TERRORIST ATTACKS ON THE UNITED STATES

Terrorist attacks on the United States

On this date, coordinated terrorist attacks struck the United States homeland in a way not seen before. Hijacked airliners were flown into the World Trade Center towers in New York City and the Pentagon outside Washington, D.C., while passengers on a fourth flight fought back and brought their aircraft down in a Pennsylvania field. Thousands of civilians, first responders, and military personnel were killed or injured, and the images of burning towers and a shattered Pentagon left a deep imprint on the national memory. For the armed forces, the attacks led to a rapid shift in priorities: deployments to Afghanistan, later operations in other regions, and an expanded focus on counterterrorism, homeland defense, and intelligence. New commands, doctrines, and technologies emerged as the country grappled with the challenge of a long, irregular conflict. The anniversaries of that day remain a moment of solemn reflection for service members and families who have carried the burdens of the wars that followed.