Countries attacked by Trump since returning to office as US President

US President Donald Trump, who previously stated he would avoid unnecessary foreign wars, now appears to be acting contrary to that position. Despite pledging to end US involvement in costly and destructive foreign wars during his second term, Trump has launched a full-scale assault aimed at overthrowing the Iranian government, merely a year into his return to office.

The attacks against Iran, considered a violation of international law, mark the most aggressive escalation of Trump’s use of military force to strike foreign governments and secure concessions demanded by his administration.

Despite widespread scepticism amongst the US public regarding Trump’s military campaigns abroad, his administration has conducted bold strikes against the Iranian and Venezuelan governments, whilst simultaneously intensifying US counter-terrorism operations across Africa and the Middle East.

Iran

The combined US-Israeli assault on Iran, which commenced on Saturday morning Tehran time, has thus far resulted in at least 201 deaths, according to the Iranian Red Crescent. These attacks have sparked concerns about the conflict widening, potentially bringing chaos and devastation to nations throughout the region.

The US assault, which Trump characterised as a “major combat operation” intended to overthrow the regime in Tehran, appears substantially broader than previous US strikes against Iran in June 2025. These strikes, like the current assault, occurred whilst Iran was engaged in diplomatic discussions with the US, targeting Iranian nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan.

Trump stated that these strikes, which occurred during a 12-day war launched by Israel against Iran that killed over 600 Iranian civilians, had “destroyed” the country’s nuclear capabilities. Both US assaults on Iran are considered illegal under international law.