History of US interventions around the world

US Interventions

US Military and Clandestine Operations in Foreign Countries - 1798-Present

Global Policy Forum
December 2005

Note: This list does not pretend to be definitive or absolutely complete. Nor does it seek to explain or interpret the interventions. Information and interpretation on selected interventions will be later included as links. Note that US operations in World Wars I and II have been excluded.

1798-1800	France	Undeclared naval war against France, marines land in Puerto Plata.
1801-1805	Tripoli	War with Tripoli (Libya), called "First Barbary War".
1806	Spanish Mexico	Military force enters Spanish territory in headwaters of the Rio Grande.
1806-1810	Spanish and French in Caribbean	US naval vessels attack French and Spanish shipping in the Caribbean.
1810	Spanish West Florida	Troops invade and seize Western Florida, a Spanish possession.
1812	Spanish East Florida	Troops seize Amelia Island and adjacent territories.
1812	Britain	War of 1812, includes naval and land operations.
1813	Marquesas Island	Forces seize Nukahiva and establish first US naval base in the Pacific.
1814	Spanish (East Florida)	Troops seize Pensacola in Spanish East Florida.
1814-1825	French, British and Spanish in Caribbean	US naval squadron engages French, British and Spanish shipping in the Caribbean.
1815	Algiers and Tripoli	US naval fleet under Captain Stephen Decatur wages "Second Barbary War" in North Africa.
1816-1819	Spanish East Florida	Troops attack and seize Nicholls' Fort, Amelia Island and other strategic locations. Spain eventually cedes East Florida to the US.
1822-1825	Spanish Cuba and Puerto Rico	Marines land in numerous cities in the Spanish island of Cuba and also in Spanish Puerto Rico.
1827	Greece	Marines invade the Greek islands of Argentiere, Miconi and Andross.
1831	Falkland/Malvinas Islands	US naval squadrons aggress the Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic.
1832	Sumatra, Dutch East Indies	US naval squadrons attack Qallah Battoo.
1833	Argentina	Forces land in Buenos Aires and engage local combatants.
1835-1836	Peru	Troops dispatched twice for counter-insurgency operations.
1836	Mexico	Troops assist Texas war for independence.
1837	Canada	Naval incident on the Canadian border leads to mobilization of a large force to invade Canada. War is narrowly averted.
1838	Sumatra, Dutch East Indies	US naval forces sent to Sumatra for punitive expedition.
1840-1841	Fiji	Naval forces deployed, marines land.
1841	Samoa	Naval forces deployed, marines land.
1842	Mexico	Naval forces temporarily seize cities of Monterey and San Diego.
1843	China	Marines land in Canton.
1843	Ivory Coast	Marines land.
1846-1848	Mexico	Full-scale war. Mexico cedes half of its territory to the US by the Treaty of Guadeloupe Hidalgo.
1849	Ottoman Empire (Turkey)	Naval force dispatched to Smyrna.
1852-1853	Argentina	Marines land in Buenos Aires.
1854	Nicaragua	Navy bombards and largely destroys city of San Juan del Norte. Marines land and set fire to the city.
1854	Japan	Commodore Perry and his fleet deploy at Yokohama.
1855	Uruguay	Marines land in Montevideo.
1856	Colombia (Panama Region)	Marines land for counter-insurgency campaign.
1856	China	Marines deployed in Canton.
1856	Hawaii	Naval forces seize small islands of Jarvis, Baker and Howland in the Hawaiian Islands.
1857	Nicaragua	Marines land.
1858	Uruguay	Marines land in Montevideo.
1858	Fiji	Marines land.
1859	Paraguay	Large naval force deployed.
1859	China	Troops enter Shanghai.
1859	Mexico	Military force enters northern area.
1860	Portuguese West Africa	Troops land at Kissembo.
1860	Colombia (Panama Region)	Troops and naval forces deployed.
1863	Japan	Troops land at Shimonoseki.
1864	Japan	Troops landed in Yedo.
1865	Colombia (Panama Region)	Marines landed.
1866	Colombia (Panama Region)	Troops invade and seize Matamoros, later withdraw.
1866	China	Marines land in Newchwang.
1867	Nicaragua	Marines land in Managua and Leon in Nicaragua.
1867	Formosa Island (Taiwan)	Marines land.
1867	Midway Island	Naval forces seize this island in the Hawaiian Archipelago for a naval base.
1868	Japan	Naval forces deployed at Osaka, Hiogo, Nagasaki, Yokohama and Negata.
1868	Uruguay	Marines land at Montevideo.
1870	Colombia	Marines landed.
1871	Korea	Forces landed.
1873	Colombia (Panama Region)	Marines landed.
1874	Hawaii	Sailors and marines landed.
1876	Mexico	Army again occupies Matamoros.
1882	British Egypt	Troops land.
1885	Colombia (Panama Region)	Troops land in Colon and Panama City.
1885	Samoa	Naval force deployed.
1887	Hawaii	Navy gains right to build permanent naval base at Pearl Harbor.
1888	Haiti	Troops landed.
1888	Samoa	Marines landed.
1889	Samoa	Clash with German naval forces.
1890	Argentina	US sailors land in Buenos Aires.
1891	Chile	US sailors land in the major port city of Valparaiso.
1891	Haiti	Marines land on US-claimed Navassa Island.
1893	Hawaii	Marines and other naval forces land and overthrow the monarchy. Read More | President Cleveland's Message
1894	Nicaragua	Marines land at Bluefields on the eastern coast.
1894-1895	China	Marines are stationed at Tientsin and Beijing. A naval ship takes up position at Newchwang.
1894-1896	Korea	Marines land and remain in Seoul.
1895	Colombia	Marines are sent to the town Bocas del Toro.
1896	Nicaragua	Marines land in the port of Corinto.
1898	Nicaragua	Marines land at the port city of San Juan del Sur.
1898	Guam	Naval forces seize Guam Island from Spain and the US holds the island permanently.
1898	Cuba	Naval and land forces seize Cuba from Spain.
1898	Puerto Rico	Naval and land forces seize Puerto Rico from Spain and the US holds the island permanently.
1898	Philippines	Naval forces defeat the Spanish fleet and the US takes control of the country.
1899	Philippines	Military units are reinforced for extensive counter-insurgency operations.
1899	Samoa	Naval forces land
1899	Nicaragua	Marines land at the port city of Bluefields.
1900	China	US forces intervene in several cities.
1901	Colombia/Panama	Marines land.
1902	Colombia/Panama	US forces land in Bocas de Toro
1903	Colombia/Panama	With US backing, a group in northern Colombia declares independence as the state of Panama
1903	Guam	Navy begins development in Apra Harbor of a permanent base installation.
1903	Honduras	Marines go ashore at Puerto Cortez.
1903	Dominican Republic	Marines land in Santo Domingo.
1904-1905	Korea	Marines land and stay in Seoul.
1906-1909	Cuba	Marines land. The US builds a major naval base at Guantanamo Bay.
1907	Nicaragua	Troops seize major centers.
1907	Honduras	Marines land and take up garrison in cities of Trujillo, Ceiba, Puerto Cortez, San Pedro, Laguna and Choloma.
1908	Panama	Marines land and carry out operations.
1910	Nicaragua	Marines land in Bluefields and Corinto.
1911	Honduras	Marines intervene.
1911-1941	China	The US builds up its military presence in the country to a force of 5000 troops and a fleet of 44 vessels patrolling China's coast and rivers.
1912	Cuba	US sends army troops into combat in Havana.
1912	Panama	Army troops intervene.
1912	Honduras	Marines land.
1912-1933	Nicaragua	Marines intervene. A 20-year occupation of the country follows.
1913	Mexico	Marines land at Ciaris Estero.
1914	Dominican Republic	Naval forces engage in battles in the city of Santo Domingo.
1914	Mexico	US forces seize and occupy Mexico's major port city of Veracrus from April through November.
1915-1916	Mexico	An expeditionary force of the US Army under Gen. John J. Pershing crosses the Texas border and penetrates several hundred miles into Mexican territory. Eventually reinforced to over 11,000 officers and men.
1914-1934	Haiti	Troops land, aerial bombardment leading to a 19-year military occupation.
1916-1924	Dominican Republic	Military intervention leading to 8-year occupation.
1917-1933	Cuba	Landing of naval forces. Beginning of a 15-year occupation.
1918-1920	Panama	Troops intervene, remain on "police duty" for over 2 years.
1918-1922	Russia	Naval forces and army troops fight battles in several areas of the country during a five- year period.
1919	Yugoslavia	Marines intervene in Dalmatia.
1919	Honduras	Marines land.
1920	Guatemala	Troops intervene.
1922	Turkey	Marines engaged in operations in Smyrna (Izmir).
1922-1927	China	Naval forces and troops deployed during 5-year period.
1924-1925	Honduras	Troops land twice in two-year period.
1925	Panama	Marines land and engage in operations.
1927-1934	China	Marines and naval forces stationed throughout the country.
1932	El Salvador	Naval forces intervene.
1933	Cuba	Naval forces deployed.
1934	China	Marines land in Foochow.
1946	Iran	Troops deployed in northern province.
1946-1949	China	Major US army presence of about 100,000 troops, fighting, training and advising local combatants.
1947-1949	Greece	US forces wage a 3-year counterinsurgency campaign.
1948	Italy	Heavy CIA involvement in national elections.
1948-1954	Philippines	Commando operations, "secret" CIA war.
1950-1953	Korea	Major forces engaged in war in Korean peninsula.
1953	Iran	CIA overthrows government of Prime Minister Mohammed Mossadegh. Read More
1954	Vietnam	Financial and materiel support for colonial French military operations, leads eventually to direct US military involvement.
1954	Guatemala	CIA overthrows the government of President Jacobo Arbenz Guzman.
1958	Lebanon	US marines and army units totaling 14,000 land.
1958	Panama	Clashes between US forces in Canal Zone and local citizens.
1959	Haiti	Marines land.
1960	Congo	CIA-backed overthrow and assassination of Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba.
1960-1964	Vietnam	Gradual introduction of military advisors and special forces.
1961	Cuba	CIA-backed Bay of Pigs invasion.
1962	Cuba	Nuclear threat and naval blockade.
1962	Laos	CIA-backed military coup.
1963	Ecuador	CIA backs military overthrow of President Jose Maria Valesco Ibarra.
1964	Panama	Clashes between US forces in Canal Zone and local citizens.
1964	Brazil	CIA-backed military coup overthrows the government of Joao Goulart and Gen. Castello Branco takes power. Read More
1965-1975	Vietnam	Large commitment of military forces, including air, naval and ground units numbering up to 500,000+ troops. Full-scale war, lasting for ten years.
1965	Indonesia	CIA-backed army coup overthrows President Sukarno and brings Gen. Suharto to power.
1965	Congo	CIA backed military coup overthrows President Joseph Kasavubu and brings Joseph Mobutu to power.
1965	Dominican Republic	23,000 troops land.
1965-1973	Laos	Bombing campaign begin, lasting eight years.
1966	Ghana	CIA-backed military coup ousts President Kwame Nkrumah.
1966-1967	Guatemala	Extensive counter-insurgency operation.
1969-1975	Cambodia	CIA supports military coup against Prince Sihanouk, bringing Lon Nol to power. Intensive bombing for seven years along border with Vietnam.
1970	Oman	Counter-insurgency operation, including coordination with Iranian marine invasion.
1971-1973	Laos	Invasion by US and South Vietnames forces.
1973	Chile	CIA-backed military coup ousts government of President Salvador Allende. Gen. Augusto Pinochet comes to power.
1975	Cambodia	Marines land, engage in combat with government forces.
1976-1992	Angola	Military and CIA operations.
1980	Iran	Special operations units land in Iranian desert. Helicopter malfunction leads to aborting of planned raid.
1981	Libya	Naval jets shoot down two Libyan jets in maneuvers over the Mediterranean.
1981-1992	El Salvador	CIA and special forces begin a long counterinsurgency campaign.
1981-1990	Nicaragua	CIA directs exile "Contra" operations. US air units drop sea mines in harbors.
1982-1984	Lebanon	Marines land and naval forces fire on local combatants.
1983	Grenada	Military forces invade Grenada.
1983-1989	Honduras	Large program of military assistance aimed at conflict in Nicaragua.
1984	Iran	Two Iranian jets shot down over the Persian Gulf.
1986	Libya	US aircraft bomb the cities of Tripoli and Benghazi, including direct strikes at the official residence of President Muamar al Qadaffi.
1986	Bolivia	Special Forces units engage in counter-insurgency.
1987-1988	Iran	Naval forces block Iranian shipping. Civilian airliner shot down by missile cruiser.
1989	Libya	Naval aircraft shoot down two Libyan jets over Gulf of Sidra.
1989	Philippines	CIA and Special Forces involved in counterinsurgency.
1989-1990	Panama	27,000 troops as well as naval and air power used to overthrow government of President Noriega.
1990	Liberia	Troops deployed.
1990-1991	Iraq	Major military operation, including naval blockade, air strikes; large number of troops attack Iraqi forces in occupied Kuwait.
1991-2003	Iraq	Control of Iraqi airspace in north and south of the country with periodic attacks on air and ground targets.
1991	Haiti	CIA-backed military coup ousts President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.
1992-1994	Somalia	Special operations forces intervene.
1992-1994	Yugoslavia	Major role in NATO blockade of Serbia and Montenegro.
1993-1995	Bosnia	Active military involvement with air and ground forces.
1994-1996	Haiti	Troops depose military rulers and restore President Jean-Bertrand Aristide to office.
1995	Croatia	Krajina Serb airfields attacked.
1996-1997	Zaire (Congo)	Marines involved in operations in eastern region of the country.
1997	Liberia	Troops deployed.
1998	Sudan	Air strikes destroy country's major pharmaceutical plant.
1998	Afghanistan	Attack on targets in the country.
1998	Iraq	Four days of intensive air and missile strikes.
1999	Yugoslavia	Major involvement in NATO air strikes.
2001	Macedonia	NATO troops shift and partially disarm Albanian rebels.
2001	Afghanistan	Air attacks and ground operations oust Taliban government and install a new regime.
2003	Iraq	Invasion with large ground, air and naval forces ousts government of Saddam Hussein and establishes new government.
2003-present	Iraq	Occupation force of 150,000 troops in protracted counter-insurgency war
2004	Haiti	Marines land. CIA-backed forces overthrow President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.