25 Years After 9/11: US Wars Linked to Millions of Deaths and Mass Displacement
A new report estimates that wars and military operations following the September 11 attacks have caused millions of deaths and forced tens of millions from their homes.
WASHINGTON/NEW YORK: Twenty five years have passed since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States. The attacks were followed by a series of prolonged military campaigns that drew several countries into years of conflict and instability.
According to a recent international report, between 4.5 million and 4.7 million people have died directly or indirectly as a result of US military operations over the past 25 years.
The conflicts have also displaced more than 38 million people, forcing civilians to leave their homes in countries affected by war and military intervention.
Afghanistan was at the centre of the first major US led military campaign after 9/11. The war, which began in 2001 and continued for nearly two decades, is estimated to have claimed more than 176,000 lives.
The 2003 US invasion of Iraq resulted in more than 315,000 direct civilian deaths, according to the report. The conflict also contributed to prolonged instability across Iraq and the wider Middle East.
US military forces also carried out drone strikes and air operations in countries including Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia, Libya and Syria.
The report said the number of civilian deaths from the US led campaign against ISIS remains disputed. While US authorities have acknowledged 1,417 civilian deaths, independent investigations have estimated that the actual figure could be between 8,264 and 13,360.
American military personnel also suffered significant losses during the conflicts. In Afghanistan, around 2,500 US service members were killed and approximately 20,000 were wounded.
In Iraq, 3,481 US personnel were killed, while more than 31,000 were wounded.
The financial cost of the wars has also been enormous. The report estimates that the United States spent around $5.8 trillion on the military campaigns, with an additional estimated $2.2 trillion spent on healthcare and other support for veterans.
The report said the consequences of these conflicts extend far beyond battlefield deaths. Mental health problems, suicide, economic hardship and displacement continue to affect millions of people years after the fighting began.
The figures highlight the long term human and economic consequences of the wars launched in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks, with their impact continuing to be felt across several countries even 25 years later.