NOTE: VIDEO AT THE END OF ARTICLE
Introduction: Airstrikes Return to the Forefront
A startling new report reveals that President Donald Trump has already authorized nearly as many airstrikes in five months as President Joe Biden did during his entire four-year term.
The data, sourced from the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data (ACLED) project and first reported by The Telegraph, underscores a significant and fast-moving escalation of U.S. military operations in the Middle East and parts of Africa under Trump’s second term.
529 Airstrikes Since January: The Numbers Tell the Story
According to ACLED, Trump has greenlit 529 airstrikes between January and July 2025. For context, Biden authorized 555 strikes across his entire presidency from 2021 to 2024.
The bulk of these strikes have occurred in Yemen, where U.S. forces carried out an intense campaign earlier this year, resulting in over 250 reported civilian casualties, according to independent monitors.
A Shift in Policy: Unshackled Commanders
What’s behind the spike?
Sources inside the Pentagon and reporting from Antiwar.com point to expanded authority granted to U.S. field commanders. Trump’s administration has reportedly removed key operational restrictions that were put in place under Biden.
“The U.S. military is moving faster, hitting harder, and doing so with fewer constraints,” said ACLED Director Clionadh Raleigh.
This marks a return to the Trump-era military doctrine of flexibility and force projection — one largely invisible to mainstream media headlines but deeply felt across conflict zones.
Yemen: A Return to Offensive Posture
Yemen, long a hotspot in the ongoing struggle between Iranian-backed Houthi rebels and U.S.-aligned forces, has become the epicenter of Trump’s campaign.
More than 250 civilians have been killed in just a few months. Critics argue that the civilian toll echoes some of the most intense years of U.S. involvement in the Middle East during the early 2000s.
Despite this, there has been little pushback from international watchdogs or human rights groups — at least publicly. The mainstream media’s silence has also raised eyebrows among foreign policy analysts.
Somalia: From Dormant to Active War Zone
The escalation isn’t limited to Yemen.
Trump has already ordered 51 airstrikes in Somalia this year — up from just one during Biden’s final year in office. These strikes are targeting al-Shabaab militants, and sources inside AFRICOM say the pace is expected to accelerate further in Q3 and Q4.
The previous record under Trump for Somalia was 63 strikes in 2020. If the current pace continues, 2025 will exceed that record by a significant margin.
Iran and Syria: Expanding the Battlefield
Perhaps even more controversial are recent reports of airstrikes in Iran, as well as renewed operations in Syria and Iraq.
Multiple sources confirm that U.S. drones and manned aircraft have targeted nuclear facilities in Iran, raising alarm bells about a potential wider conflict.
These operations were enabled by an administrative policy change that eased restrictions on military operations outside of declared war zones — a move Trump’s team argues is necessary to deal with “modern asymmetric threats.”
Why This Escalation Matters
Let’s be clear: the scale and speed of U.S. strikes under Trump 2.0 are unprecedented in recent memory. The shift marks a dramatic departure from the Biden-era doctrine of “strategic restraint” and diplomatic engagement.
Proponents say Trump’s aggressive posture is restoring American strength and deterrence. Detractors argue it risks sparking larger conflicts and undermines accountability.
What’s not debatable? The numbers.
In five months, Trump has all but matched Biden’s entire presidential record in terms of airstrikes — and he’s showing no signs of slowing down.
Media Silence: Where Are the Headlines?
One of the more striking elements of this report is how little media attention this escalation has received.
Under Biden, even small-scale military actions made front-page news. But now, with hundreds of airstrikes occurring across volatile regions, most of the coverage is happening in independent outlets like The Telegraph and Antiwar.com — not the big three networks.
Critics say this reflects a media double standard and raises important questions about transparency, war powers, and public consent.
What’s Next? Escalation or Diplomacy?
It remains to be seen how long Trump’s aggressive strategy will continue. If anything, the numbers suggest we’re in for a long, sustained campaign.
Experts warn that increased engagement in countries like Iran and Somalia could provoke retaliation or even draw the U.S. into new conflict theaters. Meanwhile, the administration remains tight-lipped, offering little detail beyond official Pentagon briefings.
Final Thoughts: A New Era of U.S. Military Power?
Whether you support or oppose President Trump’s military strategy, the numbers are clear: America is once again projecting overwhelming force across the Middle East and North Africa.
The question now is whether this approach will yield lasting results — or lead to the same endless entanglements that past administrations have faced.
Either way, the world is watching.
And the airstrikes keep coming.
