U.S. Foreign Policy

The U.S. dropped 26,171 bombs in 2016

According to recently released figures, the United States dropped 26,171 bombs on foreign countries in 2016. The map below was recently featured in the Independent and it was compiled with data from Micah Zenko at the Council on Foreign Relations. Unsurprisingly, the majority of U.S. airstrikes, both manned and unmanned, occurred in Syria and Iraq. 12,192 bombs were dropped on Syria while 12,095 were dropped on Iraq last year. At least 1,337 bombs were also dropped on Afghanistan.

Last week, B-2 Spirit stealth bombers attacked Isis targets in Libya, conducting a round trip from Whiteman Air Force Base in the continental United States. In 2016, Libya found itself in the crosshairs of U.S. aircraft frequently with just under 500 bombs dropped on targets there.

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This chart shows the number of U.S. bombs dropped in countries in 2016.

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Cumulative number of US and allied airstrikes in Iraq and Syria as of June 5, 2017
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Number of airstrikes per month by the United States and allies in Iraq and Syria from January 2018 to January 2019
Total number of bombing and attack missions flown by the U.S. Air Force and allies by aircraft type during the Vietnam War from 1964 to 1975 (in 1,000s)
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Number of bombing incidents in the United States from 2020 to 2024
Number of United States airstrikes in Yemen between 2002 and 2019
Number of casualties from U.S. drone strikes carried out from 2002 to 2015 in Pakistan, Yemen and Somalia, by country or region of origin

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