During Tuesday's presidential debate, Vice President Kamala Harris inaccurately claimed that no U.S. troops are stationed in active war zones, marking a "first time this century." However, this statement is not entirely true.
According to the U.S. Department of Defense, nearly 1,000 American soldiers remain deployed in Syria, with an additional 2,500 stationed in Iraq. These troops are tasked with preventing the resurgence of ISIS and curbing Iranian influence. Though large-scale conflict has diminished, these regions remain embroiled in low-level violence.
For example, in August, a U.S.-led raid in Iraq killed 15 ISIS operatives, resulting in seven U.S. soldiers being injured. Earlier this year, three U.S. soldiers were killed and 40 injured during a drone attack on a base near Syria’s border.
While major wars may have ended, the U.S. military’s footprint is far from gone. The U.S. continues to deploy personnel globally, including roughly 170,000 troops stationed outside the country, across more than 800 military bases. Despite Harris’ remarks, American troops remain at risk in many conflict zones.