Twenty-five years after the September 11, 2001 attacks, the wars and military operations launched or led by the United States have left a devastating human toll across several countries, with millions of deaths and tens of millions of people forced from their homes, according to a foreign media report.
The report estimates that between 4.5 million and 4.7 million people have died directly or indirectly as a result of conflicts linked to the post-9/11 wars. It also estimates that more than 38 million people have been displaced over the past quarter-century.
Afghanistan and Iraq
The US-led war in Afghanistan, which began in 2001 and continued for roughly two decades, resulted in an estimated 176,000 deaths, according to the report.
The 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq also had a profound human cost. More than 315,000 civilians were reportedly killed directly during the conflict, while the war contributed to prolonged instability across the region.
Beyond Afghanistan and Iraq, US military operations included drone strikes and air campaigns in countries such as Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia, Libya and Syria.
In the campaign against ISIS, US authorities acknowledged 1,417 civilian deaths. However, the report cited estimates suggesting the actual number could have been significantly higher, ranging from approximately 8,264 to 13,360 civilian deaths.
Heavy Cost for US Forces
The wars also resulted in substantial casualties among US military personnel.
In Afghanistan, around 2,500 US service members were killed and approximately 20,000 were wounded. The Iraq war resulted in 3,481 US military deaths and more than 31,000 wounded, according to the figures cited in the report.
The financial cost has also been enormous. The United States spent an estimated $5.8 trillion on the post-9/11 wars, while the long-term cost of caring for and rehabilitating veterans could add another $2.2 trillion, the report said.
Effects Continue Beyond the Battlefield
The consequences of the post-9/11 wars extend beyond battlefield deaths and military spending. The report highlights long-term impacts including mental health problems, increased suicide rates, economic pressures and prolonged displacement.
A quarter-century after 9/11, the legacy of these conflicts continues to affect civilians, veterans and communities across the countries involved, with the human and financial consequences extending well beyond the end of major combat operations.