary Taylor took the Army of Occupation to fight the now reinforced Mexican Army of The North. Between May 3–9, the Mexican forces attempted to siege to the American "Fort Texas". Following the Mexican defeats during the battle of Palo Alto on May 8 and the battle of Resaca de la Palma on May 9, the Mexican forces withdrew from American territory, ending the brief invasion.[9] [10] In total, 60 Americans died during the Texas Campaign.
Following the fall of Mexico City in September 1847, the United States began a military occupation of the city and surrounding area. During the eight-month occupation under John A. Quitman, the named Military Governor of Mexico City, several attacks by Mexican resistance took place against the occupation forces, especially in the first three days which involved "intense and bloody street fighting".[11] [12] [13] In total, 4,356 Americans died as a result of the occupation of Mexico City.
See main article: American Civil War.
| Date(s) | Location | Type of attack | Details | U.S. Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 16–18, 1859 | Harpers Ferry, Virginia | Raid | See main article: John Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry. [14] [15] | ||
| April 12–13, 1861 | Fort Sumter, Charleston, South Carolina | Artillery bombardment | See main article: Battle of Fort Sumter. Part of the American Civil War - Following the secession of South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas, the Confederate States of America was formed on February 8, 1861. The Confederate States of America was an unrecognized de facto breakaway country from the United States, primarily due to no European power desiring to get involved in the conflict.[16] On April 12, 1861, Confederate troops opened fire on the United States’ Fort Sumter in South Carolina, starting the American Civil War.[17] | 0 | |
| February–April 1862 | New Mexico Territory | Military offensive | See main article: New Mexico campaign. Part of the American Civil War - [18] [19] | ||
| March - June 1862 | Shenandoah Valley, Virginia | Military offensive | See main article: Jackson's Valley campaign. Part of the American Civil War - [20] | ||
| June 25 - July 1, 1862 | Hanover County and Henrico County, Virginia | Military offensive | See main article: Seven Days Battles. Part of the American Civil War - [21] | ||
| July 19 - September 1, 1862 | Northern Virginia | Military offensive | See main article: Northern Virginia campaign. Part of the American Civil War - [22] | ||
| August 14 - October 10, 1862 | Military offensive | See main article: Confederate Heartland Offensive. Part of the American Civil War - [23] | |||
| September 4–20, 1862 | Maryland | Military offensive | See main article: Maryland campaign. Part of the American Civil War - [24] | ||
| June 3 - July 24, 1863 | Military offensive | See main article: Gettysburg campaign. Part of the American Civil War - [25] | + | ||
| June 11 - July 26, 1863 | Military offensive | See main article: Morgan's Raid. Part of the American Civil War - [26] [27] | |||
| September 18–20, 1863 | Catoosa and Walker counties, Georgia | Military offensive | See main article: Battle of Chickamauga. Part of the Chickamauga campaign during the American Civil War - [28] | + | |
| August 29 - December 2, 1864 | Military offensive | See main article: Price's Missouri Expedition. Part of the American Civil War - [29] | + |
See main article: United States expedition to Korea. [30]
See main article: Spanish–American War. [31]
See main article: Mexican Border War, First Battle of Agua Prieta and United States involvement in the Mexican Revolution. The First Battle of Agua Prieta was fought on August 13 - 14, 1911, between the supporters of Francisco Madero and federal troops of Porfirio Díaz during the Mexican Revolution at the Mexico–United States border town of Agua Prieta, Mexico. During the course of the battle, U.S. troops stationed in the Douglas, Arizona right across border were fired upon by federal troops under Díaz.[32] As a result of being attacked, the Americans responded by intervening in the battle, which allowed the rebels to briefly take control of the town.[33] [34] One American was killed and 13 other Americans were injured during the battle's spill-over into Douglas.[35]
See main article: Battle of Masaya. [36] [37]
See main article: World War I.
| Date(s) | Location | Type of attack | Details | U.S. Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 1, 1915 | Atlantic Ocean | Naval warfare | Part of the U-boat campaign during World War I - | |
| May 7, 1915 | Atlantic Ocean | Naval warfare | See main article: Sinking of the RMS ''Lusitania''. Part of the U-boat campaign during World War I - | |
| July 30, 1916 | Jersey City, New Jersey | Sabotage, State-sponsored terrorism | See main article: Black Tom explosion. [38] | |
| May 29, 1918 | Atlantic Ocean | Naval warfare | Part of the U-boat campaign during World War I - | |
| July 21, 1918 | Orleans, Massachusetts | Military strike | See main article: Attack on Orleans. Part of the U-boat campaign during World War I - | |
See main article: Battle of Columbus. [39] [40]
See main article: United States occupation of the Dominican Republic.
An angry mob led by members of the Muslim clergy and including many members of the Iranian Army beat Consul Robert W. Imbrie to death. The mob blamed America for poisoning a well.[41]
See main article: World War II.
See main article: May 24 incident.
At 12:00 AM local time on January 27, 1958, a bomb went off at a warehouse inside the U.S. Embassy compound. A second bomb went off destroyed the nearby American Publication Stores private bookshop. The United States released later that day it was believed both bombs were thrown from cars passing the Embassy compound. The Associated Press and The New York Times jointly published that the bombing was attempting to tarnish America's prestige before the opening of the Baghdad Pact Conference later that day.[42] [43]
See main article: 1960 U-2 incident.
See main article: 1964 United States Embassy in Libreville bombings. Two weeks after a failed coup which the U.S. was mistakenly blamed for, on March 5, 1964, a small bomb detonated outside the embassy compound, damaging a sign and cracking windows. Three days later on March 8, a second bombing on the embassy in Gabon occurred. The embassy was also fired on with a shotgun, causing minor damage.
| Date(s) | Location | Type of attack | Details | U.S. Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 4, 1965 | Moscow, Soviet Union | Mob attack | Protests in front of the embassy related to the Vietnam War turned into rioting, approximately 2000 students had to be cleared away by the Red Army.[44] | ||
| March 30, 1965 | Saigon, South Vietnam | Bombing | See main article: 1965 Saigon bombing. | ||
| January 31, 1968 | Saigon, South Vietnam | Military offensive |
| ||
| September 26, 1971 | Phnom Penh, Cambodia | Attack | Attack on embassy softball game. | ||
| 1972 | Manila, Philippines | Attack | Attack by communist group, Marine guard wounded.[45] |
Riot outside embassy; ambassador Rodger Davies and assistant shot by sniper on August 19, 1974.
| Date(s) | Location | Type of attack | Details | U.S. Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| November 14, 1974 | Tokyo, Japan | Attack | Several Japanese youth attacked the embassy with Molotov cocktails, throwing them from a nearby hotel. Afterwards, five stormed the compound where they were arrested. Seven local guards were injured. | ||
| November 22, 1974 | Fukuoka, Japan | Attack | Three men wearing red helmets from the Marxist Youth League broke windows and threw an explosive device at the Consulate. The men then attacked and injured a consulate employee. |
See main article: 1975 AIA building hostage crisis. Japanese Red Army gunmen stormed the AIA building, containing both the US and Swedish embassies, and took 53 hostages.
On February 17, 1976, gunmen in a car fire at the embassy causing minimal damage.
See main article: Iran hostage crisis.
See main article: 1979 U.S. embassy burning in Islamabad.
See main article: 1979 U.S. Embassy Burning in Libya.
On November 26, 1984, a car bomb outside embassy planted by drug cartel.[46]
On February 18, 1986, Popular Forces of 25 April car bomb outside embassy[47]
On May 14, 1986, Japanese Red Army members attempt a mortar attack; their mortar shells fail to detonate[48]
On June 9, 1987, Car bomb set off, two rocket-propelled grenades fired at embassy.[49]
On September 17, 1989, a homemade rocket was fired at embassy by unknown assailant, no damage reported.[50]
See main article: 1993 World Trade Center bombing.
On July 27, 1993, a car bomb planted by Shining Path, significant damage to embassy building.[51]
On September 13, 1995, RPG fired on Embassy by unknown assailant.[52]
On June 21, 1998, RPGs fired at Embassy by Hezbollah.[53]
See main article: 1998 United States embassy bombings.
On September 19, 1998, Liberian security forces opened fire on a warlord speaking with U.S. officials at the embassy gate and subsequently laid siege to the building, killing or wounding more than 10 people. An Embassy staff member and a government contractor were among the wounded.
See main article: USS ''Cole'' bombing. Part of the al-Qaeda insurgency in Yemen - On October 12, 2000, while refueling at Yemen's Aden harbor, two members of al-Qaeda launched a suicide attack against the, a guided missile destroyer in the United States Navy. While docked, a small fiberglass boat carrying C4 explosives and two suicide bombers approached the port side of the destroyer and exploded,[54] creating a 40feetby60feetft (byft) gash in the ship's port side, killing 17 sailors and injuring 37 others.[55] [56] [57]
See main article: September 11 attacks. On the morning of September 11, 2001, nineteen Islamic extremists hijacked four aircraft, murdered several passengers, and took control of the aircraft with intent to fly them into pre-selected targets, located at the World Trade Center in New York City, and The Pentagon in Virginia. American Airlines Flight 11 was flown into 1 World Trade Center; the building immediately caught on fire and collapsed as a result over an hour later, resulting in the deaths of up to 1,000 people. United Airlines Flight 175 was flown into 2 World Trade Center a short time later, killing everyone on board and hundreds more within the building. American Airlines Flight 77 struck The Pentagon, killing everyone in the plane and 125 people within the building. Passengers of United Airlines Flight 93 fought the hijackers, who ran the aircraft into the ground, killing everyone on board. The attacks are the deadliest instances of terrorism in modern world history.
| Date(s) | Location | Type of attack | Details | U.S. Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 29, 2006 | Helmand province, Afghanistan | Attack | See main article: Friendly fire incident at Sangin. Part of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) - | ||
| February 27, 2007 | Bagram, Afghanistan | Suicide attack, assassination attempt | See main article: Attempted assassination of Dick Cheney. Part of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) - [58] | ||
| March 4, 2007 | Shinwar District, Afghanistan | Suicide attack | See main article: 2007 Shinwar shooting. Part of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) - | 0 | |
| July 13, 2008 | Waygal district, Afghanistan | Attack | See main article: Battle of Wanat. Part of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) - | 9 | |
| September 25, 2011 | Kabul, Afghanistan | Attack | An Afghan employee opened fire inside an Embassy Annex compound, killing one American and wounding three others before being shot and killed. | ||
| June 25, 2013 | Kabul, Afghanistan | Attack | Suicide insurgents initiated a failed assault on the embassy, engaging Afghan security forces and Local Guard Force personnel in a firefight. All perpetrators were killed. | ||
| September 13, 2013 | Herat, Afghanistan | Attack | See main article: 2013 attack on U.S. consulate in Herat. | ||
| June 9, 2014 | Zabul Province, Afghanistan | Friendly fire | See main article: 2014 Gaza Valley airstrike. Part of the War in Afghanistan - | 5 | |
| August 26, 2021 | Kabul, Afghanistan | Suicide attack, Terrorism | See main article: 2021 Kabul airport attack. Part of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) - |
See main article: 2002 attack on American cultural centre in Kolkata.
On June 30, 2004, Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan bombs Embassy.
On December 6, 2004, al-Qaeda gunmen raid diplomatic compound.[59]
On September 12, 2006, Gunmen raid Embassy.
On January 12, 2007, RPG Fired at Embassy by Revolutionary Struggle.
On April 14, 2007, two suicide bombers detonated their explosive devices across the street from the consulate general and in front of the Consulate General’s public diplomacy facility and language center. Only the bombers were killed.
| Date(s) | Location | Type of attack | Details | U.S. Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 18, 2008 | Sana'a, Yemen | Bombing | Mortar rounds missed embassy, hitting nearby school | |
| September 17, 2008 | Sana'a, Yemen | Attack |
| |
See main article: 2008 United States consulate in Istanbul attack.
On October 30, 2009, Several hundred supporters from the Sandinista National Liberation Front protesting "U.S. interventionism" swarm the embassy compound, attacking personnel and vandalizing property for four hours.
On October 28, 2011, a Wahhabi Islamist gunman, fired on the embassy, resulting in one local policeman guarding the embassy being wounded in the arm by the gunman, while the shooter was wounded by a police sniper.
See main article: 2012 Benghazi attack.
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See main article: 2013 United States embassy bombing in Ankara.
See main article: Operation Inherent Resolve and Attack on the United States embassy in Baghdad.
On September 28, 2015, an unidentified man threw two Molotov cocktails or similar improvised explosives over the wall of the Embassy.
On February 21, 2018, a pro-Russian and Serbian-born assailant threw a hand grenade over the wall of the embassy. Reporting indicated the grenade appeared to detonate as it was thrown into the air, and the man detonated a second device that killed him. The man's body was found from the embassy wall.
On July 26, 2018, an unidentified 26-year-old man set off explosive device outside the embassy.[60]
On December 1, 2018, an unidentified assailant threw a grenade at the consulate.[61]
On March 21, 2021, a shooting occurred at the United States Embassy in Yangon, Myanmar.
On December 1, 2022.[62]
See main article: Middle Eastern crisis (2023–present), Iran–Israel proxy conflict, Red Sea crisis and Attacks on U.S. bases in Iraq, Jordan, and Syria during the Israel–Hamas war.
| Date(s) | Location | Type of attack | Details | U.S. Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 17, 2023 | Al-Asad Airbase, Al Anbar Governorate, Iraq | Drone strike | Part of the Iran–Israel proxy conflict - Iraqi militants launched a drone strike on the American al-Asad Airbase in northern Iraq.[63] [64] The airstrike was intercepted.[65] The next day, a false alarm in the airbase caused the death of a civilian contractor from cardiac arrest.[66] | ||
| October 18, 2023 | Al-Tanf, Homs Governorate, Syria | Drone strike | Part of the Iran–Israel proxy conflict - A drone strike by an Iranian proxy on the American al-Tanf garrison resulted in over 20 injuries.[67] | ||
| November 1, 2023 | Al-Tanf, Homs Governorate, Syria | Drone strike | Part of the Iran–Israel proxy conflict - A minor drone strike was reported at the American al-Tanf garrison.[68] | ||
| November 20, 2023 | Al-Asad Airbase, Al Anbar Governorate, Iraq | Ballistic missile strike | Part of the Iran–Israel proxy conflict - Eight American and coalition soldiers were injured from a ballistic missile attack, and there was minor infrastructural damage after the Al-Asad Airbase was attacked by a ballistic missile.[69] | ||
| December 8, 2023 | Baghdad, Iraq | Artillery strikes | Approximately seven mortar rounds landed in the U.S. Embassy compound in Baghdad[70] | ||
| December 23, 2023 | Southern Red Sea | Airstrike | See main article: 2023 attack on the USS ''Laboon''. Part of the Red Sea crisis - | ||
| January 10, 2024 | Southern Red Sea | Airstrikes | See main article: January 2024 Houthi attack on the United States Navy. Part of the Red Sea crisis - | ||
| January 20, 2024 | Al-Asad Airbase, Al Anbar Governorate, Iraq | Missile strikes | Part of the Iran–Israel proxy conflict - The Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed responsibility for striking the American Al-Asad Airbase with dozens of missiles which injured several US military personnel and an Iraqi service member.[71] [72] At 6:30 p.m. Baghdad time, the IRI launched multiple ballistic missiles and other rockets at the Al-Asad Airbase. The United States military attempted to defend the base with Patriot missiles. More than 15 MIM-104 Patriot missiles were launched to defend the base.[73] | ||
| January 28, 2024 | Rukban, Jordan | Drone strike | See main article: Tower 22 drone attack. Part of the Iran–Israel proxy conflict - [74] | ||
| August 5, 2024 | Al-Asad Airbase, Al Anbar Governorate, Iraq | Missile strikes | Part of the Iran–Israel proxy conflict - A missile attack targeted the American Al-Asad Airbase in western Iraq, resulting in injuries to at least five US servicemembers and two contractors.[75] The attack involved the firing of two Katyusha rockets, which landed inside the base.[76] One of the injured servicemembers sustained serious injuries.[77] The incident is seen as a potential escalation in the ongoing tensions between Iran and the United States.[78] | ||
| August 9, 2024 | Rumalyn Landing Zone, Syria | Drone strike | Part of the Iran–Israel proxy conflict - A kamikaze drone struck the U.S. military base Rumalyn Landing Zone in eastern Syria, injuring eight U.S. soldiers.[79] [80] | ||
| August 13, 2024 | Mission Support Site Conoco, Deir ez-Zor Governorate, Syria | Missile strikes | Part of the Iran–Israel proxy conflict - Six rockets targeted an American airbase in Deir ez-Zor Governorate fell near the facility. As a response to the strike, US-led coalition launched artillery strikes.[81] | ||
| September 10, 2024 | Camp Victory, Baghdad, Iraq | Missile strikes | Part of the Iran–Israel proxy conflict - Two rockets exploded in the vicinity of American personnel stationed in Camp Victory, near Baghdad International Airport. No casualties were reported. Jaafar al-Husseini, the spokesperson of Kata'ib Hezbollah, said that the attack aimed to disrupt Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian's visit to Baghdad, which was scheduled the following day.[82] [83] | ||
| December 1, 2024 | Gulf of Aden | Missile and Drone strikes | Part of the Red Sea crisis - Between November 30 - December 1, 2024, the U.S. guided missile destroyers USS Stockdale and USS O'Kane, were escorting three American owned, operated, and flagged merchant vessels across the Gulf of Aden. During the voyage, the Yemen-based Houthis launched three anti-ship ballistic missile, three one-way attack drones, and one anti-ship cruise missile towards the five American ships. The two destroyers engaged and shot down all seven projectiles, resulting in no damage to any of the ships. The Houthis released a statement saying they were targetting "three supply ships belonging to the American army in the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Aden".[84] |