Dialogos

US Strikes Under Trump's First Year in Office Match Biden's Four Years

Published January 14, 2026, 08:03
US Strikes Under Trump's First Year in Office Match Biden's Four Years

According to the NGO ACLED, US air strikes during the first year of Donald Trump's second term (2025) are almost equal to the strikes carried out throughout the four years of Joe Biden's presidency (2021-2025). Specifically, the number of bombings by aircraft or drones reached 672, compared to 694 during the Biden administration. ACLED reports that Trump has surpassed Biden in unilateral strikes, which number 587, compared to 494 in the previous term. Most strikes (more than seven in ten) target Yemen, while a significant number target Islamist militants in Somalia. In addition, the US has carried out air strikes in Nigeria, Syria, Iraq, Iran, and, since September, in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific against ships allegedly involved in drug trafficking. These operations have cost the lives of more than 1,000 people, including civilians. ACLED Managing Director Cleona Ralli expresses concern about the proliferation of bombings, emphasizing that this calls into question the idea that power should be limited by international law. Ralli points out that Trump's statement that only his 'personal morality' limits his actions signals a departure from law, institutions, and alliances.