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.

According to Brown University's Costs of War project, more than 940,000 people were killed directly by violence in these war zones from 2001 to 2023. More than 432,000 of them were civilians. As healthcare systems, food supplies, water, infrastructure and economies were destroyed by war, the number of indirect deaths is estimated at another 3.6 to 3.8 million. Overall, the total death toll stands at around 4.5 to 4.7 million. However, researchers say the actual number could be higher.

Displacement toll also devastating

More than 38 million people have lost their homes due to wars and conflicts following 9/11. During the same period, US war spending exceeded $8 trillion. If future medical care and rehabilitation costs for veterans are included, another $2.2 trillion to $2.5 trillion may be required through 2050.

The scars of war remain inside America as well. More than 150,000 people are receiving medical treatment or healthcare services under the World Trade Center Health Program. More than 9,000 members have died. New research is also being conducted into the long term health risks faced by nearly 25,000 children who were in the New York area during 9/11.

The Patriot Act, mass surveillance, Guantanamo Bay and strict airport security have also changed the reality inside America.

Twenty-five years later, there is only one question. In seeking revenge for the deaths of nearly 3,000 people, did America open the door to a war whose price was paid in hundreds of thousands of lives, tens of millions of displaced people and trillions of dollars?