US-led wars since 9/11 result in millions of deaths and displacements

Two decades of US-led military operations following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks have resulted in immense human suffering. Estimates indicate that these conflicts have caused at least 4.5 million deaths and displaced more than 38 million people globally.

Data from Brown University’s Costs of War project highlights the specific toll of operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Yemen, and Pakistan between 2001 and 2023. The project reports over 940,000 deaths resulting from these military actions, including more than 432,000 civilians.

Military casualties include over 7,000 US service members and more than 8,000 military contractors. Additionally, more than 12,000 soldiers from NATO allies and other partner nations have died.

Beyond battlefield fatalities, researchers noted a significant mental health crisis among US personnel. Approximately 30,000 US soldiers and veterans associated with the post-9/11 wars have died by suicide, a figure four times higher than the number of US service members killed in combat.