4.7 million lives lost in retaliation for 9/11 attacks

The horrific 9/11 attacks! The deaths of nearly 3,000 people in the 2001 attacks pushed the United States toward retaliation. Alongside changes in security policy came a long military campaign known as the “War on Terror.” From Afghanistan to Iraq and later Pakistan, Syria, Yemen, Somalia and Libya, the war spread across various regions. Twenty-five years later, the humanitarian toll is devastating. An estimated 4.5 to 4.7 million people have died in wars and related conflict zones. More than 38 million people have been displaced and the United States has spent more than $8 trillion.

In Afghanistan, the campaign began in 2001 with the goal of destroying Al Qaeda and removing the Taliban government from power. Nearly two decades later, the United States withdrew its troops in 2021. But before that, the Taliban quickly seized power. Questions therefore remain about the achievements and strategy of the prolonged campaign. Around 176,000 people died in Afghanistan, including more than 46,000 civilians.

War toll at a glance

Afghanistan: 20 years. Bush, Obama, Trump and Biden administrations. Around 176,000 deaths including more than 46,000 civilians.

Pakistan

Nearly 20 years. Four presidential administrations. More than 66,000 deaths including more than 24,000 civilians.

Iraq

Nearly 20 years. Bush, Obama, Trump and Biden administrations. 275,000 to 306,000 deaths including 185,000 to 209,000 civilians.

Syria

Nearly 9 years. Obama, Trump and Biden administrations. Around 266,000 deaths including around 95,000 civilians.

Yemen

Long term campaign. Bush, Obama, Trump and Biden administrations. Around 112,000 deaths including 12,690 civilians.

Most significantly, Al Qaeda has not been completely eliminated. Recent analyses show that although the organization is weaker than before, it has retained branches and ideological influence in parts of Africa, Pakistan and the Middle East. This means the goal of eliminating the terrorist network was not fully achieved. Instead, it became decentralized in many cases.

The Iraq War was also at the center of major controversy. One of the key arguments for the 2003 invasion was the claim that Saddam Hussein possessed weapons of mass destruction. No such stockpiles were found later. The collapse of state institutions after the war, sectarian conflict and a security vacuum created conditions for extremist groups to expand.