Fact check: Which countries did Obama authorize military intervention in?

1. Summary of the results

Based on the analyses provided, President Obama authorized military intervention in seven countries during his presidency. The most comprehensive sources identify these countries as: Afghanistan, Pakistan, Libya, Yemen, Somalia, Iraq, and Syria ^{[1] [2]}.

The scope of these interventions was substantial - over 26,000 bombs were dropped in 2016 alone across these seven nations ^[2]. The military actions took various forms, including troop deployments, airstrikes, and special forces operations ^[3]. Notably, Obama's fight against ISIL involved a coalition of 60 nations and was characterized as a "long-term campaign" ^[4].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question lacks several crucial pieces of context that emerge from the analyses:

• Congressional authorization was notably absent - the sources reveal that these interventions occurred "without congressional approval" ^[2], raising significant constitutional questions about executive war powers.
• The nature of US involvement varied significantly between countries. While some involved direct military action, others involved logistical and intelligence support, such as in Yemen where Obama authorized support for Saudi Arabia-led military operations, making the US a co-combatant despite not having direct forces involved ^[5].
• The interventions represented "8 years of unbroken war" that Obama handed over to his successor ^[6], indicating the sustained and continuous nature of these military commitments.
• The legal framework involved Obama urging Congress to authorize military force against ISIS specifically in Iraq and Syria ^[7], suggesting some interventions had more formal backing than others.

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question itself is relatively neutral and factual, simply asking for information about countries where Obama authorized military intervention. However, the framing could potentially minimize the scope and impact of these actions by:

• Failing to acknowledge the scale - the question doesn't hint at the extensive nature of these interventions across seven countries simultaneously
• Omitting the constitutional controversy - there's no indication that many of these actions occurred without proper congressional authorization
• Not distinguishing between types of intervention - the question treats all military interventions equally, when the reality ranged from direct combat operations to support roles

The question appears to seek factual information rather than promote a particular narrative, making it relatively free from obvious bias compared to more loaded formulations that might emphasize either the necessity or illegality of these interventions.