War on Terrorism facts for kids

Ships helping the USS Enterprise (CVN 65) leave port.

The War on Terrorism, also called the War on Terror, was a big effort started by the United States and its friends. Its main goal was to stop terrorist groups. It also aimed to deal with countries that supported terrorism.

Former U.S. President George W. Bush said that some countries were a danger to the United States. These included North Korea, Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, and Libya. The term "War on Terror" often focused on groups like al-Qaeda and other militant Islamists.

Later, former U.S. President Barack Obama used a different name for these efforts. He called them Overseas Contingency Operations.

What is the War on Terror?

The War on Terror was a worldwide effort. It involved many countries working together. The main idea was to fight against groups that use violence to scare people. These groups are known as terrorists.

Why did it start?

This effort began after the September 11 attacks in 2001. Terrorists from the group al-Qaeda attacked the United States. These attacks caused a lot of damage and sadness.

The U.S. government decided to act. They wanted to stop future attacks. They also wanted to find and punish those responsible.

Who was involved?

The United States led this effort. Many other countries joined in. These countries were called allies. They worked together to share information and military help.

Fighting Terrorism Around the World

The War on Terror was not fought in just one place. It involved actions in many different countries. The goal was to weaken terrorist groups wherever they were found.

This included military actions and other efforts. Countries worked to stop money from reaching terrorist groups. They also tried to prevent new members from joining.

Important Goals

The main goals of the War on Terror were clear. They aimed to make the world safer.

Stopping Terrorist Groups

A big goal was to break up terrorist groups. This meant stopping their plans. It also meant preventing them from training new members.

Protecting Countries from Attacks

Another key goal was to keep countries safe. This involved improving security. It also meant working to prevent terrorist attacks before they happened.

Dealing with Countries that Support Terror

Some countries were accused of helping terrorists. The War on Terror also aimed to stop this support. The idea was to make it harder for terrorists to get help.

Images for kids

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  link]] [[Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa

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  U.S. Army soldier of the 10th Mountain Division in Nuristan Province, June 2007

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  A British C-130J Hercules aircraft launches flare countermeasures before being the first coalition aircraft to land on the newly reopened military runway at Baghdad International Airport

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  U.S. Special Forces soldier and infantrymen of the Philippine Army

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  Political Map: the Kashmir region districts

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  The United Kingdom is the second largest contributor of troops in Afghanistan

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  A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement helicopter patrols the airspace over New York City

See also

In Spanish: Guerra contra el terrorismo para niños